Despite the ousting of President Bashar Assad in late 2024, many displaced Syrians remain trapped in tent settlements, unable to return home due to poverty and destruction. Sobhieh Al-Saleh, a mother of eleven, lives in Al-Karama camp near Atmeh, Idlib province, after her home in Al-Lataminah was completely destroyed.
Ongoing Displacement
Al-Saleh, like many others, hoped to return after the rebel offensive ended over a decade of conflict. However, more than half of camp residents have left, but an estimated 40,000 still remain in Al-Karama. The UN reports that over 7 million Syrians are internally displaced, with 1 million living in tents.
Economic Hardships
Syria's civil war plunged 90% of its population into poverty. Rebuilding costs are estimated at $216 billion by the World Bank. Interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa aims to provide alternative housing by 2027, backed by $1.5 billion from Saudi Arabia. However, inflation and reduced humanitarian aid hinder progress.
Abdulhamid Abu Alaa, another camp resident, struggles with soaring building material costs and debt. He urges the government to prioritize the poorest.
The World Food Program recently cut food assistance and bread subsidies, affecting millions. The UN humanitarian coordinator, Nathalie Fustier, acknowledges the challenge and calls for private sector and international financial institution support to meet the 2027 deadline.
Al-Saleh laments the lack of aid since the liberation, questioning how to rebuild when basic needs are unmet. The scale of devastation across cities like Aleppo, Raqqa, Homs, and Damascus remains immense.
