Syrian officials and the United Nations discussed Monday how to align international recovery programs with a government plan to end the country’s displacement camps, as Damascus seeks to facilitate the return of hundreds of thousands of Syrians to their homes.
The talks in Damascus brought together U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih and a Syrian committee overseeing the "Syria Without Camps” initiative.
They focused on identifying areas that should receive priority assistance and rehabilitating infrastructure and basic services needed for displaced people to return.
The plan calls for a gradual shift away from humanitarian programs centered on camps toward longer-term recovery projects in areas of return.
Syrian officials say the initiative is not intended to force people out of camps before conditions are suitable, but to create the housing, services and economic opportunities needed for voluntary, safe and sustainable returns.
The projects under discussion include the rehabilitation of hospitals, health centers, schools, water and sanitation networks, bakeries, municipal services, roads and transportation infrastructure.
The government has also called for greater coordination between Syrian authorities, U.N. agencies, international organizations, donors and the private sector.
The discussions come as official and U.N. references to a broader "Zero Camps" project have increased, particularly in northern Syria, where large numbers of displaced people continue to live in tent settlements.
In May, Syrian officials said Saudi Arabia had provided $1.5 billion in support for the initiative. The announcement was made during a workshop in Damascus organized by the Syrian Emergency and Disaster Management Authority in cooperation with the U.N. refugee agency.
The Saudi funding is expected to support projects aimed at helping displaced Syrians return to their homes, including infrastructure, housing and essential services. Syrian authorities have also been seeking financial support from the European Union and other donors for projects planned for 2026 and 2027.
The initiative has gained greater urgency as humanitarian funding for Syria has declined and millions of Syrians continue to face poverty and damaged or destroyed homes.
The Associated Press (AP) reported in May that more than 7 million Syrians remained internally displaced, with about 1 million still living in tents. President Ahmad al-Sharaa has pledged that displaced Syrians will no longer be living in tents and will have alternative housing by the end of 2027.
U.N. officials have stressed that returning people to their places of origin will require more than closing camps. Rebuilding homes, restoring public services and creating livelihoods will be necessary to ensure that returns are sustainable.
The scale of the task remains considerable. The World Bank has estimated that rebuilding Syria will cost about $216 billion, while humanitarian agencies have continued to reduce assistance amid funding shortages.