UNHCR supported IDP families with transport, relief items and assistance to leave camps and return to their areas of origin. Dana, Aleppo. October 7, 2025 (UNHRC/Social Media)
The steering committee overseeing the Syria
Without Camps strategy met July 12 at the Ministry of Emergency
and Disaster Management in Damascus to review progress on the
government’s plan to end displacement camps by the end of 2026.
Chaired by Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh, the meeting brought together senior government officials and UN representatives to assess the initiative and discuss the challenges surrounding the voluntary return of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Saleh outlined the main obstacles to return, including damaged infrastructure in areas of origin, the continued threat posed by landmines and unexploded ordnance, and the extensive debris left by years of conflict.
He stressed the importance of drawing on international experience in post-conflict reconstruction and displacement recovery. Saleh added that provincial authorities continue to organize daily voluntary return convoys for registered families and said the number of returnees is expected to increase gradually despite ongoing challenges.
Minister of Finance Muhammad Barnieh addressed the financial aspects of the initiative, saying the government is working to secure the funding needed to support voluntary safe and dignified returns. He also praised the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates for its role in coordinating government efforts and mobilizing international support.
Return Efforts Continue Across Idlib
Engineer Ahmad Shahada, a member of the executive committee responsible for rehabilitating infrastructure in damaged areas of Idlib province, presented updated figures on the displacement situation.
According to Shahada, Idlib currently contains 736 camps housing approximately 91,000 families. He said authorities remain in contact with families interested in returning, in coordination with the Ministries of Social Affairs and Labor and Emergency and Disaster Management, while return convoys continue with support from civil society organizations.
Since the initiative began, 1,081 families have returned to their areas of origin. Another 1,150 families formally registered for return, with officials working to provide transportation, logistical assistance, and other support to facilitate additional returns in the coming months.
UN Representative Reviews Initiative
Paula Gaviria Betancur, the UN secretary-general’s special rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, participated in the meeting and praised efforts to address displacement. She said placing the issue at the center of government policy demonstrates a “clear and serious will” to confront one of the country’s most complex humanitarian challenges.
Betancur added that the existence of a defined strategy, a dedicated committee, and implementation on the ground makes the Syrian approach “concrete, not just media coverage.” The committee was established under Decree No. 59 of 2026, issued in March, and is responsible for overseeing infrastructure rehabilitation in damaged areas to facilitate the return of displaced residents.
Goal of Ending Camps by 2026
The government launched free humanitarian convoys to transport families wishing to return and provide support to help them resettle in their communities. Officials said the Syria Without Camps campaign aims to eliminate displacement camps nationwide by the end of 2026, making the initiative a central part of the country’s post-conflict recovery efforts.
Betancur’s visit will continue with planned trips to Idlib and Raqqa, along with meetings with additional ministries. At the conclusion of her mission, she is expected to submit a report to the UN outlining progress on the initiative and identifying the remaining requirements for its implementation.