Briefing by Russian Centre for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria (September 4, 2019)
Peaceful settlement of the conflict and rendering of comprehensive assistance are the main vectors of work in the Syrian Arab Republic.
Representatives of the Russian Centre for Reconciliation held two humanitarian actions in Aleppo city, and Ein Tarma, Damascus province. People received 1,250 food sets with a total weight 6.187 tons. In total, since the Russian Centre for Reconciliation started settlement process, it carried out 2,197 humanitarian actions. The total weight of humanitarian cargo delivered amounts to 2,807.86
Since September 30, 2015, in total 614,160 Syrians have returned back to their homes from abroad. 1,303,891 internally displaced persons returned back to their places of pre-war residence.
Social infrastructure is being recovered to create favourable conditions for returnees. As for September 4, 2019, 32,269 houses, 890 educational facilities and 195 medical centres has been recovered. Besides, 1,080.7km of roads have been repaired.
Despite the ceasefire regime being established throughout the Idlib de-escalation zone, there is an increase of cases of ceasefire regime violation by illegal armed formations.
On September 3, 26 cases of shelling have been registered. The militants of illegal armed groups fired on settlements of Benjamin, Sabikia in Aleppo province; Ain-El-Kantara, El-Asi, Ardash-Dag, Kara-Galia, Kara-Jegez, Saraf, Naheba, El Areim, Mamuhiya in Latakia province; Sukkoria, Zaituna, Al-Qasabiya, Zaytunzhik, Tell El Maktva, Huayn El Kebir, Ajaz, Tell El Turki, Sharjah in Idlib province; El Jammasia in Hama province.
The Russian Centre for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides urges leaders of illegal armed formations operating in the Idlib de-escalation zone to cease hostilities and move towards peaceful settlement of the situation in areas they occupy.
Bulletin of the Centre for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides and Refugee Migration Monitoring (September 4, 2019)
Return of Refugees from abroad
Over the past day, in total 1,402 people returned to the Syrian Arab Republic from the territory of foreign states: 420 people (126 women and 215 children) left Lebanon for Syria via the Jaydet-Yabus and Talkalakh CPs, and 982 people (295 women and 501 children) from Jordan via the Nasib CP.
Since July 18, 2018, in total 384,880 Syrians have returned back to their homes from abroad:
121,907 refugees have left Lebanon (36,729 women and 62,100 children), with 72,822 of them – via the Jeydet-Yabus CP, Zemrani – 4,346 people, 1,834 people via al-Dabusiyah, 854 people via the al-Qusayr and 42,051 via Talkalakh;
262,973 people (78,926 women and 134,104 children) have passed via the Nasib CP from Jordan.
According to consolidated information provided by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, as for August 22, 2019 there are still 6,648,041 registered refugees seeking asylum in 45 countries worldwide, with 1,994,412 women and 3,390,501 children among them.
In 45 embassies of the Russian Federation in foreign countries where the Syrian refugees seek asylum, 30 countries (Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Germany, Egypt, Iraq, Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, Greece, Switzerland, Cyprus, Belgium, Italy, Romania, Spain, Ireland, Malta, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Argentina, Luxembourg, Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Iceland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Latvia) confirmed the figures provided by the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, on Syrian citizens in these countries.
At present there are 6,318,357 Syrians in these countries: (Turkey – 3,654,173, Lebanon – 926,717, Jordan – 664,330, Germany – 534,011, Egypt – 130,371, Iraq – 253,085, Netherlands – 74,998, Austria – 42,505, Denmark – 17,995, Greece – 13,139, Switzerland-6,702, Cyprus-5,899, Belgium-3,982, Italy-3,836, Romania-3,101, Spain-2,352, Ireland-1,729, Malta-1,289, Bosnia and Herzegovina-1,630, Poland – 1,069, Argentina – 1,496, Luxembourg – 663, Croatia – 530, Slovenia – 460, Bulgaria – 180, Hungary – 51, Iceland – 197, Slovakia – 43, Czech Republic – 39, Latvia – 19).
It is estimated, that 1,712,264 Syrians in nine countries expressed their desire to return back to their homeland (Lebanon – 889,031, Turkey – 297,342, Germany – 174,897, Jordan – 149,268, Iraq – 101,233, Egypt – 99,834, Denmark – 412, Brazil – 149, Austria – 68, Argentina – 30).
Since September 30, 2015, in total 614,160 Syrians have returned back to their homes from abroad (184,313 women, 313,126 children).
Twelve CPs have already deployed for returnees, among them there are:
five on the Syria-Lebanon border (Zemrani, Jaydet-Yabus (Zabadani), al-Sabusiya (al-Aarida), Talkalakh and al-Qusayr (Qusayr));
one on the Syria-Jordan border (Nasib);
four in the Syrian Arab Republic (Abu-al-Dukhur, al-Salhiyah, Jleb, Suran);
one CP at Damascus international airpo.rt;
one CP at Baniyas sea port.</p
The leadership of Syria is taking active steps aimed at increasing the efficiency of the process of repatriation of Syrian refugees from the territory of foreign states.
Internal Displacement
It is reported that no Syrians returned back to:
No people to the Eastern Ghouta (Damascus province); Since September 30, 2015 – 142,104 people (43,031 women, 70,199 children);
No people to the places of permanent residence in Deir ez-Zor province through the checkpoint al-Salhiyah. Since August 25, 2018, in total, 41,134 people (women – 14,130 children 18,824), 2,418 vehicles and 2,299 heads of cattle.
no refugees passed through the Jleb checkpoint (Homs province). Since February 19, 2019, in total, 21,129 people (women – 5,841, children 10,310), 1,439 vehicles and 4,879 heads of cattle.
Over the past day, no refugees have left the Rukban camp. Since March 23, 2019, in total 17,934 people (women 5,125, children 8,994), 842 vehicles have left the area.
Over the past day, no refugees have left the Idlib de-escalation zone. Since March 4, 2018, in total, 44,736 people (women – 14,413, children 20,398), 4,751 vehicles and 54,841 heads of cattle left the Idlib de-escalation zone.
Since September 30, 2015, in total 1,303,891 IDPs have returned back to their homes in the Syrian Arab Republic (393,483 women, 659,966 children). Since January 1, 2019, 35,295 IDPs (10,927 women, 16,200 children).
Cities and Towns Ready to Receive Refugees
There are 1,502,650 places arranged to receive and accommodate refugees in 413 settlements less affected by the combat actions.
Infrastructure Rehabilitation
Seven buildings have been recovered over the past day (Osman (Daraa province) – tree, Bayt-Sawa (Damascus province) – four), a bakery in Nafa (al-Quneitra province) and a water pump station in es-Sukhne (Homs province).
They assessed the social infrastructure and facilities, housing fund, amount of construction materials available in Arak (Homs province), and Rusheida (al-Suwayda province). In order to improve living conditions for Syrians, and to complete infrastructure rehabilitation it is necessary to supply materials in the following towns:
Arak – a dump truck, 8 windows, 5 cu m of brick, 6 cu m of cement, 5 tons of building bars, 600kg of lime and filling, 300m of water pipes, 500m of electric cables, to overhaul eight houses, and a medical centre;
Rusheida – a excavator, 17 windows, 7 cu m of brick, 7 cu m of cement, 9 tons of building bars, 600kg of lime and filling, 400m of water pipes, 500m of electric cables, to overhaul two houses, a school and a medical centre.
Heads of local administrations prepared applications to the Ministry of Public Works and housebuilding to receive construction materials for recovering social infrastructure.
Since July 18, 2018, in total, in the Syrian Arab Republic:
195 medical and 890 educational organizations have been recovered;
five road bridges and 1,083.4 km of roads were recovered (0.1 km – over the past day);
1,002.9 km of power line have been installed (0.2 km – over the past day);
711 power substations, 169 water supply facilities (one over the past day), 240 bakeries (one over the past day), 14,425 industrial enterprises have been put into operation.
Currently, in 345 settlements of the provinces of Aleppo, Damascus, Deir-ez-Zor, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Daraa, al-Suwayda, al-Quneitra, Raqqa, work is underway to overhaul 2,623 houses, 221 schools, 166 kindergartens, 224 medical centres, 190 bakeries, 207 power substations, 264 water pump stations, and 93 places of worship.
Humanitarian Assistance
Over the past day there were three humanitarian actions to distribute 6,187 tons of food supplies.
People in ِAleppo received 500 food sets with a total weight of 2.475 tons.
People in Mesraba, Damascus province, received 500 food sets with a total weight of 3.712 tons.
Besides, the Kadyrov Regional Public Fund distributed a ton of bread in Aleppo city.
. In total, the Russian side has organised and carried out 2,197 humanitarian actions, delivering 3,572.97 tons of food supplies, the bare necessities and bottled water.
15 civilians including five children received first medical aid in the town of al-Salhiyah (Deir ez-Zor province).
In total, 106,104 Syrians were provided with medical assistance by Russian military medics.
Mine Clearance
The SAA engineering units carry on the mine clearance operation in the settlements of Shaukatliya, al-Othmaniyah, Oufaniya, Trunja, Rafid, Qseiba (al-Quneitra province), Nafa (Damascus province).
2.3 ha of the territory. They found and defused 33 explosive devices.
In total: 2,396 ha of the territory, 3,112 buildings and 273.4km of roads. They found and defused 25,541 explosive devices including 5,388 improvised explosive devices.
Arrangements for Refugee Reception
The government program on restoration settlements liberated from the militants has started in Damascus, Aleppo and Hama provinces. The program consists of three phases: preparation of infrastructure (water supply, electrification), targeted aid to the population, the repatriation of residents to permanent housing.
National Reconciliation Committees established in Syrian provinces and cities (made up by heads of administrations, police, sheiks, representatives of public organizations and opposition) hold negotiations on joining ceasefire regime and voluntary defection to the side of legal government and the surrender of weapons. Former members of illegal armed formations and internally displaced persons are granted amnesty who lived in the territories earlier occupied by terrorists.
The Joint Coordination Committee of the Syrian Arab Republic on the repatriation of refugees carries out social and economic activities to activate the process of infrastructure rehabilitation; all necessary measures are taken to enable refugees and internally displaced persons to return back to their homeland.
Officers of the Russian Centre for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides held two working meetings:
with Aleppo Deputy Governor on social affairs;
in al-Husainiyah with the head of administration on the issue of restoring electricity.
SYRIA 360° INTERNATIONALIST 