The local administration discusses with the UNHCR bilateral cooperation

On August 28th, the Minister of Local Administration and Environment and Chairman of the Higher Relief Committee, Engineer Hussein Makhlouf, met with the head of the UNHCR mission in Syria Sivanka Dana Bala. 

The two sides discussed areas of bilateral cooperation, ways to develop them, and the possibility of participating in supporting the process of safe return of displaced Syrians and refugees to their country. 

Minister Makhlouf stated that one of the priorities of the Syrian state is to create conditions for the voluntary and safe return of all Syrians to their homeland, while working at the same time to complete the rebuilding of infrastructure in the liberated areas. 

Minister Makhlouf noted that the amnesty decrees issued included all Syrians in addition to facilitating and simplifying procedures in the border crossings and providing services for returnees such as transportation, relief, humanitarian aid, medicine, education, livelihood projects and others. 

The Minister stressed that the importance of projects implemented in cooperation with the Ministry and UNHCR, especially lighting projects with renewable energies, repairing damaged homes, preparing temporary residence centers and rebuilding infrastructure in various regions. 

For his part, Dana Bala indicated that the facilities provided by the Syrian government contributed to accelerating the work of the UNHCR in Syria. 

Dana Bala expressed his hope to continue cooperation and coordination to ensure the achievement of the desired results of the UNHCR’s work in providing the necessary support for the displaced and creating the appropriate conditions for their return to their homeland.

Dana Pala indicated that today’s meeting comes in the context of preparations for the visit of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi to the region with the aim of discussing the situation of the displaced in Syria and neighboring countries and the existing and future cooperation projects between the two sides.

O. al-Mohammad