Qatar Charity, in collaboration with the Attaa Humanitarian Relief Association, has launched a year-long project aimed at enhancing food security and supporting sustainable livelihoods in northwest Syria’s Idlib and Aleppo governorates. Initiated in August 2025, the Livestock Value Chain Support project focuses on aiding vulnerable livestock breeders and women who serve as the primary providers for their families in the region.

As part of its efforts, Qatar Charity has deployed two mobile veterinary clinics that have provided medical services to more than 34,000 sheep and goats, along with nearly 2,000 cattle across various villages in the targeted areas. The initiative has distributed 365 tonnes of processed fodder to livestock breeders, moving toward a planned total of 500 tonnes, in an effort to improve animal nutrition. Additionally, artificial insemination services have been offered for selected cows to enhance breed quality and increase productivity.

To stimulate local economic activity, the project recently completed the rehabilitation of a livestock market in Saraqib, a town in rural Idlib, with plans to hand control over to local authorities. Preparations are also underway to establish a fodder production facility, which is expected to contribute to the sustainability of the livestock production chain in the region.

A key focus of the project has been on dairy production, including specialized support for women breadwinners. Twenty-eight women underwent a 28-day training program on processing raw milk and producing dairy products, during which they also participated in a cash-for-work initiative. Following the training, the participants received grants that included comprehensive sets of dairy and cheese-making equipment to enable them to start small, home-based enterprises.

Among those benefiting from the initiative is Fatima Ibrahim Qassem, a mother of four whose husband has a disability. As the sole provider for her family, she described the training and support as pivotal to her achieving financial independence. "We received 28 days of training, and Qatar Charity provided us with all the equipment we need to keep working," she said. "Today, we can depend on ourselves without asking for assistance. People bring us milk, and we process and sell it."

The Livestock Value Chain Support project represents a coordinated effort to address food insecurity and economic challenges in northwest Syria, targeting both animal health and women’s empowerment as a means of promoting long-term resilience in the region.