NICOLE Foundation showcases collaborative approach to oil spill response at HNPW 2025
Geneva, 17 March 2025 – The NICOLE Foundation will present its innovative, multi-sectoral approach to tackling environmental contamination at the Whole of Syria WASH Cluster/UNICEF-North-East Syria WASH Working Group - DRRS webinar during the Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week (HNPW) 2025. Using the North-East Syria oil spill crisis as a case study, the session will highlight the critical role of niche technical expertise in humanitarian aid and disaster response.
Titled “Collaboration on Human Health Risk Assessment of Oil Spill in Syria: The Value of Niche Technical Expertise in Humanitarian Aid?”, the session will explore the devastating impact of oil spills on water sources, agricultural land, and public health, and how targeted interventions can mitigate long-term environmental and humanitarian consequences.
A growing crisis in North-East Syria
Since 2014, challenges in waste management at oil production sites have led to widespread oil contamination in North-East Syria, with spills polluting rivers, agricultural land, and groundwater. This crisis has exacerbated an already severe water scarcity issue, affecting over 1.8 million people who lack access to safe drinking water. The situation escalated further in late December 2024, introducing new logistical and operational challenges for humanitarian efforts in the region.
Recognizing the urgent need for expert technical support, the NES WASH Working Group and Whole of Syria (WoS) WASH Cluster sought external assistance to map the extent of contamination, assess risks, and develop short-, medium-, and long-term remediation strategies.
NICOLE Foundation’s role: Expertise and collaboration
To address this pressing challenge, UNICEF partnered with RVO-DRRS, a programme funded by the Netherlands Government, to identify world-class expertise in oil spill response. The NICOLE Foundation—a non-profit collective of leading contamination experts—was mobilized to provide specialized support, bringing together a multi-disciplinary team to tackle the crisis.
“Our work in Syria demonstrates that expert collaboration is critical in humanitarian settings,” said Johan De Fraye, Executive Director and Vice-Chair of the Board of the NICOLE Foundation. “This initiative is not just about cleaning up an oil spill; it’s about protecting public health, water security, and livelihoods in a highly vulnerable region.”
A model for future humanitarian efforts?
During the HNPW 2025 session, NICOLE Foundation and its partners will share insights into the technical assessment process, the tools used for remote and on-the-ground deployment, and the lessons learned from working in a complex operational environment. The discussion will also explore whether this multi-sectoral approach could be scaled to address oil spills and environmental contamination in other post-disaster or crisis affected areas.
“The need for specialized expertise in humanitarian aid is greater than ever,” added Johan. “By integrating environmental science into emergency response, we can develop smarter, faster, and more effective solutions that help communities recover and rebuild.”
Join the discussion
The UNICEF-DRRS webinar featuring the NICOLE Foundation will take place on 17 March 2025 as part of HNPW 2025 in Geneva. Stakeholders from the humanitarian, environmental, and development sectors are invited to participate in this crucial conversation on technical collaboration in humanitarian aid.
For more information about NICOLE Foundation’s role, email bonjour@nicolefound.org.
