Reliable Water Eases Daily Life for a Family in Kosnia
At 73, Faisal, known as Abu Raafat, has spent much of his life working the land to support his family. Before displacement and illness changed his circumstances, he cultivated five hectares of agricultural land and earned a living through farming, providing for his nine children. Years of conflict, repeated displacement, and declining health have since changed his life dramatically. His family was first displaced to Idlib in 2016, where they remained for a year before returning to their village of Kosnia. After two years, they were displaced again to Idlib, eventually returning to Kosnia, following the fall of the regime.
During the years of conflict, Faisal developed severe diabetes. In 2024, he underwent an amputation of his right leg above the knee and the removal of one finger. After the family returned to Kosnia, his condition deteriorated further, leading to additional amputations affecting his left leg and hand. He now faces the prospect of another operation. For Faisal’s family, the consequences extend beyond his medical condition. Once able to support his household through farming, he now depends on other sources of income and assistance to meet his needs. “I used to work in agriculture and provide for my family. Now, after everything that has happened to me, I rent out the land I own to help cover our expenses. I also receive some support from my married children,” Faisal explains.
His son, Raafat, describes the family’s situation with visible emotion. The loss of Faisal’s mobility and independence has placed additional emotional and financial pressure on a household already struggling to manage medical expenses and everyday needs. Among these challenges, securing water had become another recurring expense. Before the water network reached their home, the family had to rely on private water sources. For a family facing substantial medical costs and limited income, this was a considerable burden. With funding from the Syria Humanitarian Fund (SHF), Action Against Hunger supported improved access to water in Kosnia, helping ease the pressure on Faisal’s household and other families in the surrounding community. “With the water that now reaches our home, we feel the difference, not only financially, but also in the quality and cleanliness of the water,” Faisal says. For the family, reducing the recurring cost of purchasing water means having more of their limited resources available for other essential expenses.
With Faisal facing another possible operation, every saving matters. The family is also trying to support his unmarried daughter, who studies history in Idlib and hopes to continue her education. Access to water is particularly important for Faisal’s wife, who helps care for him and tends to his open wounds. During a visit, Action Against Hunger’s WASH team conducted a water quality test and confirmed that the water met the required standards for drinking water. While access to water cannot replace the specialized medical care Faisal needs, having water available at home supports daily household hygiene and caregiving. The benefits also extend beyond Faisal’s family. According to Raafat, neighbors whose homes are connected to the network have welcomed the improvement. For households facing difficult economic circumstances, more accessible water can reduce the cost and effort involved in meeting a basic daily need. Before the visit ended, Faisal expressed his gratitude for the support: “I extend my heartfelt thanks to Action Against Hunger for helping secure the most essential requirement for life: drinking water. Ensuring access to it had become a heavy burden, emotionally for me and financially for my children.” For Faisal and his family, improved access to water has not changed the medical challenges they continue to face. It has, however, eased a recurring household expense and made an essential resource more accessible. In a household balancing the costs of daily living with ongoing care needs, that relief matters.
