Hope and Recovery for Syria 2025
Dear partners, colleagues, and friends of the Middle East Cooperation Unit,
As we welcome the new year, we reflect on a challenging period marked by ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Yet, December brought a glimmer of hope with the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. After more than twelve years of war in Syria, there is now a historic opportunity for peace and freedom for the Syrian people—a moment described by many in the international community as one of hope.
At the same time, we are mindful of the immense challenges ahead. The war has left Syria deeply scarred—not only in its physical landscape but also in the hearts and lives of its people. These challenges demand sustained commitment, empathy, and collaboration to ensure that the hope of rebuiding endures.
At BTU’s Middle East Cooperation Unit, we have been honored to contribute to efforts in built heritage preservation and capacity-building for Syria’s recovery since 2013. Highlights of our work include:
- Mapping the Old City of Aleppo (2016–2019): A project documenting the urban cultural heritage of Aleppo.
- Post-Conflict Urban Recovery Project (2021–2022): Conducted in collaboration with the American University of Beirut and funded by DAAD, this project involved online events and workshops in Germany and Jordan, focusing on rebuilding historic districts in various cities of Syria.
- Toolkits and Training: Contributions such as the “Post-Conflict Recovery of Urban Cultural Heritage Toolkit” and the “Urban Recovery and Planning in the Syrian Context” training program for GIZ
- Book chapters ( Map of the Old City of Aleppo and From Mapping to Capacity Building).
Central to all these initiatives has been collaboration with young Syrian colleagues—students, doctoral researchers, project staff, and participants—some of whom have joined us directly from Syria or from exile. We are also grateful for partnerships with institutions like the Berlin Museum of Islamic Art and the German Archaeological Institute, as well as universities around the world.
As we look ahead, we firmly believe that Syrian voices and expertise must lead the way in the reconstruction of their country. We remain committed to standing in solidarity with all those striving for a peaceful and free Syria and hope that our efforts can continue to support these aspirations meaningfully.
With warm regards and best wishes for a healthy, prosperous, and peaceful New Year in 2025,
Middle East Cooperation Unit