Syrian Government Keen on Guaranteeing the Return of Displaced Syrians to Their Areas

DAMASCUS, (ST)-Deputy Prime Minister for Services Affairs, Local Administration Minister Omar Ghalawanji told the visiting Head of the International organization for Immigration (IOM) William Lacy Swing that some 1.7 million displaced citizens have returned to their original areas after Syrian Arab Army restored security and stability to these areas and after the government fixed the damage caused by terrorism to the infrastructure and public facilities there.

 Ghalawanji,  who stressed the importance of unifying and coordinating relief efforts with the IOM, said the government is still overseeing more than 500 temporary housing centers and providing the displaced basic needs. The government also seek establishing new temporary housing centers in Damascus Countryside and Homs.

According to Ghalawanji, the program called “My Project”, which was launched  by the government in cooperation with the Syria Trust for Development, aims at giving small loans to needy families as to secure their needs and enhance their socio-economic condition.

He stressed that the Syrian government has provided all necessary facilitations to UN organizations in cooperation with the Syrian Red Crescent to help them carry out their mission.  He clarified the work of the Higher Relief Committee and the procedures adopted as to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and food convoys to all areas, particularly areas besieged by terrorist organizations.

On his part, Swing said his visit to Syria aimed at enhancing cooperation between the Higher Relief Committee and the IOM and at assessing the needs on the ground.

 Hamda Mustafa