The “Hope City”, a joint project of Qatar Charity and IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation in the town of Azez-Soran is now officially open. This City has become home to approximately 10 thousand people affected by the war. During the opening ceremony held on 29 January 2025, Turkish Deputy Minister of Interior Münir Karaloğlu, Qatari Minister State of International Cooperation Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad, Kilis Governor Tahir Şahin, Aleppo Governor Azzam Garip, Director General of Global and Humanitarian Affairs of the Turkish Foreign Ministry Korhan Karakoç, Aleppo Consul General Hakan Cengiz, Qatari Ambassador Representative Omar Hassan El-Hil, Representative of the Syrian Humanitarian Affairs Coordination Office Adullrazak Şamsedin, Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fatma Şahin, Qatar Charity Chief Executive Officer Yusuf El-Kuwari, IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation Secretary General Durmuş Aydın, AFAD Vice President Hamza Taşdelen and Qatar Charity Representative Nawaf Alhamadi attended the program.

We stand by the Syrian people

The opening ceremony commenced with the ribbon cutting and official first entrance of the City. Then it was followed by Quran recitation and speech from the dignitaries. Qatari Minister State of International Cooperation Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad said, “Being with the Syrian people, whom we consider to be our family, makes us happy. We are witnessing a special day. Today, we are opening the Hope City. We stand by the Syrian people who are striving for freedom, just as we did in the past.”

Speaking after Misnad, Deputy Minister of Interior Münir Karaoğlu thanked everyone who contributed to the Hope City and said, “As the Republic of Turkey, we cooperate with Qatar in many areas. We provide assistance in many areas from shelter to humanitarian aid, from education to health in the Syrian geography. The “Hope City” that we are opening today is the most concrete example of our activities. Today, we are opening this city of 1,400 houses in cooperation with Qatar Charity Institution on one side and IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation on the other.”

“A gift to the Syrian people”

Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fatma Şahin said, “We think and want the same for our Syrian children as we think for our own children. Today, with this opening, we are making history in the name of brotherhood between Türkiye, Syria and Qatar.”

Also speaking at the program, Qatar Charity Organization Chief Executive Officer Yusuf Al-Kuwari. “We all see how great a contribution humanitarian aid can make. We have realized this project with the contributions of Qatari philanthropists. This city is a gift to the Syrian people who have been subjected to the cruelty of war for 14 years and have been forced to migrate.

“It gives us strength and hope”

Aleppo Governor Azzam Garip, who started his speech by expressing that hope has blossomed again, said, “This opening is of great importance to us. Holding such an opening after the revolution gives us strength and hope. I would like to thank the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation and Qatar Charity Institution for being involved in such an important work.”

"As IHH, we have not left the Syrian people alone"

Speaking last at the opening program, IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation Secretary General Dr. Durmuş Aydın said, “Today, we are here to realize the opening of our Hope City, which is a symbol of hope and solidarity. The crisis that started in Syria in 2011 has deeply affected the lives of millions of people ever since. However, as IHH, we have never left the Syrian people alone. Today, we are experiencing the happiness of implementing a new and most comprehensive of our countless projects together with Qatar Charity Foundation.”

What’s there in the Hope City?

“Hope City”, built on 280 acres of land in Tukli Village, affiliated to the Azez-Soran town in the Northern Aleppo region of Syria, consists of 9 neighborhoods. In addition to 1,400 houses in the city, there are 4 schools in total, 1 mosque, 1 girls school, 1 boys school, 1 kindergarten and 1 vocational school. There is also a public education center, a sports complex, a clinic, a multipurpose conference hall, an administrative building, a police station and a bazaar consisting of 50 shops. The program, which was attended by many civil society organizations from Turkey and Syria, attracted great attention. The opening program ended with the presentation of various gifts to the participating guests.