Damascus, Sept. 11 (SANA) Syria has closed more than 200 displacement camps as part of a nationwide plan to end camp-based displacement by September 2027, Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh said, as the government steps up efforts to help displaced families return home.
Around 141,000 families remain in camps across the country, al-Saleh told Syrian Al-Ikhbariya TV on Thursday evening. He said about 20% of camp residents have returned to their home areas since a national committee overseeing the initiative was established.
The government’s “Syria Without Camps” vision combines facilitated returns with infrastructure rehabilitation, housing solutions and support for families unable to return immediately.
Al-Saleh said preparations are underway for a major return operation involving between 4,000 and 6,000 families, following nearly two months of daily return convoys.
Thousands remain in camps
Idlib province has 786 camps housing around 458,250 people, while Aleppo has around 391 camps in areas designated for return, al-Saleh said.
More than 40% of camp residents live in concrete housing units that could be formally organized and converted into residential communities, potentially providing more permanent housing for displaced families.
The most difficult cases involve about 8% of families who own neither a home nor land, al-Saleh said. The government is working on solutions that include employment opportunities, relocation assistance and temporary rent support.
President Ahmad al-Sharaa issued Decree No. 59 on March 10, establishing a national committee comprising ministers, governors and other government bodies to rehabilitate infrastructure in devastated areas and help create conditions for displaced families to return.
Rubble removal key to return plans
Rehabilitating war-damaged areas is a central part of the government’s strategy. Al-Saleh said nearly 3 million cubic meters of rubble were removed during the first eight months of 2026, with authorities aiming to remove a similar amount over the final four months of the year.
The total volume of rubble across Syria is estimated at around 50 million cubic meters, he said.
Authorities are working to recycle rubble into construction materials and use the remaining material to rehabilitate roads. The government aims to complete rubble removal in Deir Ezzor by the end of 2027 and achieve its broader goal of a rubble-free Syria by mid-2028.
National mine-clearance framework under development
On mine clearance, al-Saleh said the Defense Ministry removed around 130,000 mines in 2025, while work is underway to establish a national framework governing mine action and adopt national standards and accreditation procedures.
Under the planned framework, investment, public-service and development projects would be required to undergo mine surveys and obtain necessary safety certification.
Authorities have also introduced modern technologies, including drones, for technical surveys to reduce personnel exposure to hazardous areas. Syria aims to have a comprehensive map of mine-contaminated areas by the end of 2027, al-Saleh said.
The “Syria Without Camps” initiative combines voluntary returns with reconstruction, infrastructure rehabilitation and coordination among government bodies and international organizations, with the government aiming to end camp-based displacement by September 2027.
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