Return of Refugees and IDPs Fraught with Challenges

After years of displacement and exile, the fall of the Assad regime at the end of 2024 has opened a new opportunity for refugees and internally displaced people to return to their homes and communities. However, this return remains fraught with challenges, primarily due to the extensive damage to housing and lack of access to repairs amidst the severe economic crisis and the absence of clear support mechanisms. 

While some people attempt to rehabilitate their homes, the lack of a legal and regulatory framework increases the risks of ownership disputes, and unregulated renovations may compromise public safety too. In this context, discussions about reconstruction and reforming housing policies become essential – not only to ensure a safe and sustainable return but also to address the legal and administrative gaps that could hinder the stability of returnees. 

In this article, urban planning expert Main Kafa explains how damaged housing can be rehabilitated in an organised manner and outlines the necessary steps to establish fair and sustainable policies that facilitate return and ensure long-term stability.

Obstacles to the return of refugees and IDPs

The return of refugees and displaced people remains hindered by material, legal, and social obstacles that make it unattainable for many. The destruction inflicted on homes during years of war, whether partial or total, has rendered many homes uninhabitable, while most returnees face dire economic conditions that prevent them from paying for repairs or rebuilding. In the absence of genuine support plans or comprehensive aid programmes, return is only feasible for those with sufficient financial resources, leaving the most vulnerable with only two options: living in unsafe housing or remaining in displacement.

Beyond material challenges, many displaced individuals also face legal obstacles in proving ownership of their homes, especially in cases where official documents are missing or lost during years of exile. Many of them lived in informal settlements before the war and possess only unregistered sale agreements as proof of ownership, making the process of reclaiming their homes highly complex. Under these circumstances, the prospect of return shifts from a dream to a dilemma, raising pressing questions about how to overcome these challenges and guarantee housing rights for returnees without allowing return to remain a privilege for a select few.

The risks of unregulated returns

In the absence of clear policies to regulate the return of refugees and displaced persons, the resurgence of informal settlements poses one of the greatest threats to social and housing stability. Many returnees are already facing complex legal issues, discovering that others are occupying their homes using forged purchase agreements or through squatting. Some returnees, in desperation, have taken over vacant homes that do not belong to them. These circumstances pave the way for endless property disputes and social conflicts. Additionally, the lack of official mechanisms to verify housing rights leaves room for fraud and illegal property seizures, further complicating rather than facilitating the return process.

Furthermore, returning to damaged homes – particularly in informal settlements – without prior structural safety assessments poses a direct threat to residents’ safety. Many partially damaged homes may be structurally unsound, at risk of collapse at any moment. Without clear safety standards, some neighbourhoods could become hazardous areas unfit for habitation, exacerbating the crisis instead of resolving it. All of this underscores the need to establish regulatory measures before allowing returns, ensuring that the process is planned and secure rather than devolving into chaos that reproduces displacement in a different form.

Rehabilitating partially destroyed homes without a regulatory framework

The challenge of returning refugees and displaced persons is not merely about opening the door for them but also about ensuring a safe and sustainable return through the structured rehabilitation of damaged housing. The extent of damage varies, some homes require only minor repairs, while others have sustained structural damage that renders them uninhabitable without extensive restoration. In the absence of a central mechanism to regulate this process, some individuals attempt to renovate their homes independently, while many others are unable to afford the costs, exacerbating social inequalities between those who can return and those forced to remain displaced.

Additionally, the lack of engineering oversight in repair works poses a serious public safety risk. Poorly executed restorations may lead to future collapses, particularly in areas that were heavily bombarded or extensively damaged. Temporary solutions adopted by residents may end up worsening the problem rather than solving it, making it imperative to establish a regulatory framework that includes specialised engineering committees to oversee repairs. Providing technical and financial support to families who cannot afford the costs is also essential to prevent return from becoming merely an attempt to survive in unsafe homes.

Linking housing rehabilitation to future policies

Restoring damaged homes cannot be treated as just an emergency response – it must be integrated into a broader vision that addresses the structural issues of housing and property rights in Syria. Many damaged homes are located in informal settlements or areas lacking proper urban planning, necessitating a long-term approach to reconstruction that reorganises these areas and guarantees the rights of their residents. The absence of a clear legal framework makes the rehabilitation process fraught with risks, especially given the persistence of restrictive laws such as Decree No. 40 of 2012, which criminalises any construction work carried out without a permit. This means that many returnees may face legal issues even after restoring their homes.

Moreover, unregulated reconstruction opens the door to property speculation and exploitation of residents’ needs, making it crucial to adopt policies that safeguard housing rights and prevent restoration from becoming an opportunity for illicit gains. Enacting legislation that protects property rights, establishing mechanisms to compensate affected individuals, and linking reconstruction efforts to developmental policies that promote social stability are all necessary steps to ensure that return is not merely an individual attempt to survive in temporary housing but rather part of a broader rebuilding project that fosters justice and prevents the recurrence of displacement in the future.

Towards a comprehensive rehabilitation strategy

To ensure a safe and sustainable return, precise damage assessment mechanisms must be adopted, combining field engineering surveys with drone analysis of affected areas, linking findings to digital maps to gauge the extent of destruction and direct rehabilitation efforts more efficiently. 

Involving professional syndicates and teams of volunteer engineers in the restoration process would ensure a minimum level of safety standards, particularly in informal settlements that suffer from poor urban planning. Given the varying financial capabilities of returnees, local administrative units should coordinate with municipal councils to identify the most vulnerable families and secure resources to support them, whether through contributions from Syrians abroad or international donors. 

However, any rehabilitation efforts will remain constrained by obstructive laws such as Decree No. 40 of 2012, necessitating the introduction of exceptional legislation that allows returnees to restore their homes within a regulated legal framework. Lessons can be drawn from previous experiences, such as the damage assessment surveys conducted after the 2023 earthquake in Aleppo, to establish a unified methodology that ensures fair resource distribution and mitigates risks associated with unregulated renovations.

The challenge of housing restoration: obstacles and possible solutions

The return of refugees and displaced persons to Syria cannot be reduced to a political decision or personal desire; it is a complex process that requires fundamental solutions to the challenges that hinder it – from deteriorating economic conditions to the lack of legal and regulatory support. Rehabilitating partially destroyed homes without a clear framework may lead to further disorder and risks, whether by stripping returnees of their housing rights or exposing them to unsafe living conditions. Without a comprehensive vision, the return process could become yet another crisis, reproducing displacement in a different form.

Therefore, clear and organised policies must be adopted to guarantee the right to housing for all, free from disorder or discrimination. This includes supporting rehabilitation projects, regulating repair work according to safety standards, and providing legal solutions for the most vulnerable groups. The success of the return process is not measured merely by the number of returnees but by their ability to resettle in a safe environment that upholds their rights and offers them a genuine opportunity to rebuild their lives.