SSG Assigns Official Addresses to Homes in Idlib

The Syrian Salvation Government (SSG) continues to organise urban areas within the areas of Idlib governorate that it controls, by dividing them into sectors containing residential blocks and assigning these buildings and homes with numbers, followed by a census of the residents. The SSG, which is affiliated with the hardline Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has not released any information or statistics about the project. However, in practice, every residence now has its own unique number printed on its exterior.

This printed number now acts as a residential address, required in all official transactions, including student records in schools, complaints, or applications for personal documents. The government has also required non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in Idlib to use these numbers in their databases of service beneficiaries. The NGOs have started complying with these instructions. For example, in the Green Hands project, funded by Global Communities, which provides water and sewage services and waste collection in the Atmeh camps, those wishing to raise objections to the project were asked to attach a photo of the residential number along with the complaint through the project electronic application.

The Directorate of Planning, part of the SSG’s Ministry of Development and Humanitarian Affairs, initiated the house numbering project in 2021. The Directorate has completed the numbering of the Atmeh area, north of Idlib, which includes the towns of Atmeh, Qah, and Aqrabat, as well as large camps for internally displaced people, most of which are made of mud bricks with plastic or metal roofs, according to a correspondent for The Syria Report. For the numbering process, the area was divided into sectors and neighbourhoods, each containing around 50 homes. The numbering system involves assigning each sector or neighbourhood a letter code in English, from A-Z, followed by a number for each residence. A blue-painted identification plaque, made from pre-prepared templates, is printed on the wall of each home, displaying the sector code, house number, as well as floor number (ط for floors) and flat number (ش for flats). Commercial shops were numbered in the same way. Anyone who changes their residence or builds a new home must contact the Directorate to number their new property in order to receive services from the Ministry, particularly within the camps. The Directorate has appointed a local resident as a manager for each sector to oversee service provision and monitor NGO activities within their sector.

The numbering process was carried out using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which are integrated computer systems that enable users to collect, store, analyse, and display geographic and spatial information. GIS is an effective tool for urban planning, sustainable development, and environmental sciences. The Directorate is continuing to map out sectors and residences, although the geographical coordinates have not yet been entered.

Immediately following the numbering project, the SSG carried out its first population census. Locally, this was referred to as the “Ministerial Census” to distinguish it from surveys carried out by NGOs, which target groups eligible for humanitarian aid. The census was conducted by committees that visited every residence, verified its occupants, and recorded their personal data, including their occupations and any special needs. This data was linked to the house numbers. The correspondent noted that both the numbering and the census contributed to building an updated database, allowing each residence to be connected to its occupants, whether they are owners, tenants, or simply temporary residents.

The numbering and census helped the Directorate of Planning obtain detailed maps and plans containing accurate data on the distribution of camps, schools, hospitals, pharmacies, bakeries, and even the locations of widows, orphans, war victims, and those eligible for social care. This process also allows for filtering the names of residents in specific areas and verifying them when implementing relief initiatives or projects, ensuring that individuals do not benefit more than once from the same project.