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Maarat al-Numan Southern Neighborhood Rehabilitation
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Project Scope and Objectives
The project rehabilitates the Southern Neighborhood of the city of Maarat al-Numan, in southern rural Idlib; some reports call it the southeast neighborhood. Syria TV says the works aim to revive life in the neighborhood gradually, the Social Press Center adds that they are meant to give residents a more suitable environment after years of destruction, and the project director told SANA that the main goal is a dignified return for the beneficiaries and greater stability for them.
Who Is Involved
SANA names the Ataa Humanitarian Relief Association as the implementing party, working with the Maarat al-Numan area administration and funded by Qatar Charity. Damas Radio likewise reports a partnership between the area administration and Ataa, with Qatar Charity's support. In its statement of 3 September 2026, Ataa says it restored Al-Thawra School in Maarat al-Numan with Qatar Charity funding. Reports of 29 April 2026 present the works differently: Syria TV says Qatar Charity teams carry them out with support from donors in Qatar, and the Social Press Center says Qatar Charity is pursuing them with funding from donors in Qatar.
Project Components
The works include:
- Restoration of 235 homes
- Rehabilitation of 25 shops, which SANA says belong to the endowments (awqaf)
- Restoration of two mosques, Al-Hosari and Riyad al-Salihin (SANA)
- Restoration of two schools (Syria TV and the Social Press Center); SANA names Ramadan School, with its primary and preparatory blocks, among the works
- Removal of more than 4,500 cubic meters of rubble from destroyed buildings (SANA)
- Paving and repair of roads and sidewalks; Syria TV puts the road network at 2.5 kilometers
- Installation of 25 waste collection containers (Syria TV)
Progress
SANA reported on 23 April 2026 that Ataa had completed about 60 percent of the works, which began at the start of 2026; this is the most recent overall progress figure in the sources listed on this page. The project director told SANA that the project provides a range of services alongside the restoration of buildings and roads and the removal of rubble.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the project located?
In the Southern Neighborhood of the city of Maarat al-Numan, in southern rural Idlib. Some reports call it the southeast neighborhood.
What does the project include?
Restoration of 235 homes, rehabilitation of 25 shops, restoration of two mosques and, according to Syria TV and the Social Press Center, two schools, removal of more than 4,500 cubic meters of rubble, repair of roads and sidewalks, and installation of 25 waste collection containers.
Who implements and who funds the project?
According to SANA, the Ataa Humanitarian Relief Association implements it in cooperation with the Maarat al-Numan area administration, and Qatar Charity funds it.
What is the project's objective?
To improve residents' living conditions, reactivate basic services in the neighborhood, and secure a dignified return for beneficiaries.
What is the latest reported status?
About 60 percent of the works were complete on 23 April 2026, according to SANA, the most recent overall figure in the sources listed on this page. The update dated 3 September 2026 reports on one school that Ataa restored in the city; it does not cover the project as a whole.
Correction — 2026-04-23
According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on 23 April 2026, the party implementing the rehabilitation of the southern neighbourhood of Maarat al-Numan is the Ataa Humanitarian Relief Association, while Qatar Charity is the project's funder. SANA reported that completion stood at about 60 percent as of the report's date.
Per the same source, the scope covers 235 homes and 25 commercial units belonging to the religious endowments, the Ramadan school with its primary and preparatory blocks, and the Al-Hosari and Riyad al-Salihin mosques, alongside the removal of more than 4,500 cubic metres of rubble from destroyed buildings and the repair of roads and pavements. SANA refers to the area as "the southern neighbourhood", the designation used in the official source.
Sources
UPDATE 03.09.2026, Ataa reports the opening of Al-Thawra School in Maarat al-Numan
A school restored by Ataa with Qatar Charity funding was inaugurated in the city. Ataa said in a press statement dated 3 September 2026 that Al-Thawra School in Maarat al-Numan hosted the opening of 50 restored schools across Idlib, part of the pledges of the Al-Wafa' li-Idlib ("Loyalty to Idlib") campaign. Idlib Governorate organized the event, in coordination with the Ministry of Education. Ataa described the school, which it restored with Qatar Charity's funding, as an educational anchor for resuming schooling in the southern neighborhood of Maarat al-Numan; it will run two shifts and, with another restored school, take in more than 3,000 students.
Scope of this update. Ataa's statement reports on this school only, and does not say whether it is one of the project's two schools. The most recent overall progress figure in the sources listed on this page is about 60 percent of the works, reported by SANA on 23 April 2026.
