Action Group | Rural Damascus
The Yarmouk refugee camp for Palestinians south of Damascus has witnessed the return of more than three thousand families to their homes, a step that reflects the residents’ desire to restore their normal lives after years of displacement and destruction that befell the camp.
According to Rola Ma’oud, head of the Yarmouk Services Department, the return coincides with the strenuous efforts made by the Syrian government in cooperation with international organizations to rebuild the camp and provide basic services to its residents.
Several factors have driven the residents to return to the Yarmouk camp, the most notable of which is the high rent in the areas they were displaced to, which will contribute to a decrease in the cost of living compared to the surrounding areas of Damascus.
However, returnees face significant challenges, the most prominent of which are the extensive destruction of homes and infrastructure, lack of financial resources, and the absence of some basic services.
Many returnees expressed their happiness at returning to their homes, emphasizing the importance of feeling safe and stable. However, they pointed out that there are significant challenges they face, such as the destruction that has affected their homes and the need for repairs, as well as the lack of job opportunities.
Some international organizations are striving to provide the necessary support to returnees and to rebuild vital facilities in the camp, by attempting to provide humanitarian aid, rehabilitate infrastructure, offer loans for home repairs, and create job opportunities.
The return of the residents to Yarmouk Camp marks the beginning of a new phase of revitalizing the camp, but it requires continuous efforts to overcome challenges and build a better future for the camp’s inhabitants who are still suffering due to the war.