Syria aims to eliminate refugee camps by September 2027

Syria’s Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management, Raed al-Saleh, announced progress regarding the ‘Syria without camps’ vision, aiming to conclude the camp issue by September 2027. Currently, approximately 141,000 families reside in camps, though over 200 camps have already been closed. About 20 percent of the camp population has returned to their home regions following the formation of a multi-ministerial committee established by Decree 59.

In Idlib, there are 786 camps housing roughly 458,250 people, while return areas in Aleppo contain 391 camps. Officials noted that over 40 percent of residents live in cement structures that could be converted into organized residential communities. The most challenging cases involve the 8 percent of families lacking homes or land, for whom the government is seeking solutions through employment and temporary rental assistance.

Regarding reconstruction and safety, approximately 3 million cubic meters of debris were removed in the first eight months of 2026, with a goal to reach a ‘Syria without debris’ status by mid-2028. Efforts are underway to recycle debris for construction materials and road rehabilitation. Additionally, the Ministry of Defense reported the removal of 130,000 landmines during 2025, and work continues on a national framework for landmine governance and an early warning system expected by late 2027.