Idlib, Aug. 16 (SANA) More than 1,000 displaced Syrians from 217 families left camps in northern Syria on Sunday to return voluntarily to their home areas in the countryside of Idlib, Hama and Damascus, as efforts continue to support the return and resettlement of displaced families.
The “Idlib 217” convoy brought together 1,077 people from 79 camps in the Dana area, with families returning to 30 locations in the Idlib countryside and one location each in the Hama and Damascus countryside.
The operation was organized under the sponsorship of Idlib Governorate in cooperation with the Directorate of Social Affairs and Labor, Muzun for Humanitarian and Development, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and the Emergency and Disaster Directorate.
Ahlam al-Rashid, director of Social Affairs and Labor in Idlib Governorate, told SANA that voluntary return convoys have been operating for more than a month, with most families heading to the southern Idlib countryside.
Al-Rashid said organizers introduced a new distribution system under which families receive their allocated assistance and depart immediately, reducing waiting times and congestion at the departure point.
She said authorities and partner organizations were working to ensure a safe and dignified return and aimed to reach “zero tents” by the end of the year.
Support will continue after families reach their communities, with organizations being directed toward infrastructure, education, home rehabilitation, healthcare and livelihood projects to help returnees rebuild their lives and strengthen local stability, al-Rashid said.
Mohammad Sweid, from Kafr Nabl, said his family had lived in camps since being displaced in 2019 after their home and much of their town were destroyed. He expressed happiness at returning and thanked those involved in facilitating the process.
Ahmad Othman al-Aswad, from Madaya village, said the initiative provided important support for families seeking to return home after years of forced displacement and called for similar efforts to reach more camps.
The convoy is part of a series of voluntary return operations organized by relevant authorities in cooperation with international organizations to help displaced Syrians leave camps and return to their areas of origin.
N.J/ABD
