201 Displaced Families Return from Idlib Camps to Their Hometowns
A new convoy of displaced families departed from camps in the Idlib countryside this Monday, marking the latest phase in the voluntary return program. A total of 201 families left the camps to return to their original towns and villages, which are distributed across nine Syrian governorates. This initiative is part of official efforts to clear the camps, alleviate the suffering of displaced individuals, and facilitate their permanent resettlement in their home areas.
The convoy was organized under the auspices of the Idlib Governorate, in partnership with the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management and the Directorate of Social Affairs and Labor. The process also involved coordination with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Muzn Organization, and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. This movement aligns with Presidential Decree No. 59, which seeks to achieve the ‘zero tent’ goal.
Mohammad Bakir, Director of the Northern Department for Social Affairs and Labor in Idlib, stated that the organization of the convoy followed rigorous procedures. These included conducting surveys of families within the camps, directly supervising the gathering of households, and conducting thorough verification of name lists. Bakir added that the directorate is actively monitoring the conditions of returnees in their respective areas to ensure access to basic services. Furthermore, the department is coordinating with the UNHCR to provide employment opportunities, which is intended to support the families’ economic stability.
Osama Al-Mousa, Operations Officer at the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management in the Dana region, noted that Civil Defense teams provided security for the convoys in coordination with the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of families throughout the journey. Al-Mousa specified that the returnees are heading to various regions, including Khan Shaykhun and Maarat al-Nu’man in the Idlib countryside; Qalaat al-Madiq, Kafr Nabudah, and Mhardeh in the Hama countryside; and Al-Qusayr in the Homs countryside.
Returning families expressed their relief at the development, describing the journey back to their homes as a restoration of their dignity after years of displacement. While acknowledging that some of their homes and properties sustained damage, the returnees emphasized that returning to their land and houses remains their highest priority.
This convoy is part of a continuous series of voluntary return operations organized since the beginning of this year. The initiative follows a convoy of 263 families that departed yesterday, which was preceded by another group of 212 families earlier this month. Relevant authorities continue to register families wishing to return from camps in northern Syria as part of broader efforts to rehabilitate regions and facilitate the homecoming of residents.
Source: Syria Focus Arabic
