In an interview with Felm's Communications Specialist Minna Havunen on 25 February 2020, Omar Abdulaziz Hallaj, a partner in LUGARIT, shed light on the evolving needs of humanitarian aid in Syria. Mr. Hallaj, who recently visited Finland to meet with parliament's foreign affairs committee, emphasized the significance of community-based efforts and cooperation over traditional material aid.

Mr. Hallaj highlighted the shortcomings of international support focused solely on material aid. He pointed out instances where such aid, instead of alleviating hardships, inadvertently undermined local economies. For example, the distribution of external supplies often led to them being sold for money, thereby diminishing the local market's demand. In another case, constructing a well in a village disrupted a previously shared resource, erasing a vital point of cooperation between two villages divided by conflict.

The advisor stressed the importance of 'community capital' - a concept encapsulating volunteerism, support networks, cultural strengths, psychosocial resources, knowledge, and local natural resources. This capital, according to Mr. Hallaj, is crucial for communities to thrive independently, especially in financially constrained situations. He cited inspiring examples from northern Syria, where students from varied ethnic backgrounds shared knowledge to compensate for inadequate educational resources, and villages collaborating to repair irrigation canals, thereby fostering unity across conflict lines.

Mr. Hallaj's initiative pre-LUGARIT, the Common Space Initiative founded in 2014, and the Missionary Society's peace project, backed by the Finnish and Norwegian foreign ministries, aim to bolster the ability of Syrians from diverse backgrounds to collaborate and advance peace. Last year, the project supported 30 peacebuilders and 18 peace initiatives across Syria and in Syrian communities in neighboring countries. These initiatives range from tribal reconciliation to communal projects like renovating public parks, all aimed at fostering greater social change and peace.

Mr. Hallaj discourse underscores the need for conflict-sensitive, Syrian-centric decision-making in international forums and advocating for the enhanced participation of Syrian women in peace processes at various levels.