After years of destruction. Palestinian camps reclaim their inhabitants

After years of systematic  destruction by the former regime during the years of war, which left its profound effects on Syrian cities and their surroundings, the Palestinian camps are facing a critical stage that requires a careful reading of reality and a clear assessment of the extent of the destruction and reconstruction needs. Between the limited international efforts and the attempts of the people to rebuild what was destroyed, a new picture of the camps is being formed, combining great challenges with the first steps towards recovery.

In this context, "Syrian News" conducted an exclusive interview with  the Director of the General Authority for Palestinian Arab Refugees, Sayed Al-Masri, who presented a comprehensive view on the reality of the camps, the rates of destruction, the restoration paths, and the file of the return of the displaced, in addition to clarifying the facts related to the future of Yarmouk camp and related projects.

Widespread destruction in Palestinian camps

The director of the Commission confirms that the Palestinian camps in Syria "have been hit by the bombardment and destruction that has affected the Syrian neighborhoods", pointing out that some camps have been subjected to great and systematic destruction during the years of war, and the  Yarmouk camp stands out at the forefront of the most affected areas, as the rate of destruction exceeds 70% according to the statistics of specialized institutions, while the percentage exceeds 50% in Daraa camp and Handarat camp in Aleppo.

Al-Masri added that  the damage affected Khan  Eshieh camp, including UNRWA buildings and properties, in addition to the destruction of schools and educational facilities in areas where Palestinians are present, such as Douma, indicating that this scene reflects the extent of the losses suffered in the housing and service infrastructure, and puts the camps in front of complex reconstruction challenges that require large funding and a long time.

Restoration Pathways... Between International Funding and Self-Efforts

Al-Masri explained that the restoration process is currently proceeding within two parallel tracks, the first depends on international funding, specifically from UNRWA, which focuses its efforts on Yarmouk camp, revealing that the coming days will witness the announcement of a plan to renovate about 3,000 houses distributed in the camps of Yarmouk, Neirab, Daraa and Handarat, in a "step that is the largest in years", according to him.

The second track, according to the director of the Authority,  is self-financing that is borne by homeowners or Palestinians residing abroad, in an attempt to restore life to their homes despite limited resources, pointing out  that this self-effort has played a pivotal role in returning some families to their homes, especially in light of the delay in international funding.

With regard to infrastructure, al-Masri explained  that this file "depends almost entirely on international support, especially from UNICEF, which is working to finance projects to rehabilitate sewage, water and electricity networks, with expectations that new projects will be announced soon in a number of camps."

The return of the people... Between Self-Effort and Economic Obstacles

Al-Masri stressed that UNRWA adopts clear criteria in selecting houses that deserve restoration, most notably that the destruction should be partial rather than complete, and that the beneficiary should be an actual resident of the house and unable to rent or self-renovate,  stressing that these criteria aim to ensure that support reaches the most needy groups, and prevent the exploitation of restoration programs by the undeserving.

Despite the great destruction, the camps have witnessed a remarkable return of residents during the past months, mostly through the efforts of citizens and homeowners, Al-Masri points out that the government effort and civil society institutions played an important role in removing the rubble and restarting some facilities, while the Authority implemented service projects that included sewage and water networks and the opening of schools and service centers inside the camps, which contributed to promoting the gradual return of the displaced.

The director of the General Authority for Palestinian Arab Refugees (GPA) stresses that the  obstacles are "still great," as he believes that reconstruction is "the biggest challenge, as the camps need huge international funding to rebuild houses, infrastructure, schools and health centers. In addition, there are no job opportunities within the camps, which makes many residents in need of economic empowerment programs that will help them regain their normal lives."

Al-Masri reveals that discussions are currently underway with international partners to secure funding that will accelerate the return of the people, noting that UNRWA recently launched a project to renovate houses, and announced a project to renovate a school and several facilities inside Yarmouk camp with Italian funding of 2 million euros.

 Yarmouk Camp... No approved organizational plans and the people are partners in any decision

Regarding the rumors about investment projects or residential towers inside Yarmouk camp, Al-Masri stressed that there is still no approved plan to reorganize the camp, pointing out  that discussions with the Damascus governorate focus on the need for the participation of the camp's residents in drawing any future organizational plan, and that the commission "will play the role of a mediator between the local community and the governorate."

He adds that any talk of compensation or ownership is "premature", because these files are only discussed after a formal regulatory scheme has been adopted.

On the humanitarian side, Al-Masri stresses that UNRWA is still the "leading entity" in providing aid to Palestinian refugees, despite the significant decline in funding from donor countries, stressing that this decline is exclusively related to the lack of international funding and not to any government change.   

Between the widespread destruction and attempts to rehabilitate, the Palestinian camps in Syria are facing a long phase of work to rebuild what was destroyed, waiting for sufficient international support and a collective will to restore these areas to their social and humanitarian role, which has always been part of the memory of Syrians and Palestinians alike.