New Voluntary Return Convoy Transports 263 Syrian Families Home
A new convoy facilitating the voluntary return of displaced persons has departed from Northern Syria, marking another step in ongoing efforts to resolve the displacement file and assist residents in returning to their regions of origin. The convoy included 263 families who were previously residing in camps.
The families were transported back to their villages and towns in the southern countryside of Idlib, as well as to areas within the governorates of Hama, Aleppo, and the city of Damascus. This initiative is being conducted under the sponsorship of the Idlib Governorate and the Directorate of Social Affairs and Labor, with coordination and support from various organizations, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Muzn organization, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, and the Directorate of Emergency and Disaster Management.
The organization of these convoys is being implemented in response to the requests of residents seeking to return to their homes, in line with Presidential Decree No. 59, which is part of a broader government plan aimed at ending displacement and facilitating returns.
Mohammed Bakir, Director of the Northern Department for Social Affairs and Labor in Idlib, stated that this latest convoy is part of an ongoing series of organized returns. He emphasized that the process follows established mechanisms designed to ensure that families and their belongings are transported safely.
Manaf Hammam, the official responsible for camp management coordination in Aleppo and Idlib, noted that the authorities provided air-conditioned buses to transport the families, along with trucks specifically designated for their personal belongings. He added that registration remains open for other families who wish to participate in the voluntary return process.
Many of the returning families expressed relief at the move, describing it as the end of years of displacement. However, they also acknowledged the challenges ahead, particularly regarding the scale of destruction and the absence of some basic life necessities in towns and villages where infrastructure has been severely damaged. This journey is part of wider efforts undertaken by relevant authorities since the issuance of Presidential Decree No. 59; over the past few months, several convoys have transported thousands of families from camps in Idlib and Aleppo to their original destinations.
Officials have confirmed that coordination with humanitarian organizations and relevant bodies will continue to ensure the return of more families in upcoming convoys. These efforts are intended to support the stability of the returnees and provide necessary aid within the limits of available resources, as part of the state’s broader initiatives to bolster social stability and rehabilitate areas of return.
Source: Syria Focus Arabic
