Bulletin of the Centre for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides and Refugee Migration Monitoring in the Syrian Arab Republic (January 13, 2019):
Ceasefire observation
As part of the implementation of the Memorandum on the establishment of de-escalation zones in the Syrian Arab Republic, signed by the Russian Federation, the Republic of Turkey and the Islamic Republic of Iran on 4 May 2017, control groups continue monitoring ceasefire compliance.
Over the last 24 hours, the Russian party of the Russia-Turkey Commission on violations of the Joint Agreement has registered 2 cases of firing in the provinces of Aleppo (1) and Latakia (1).
The Turkish side has registered 20 cases of ceasefire violations in the provinces of Hama (9), Idlib (5), Aleppo (4), Latakia (2).
Humanitarian aid provided for the Syrian population
Over the last 24 hours the Russian Centre for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides and Refugee Migration Monitoring has held thee humanitarian actions:
- People of Hatlah, Deir ez-Zor province, received 500 food sets with a total weight of 2.165 tons;
- People of al-Istabl,al-Quneitra province, received 500 food sets with a total weight of 2.165 tons;
- People of al-Arimah, Aleppo province, received 500 food sets with a total weight of 2.165 tons, 140kg of gingerbread, 420 backpacks.
- The total number of humanitarian actions – 2,040 with total weight of cargo – 3,214.713 tons.
Reconciliation of opposing sides
Over the last 24 hours, no ceasefire agreements have been signed.
Total number of settlements that had signed reconciliation agreements is 2,518.
The number of armed formations, which have claimed to observe the ceasefire regime, is 234.
Return of Refugees from abroad
Over the past day, in total 1,412 people returned to the Syrian Arab Republic from the territory of foreign states: 498 people (150 women and 253 children) left Lebanon for Syria via the Jaydet-Yabus and Talkalakh CPs, and 914 people (274 women and 466 children) from Jordan via the Nasib CP.
Since July 18, 2018, in total 95,636 Syrians have returned back to their homes from abroad:
- 40,664 refugees have left Lebanon (12,324 women and 20,660 children), with 24,097 of them – via the Jeydet-Yabus CP, Zemrani – 4,346 people, 1,834 people via al-Dabusiyah, 854 people via the al-Qusayr and 9,533 via Talkalakh;
- 54,972 people (16,517 women and 28,021 children) have passed via the Nasib CP from Jordan.
According to consolidated information provided by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, as for January 1, 2019 there are still 6,676,636 registered refugees seeking asylum in 45 countries worldwide, with 2,002,991 women and 3,405,084 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 6,337,088 Syrians in these countries: (Turkey – 3,622,366, Lebanon – 950,334, Jordan – 671,148, Germany – 534,011, Iraq – 251,793, Egypt – 132,553, 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, Iceland – 197, Bulgaria – 180, Hungary – 51, 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 324,916 Syrians have returned back to their homes from abroad (97,499 women, 165,603 children).
Ten CPs have already been 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);
- two in the Syrian Arab Republic (Abu-al-Duhur and al-Salhiyah);
- one CP at Damascus international airport;
- one CP at Baniyas sea port.
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 173 Syrians returned back to:
- Eastern Ghouta (Damascus province) – 30 people (10 women and 11 children). Since September 30, 2015 – 138,432 people (41,681 women, 68,809 children);
- 143 people (women – 47, children – 57) and 14 vehicles returned back to the places of permanent residence in Homs, Deir ez-Zor and Damascus provinces through the checkpoint al-Salhiyah.
- Since August 25, 2018, in total, 32,798 people (women – 11,138 children 15,234), 1,760 vehicles and 2,217 heads of cattle.
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 1,270,2754 IDPs have returned back to their homes in the Syrian Arab Republic (383,303 women, 644,676 children). Since January 1, 2019, 2,158 IDPs (744 women, 910 children).
Cities and Towns Ready to Receive Refugees
There are 1,497,650 places arranged to receive and accommodate refugees in 412 settlements less affected by the combat actions.
Infrastructure Rehabilitation
Seven buildings were recovered over the past day (Hamouriyah – two, Damascus province, Sheikh-Said – two, Aleppo province, Osman – three, Daraa province) and a school in Ayra (al-Suwayda province) and a water pump station in al-Bsera (Deir ez-Zor province).
In Adra (Damascus province), the SIAMKO joint Syrian-Iranian automobile plant resumed its work with a capacity of up to 40 cars per day.
The electricity supply has been fully restored in Trunzha, al-Quneitra province.
They assessed the social infrastructure and facilities, housing fund, amount of construction materials available in Quseiba (al-Quneitra province) and Hama. In order to improve living conditions for Syrians, and to complete infrastructure rehabilitation it is necessary to supply materials in the following towns:
Qiseiba – a tractor, a dump truck, 23 windows, 15 cu m of brick, 16 cu m of cement, 12 tons of building bars, 1,000kg of lime and filling, 1,150m of water pipes, 2,560m of electric cables, to overhaul six houses, a power station and a bakery;
Hama – a excavator, a dump truck, 28 windows, 16 cu m of bricks, 17 cu m of cement, 14 tons of building bars, 1,300kg of lime and filling, 1,100m of water pipes, 2,500m of electric cables, to overhaul seven houses and power supply station.
Heads of local administrations prepared applications to the Ministry of Public Works and housebuilding to received construction materials for recovering social infrastructure.
Since July 18, 2018, in total, in the Syrian Arab Republic:
- 719 medical and 132 educational organizations (one over the past day) have been recovered;
- five road bridges and 969 km of roads were recovered (1 km – over the past day);
- 887km of power line have been installed (1 km – over the past day);
- 568 power substations, 117 water supply facilities (two over the past day), 134 bakeries, 14,252 industrial enterprises (one over the past day) 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 2,155 houses, 212 schools, 184 kindergartens, 200 bakeries, 236 water pump stations, 210 power substations, 184 medical centres, and 93 places of worship.
Humanitarian Assistance
The Kadyrov Regional Public Fund distributed a ton of bread in Yarmouk, Damascus province.
In total, the Russian side has organised and carried out 2,037 humanitarian actions, delivering 3,208.22 tons of food supplies, the bare necessities and bottled water.
Ninteen civilians including 14 children received first medical aid in the town of al-Salhiyah (Deir ez-Zor province).
In total, 104,085 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), al-Zelaf (Damascus province), Ein-Zat, Talbiseh (Homs province).
21,9 ha of the territory. They found and defused 34 explosive devices.
In total: 1,468.7ha of the territory, 3,317 buildings and 260km of roads. They found and defused 17,597 explosive devices including 5,392 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.
Thank you Russia, your leadership, above all your people on the ground who are helping us with every form of humanitarian aid , reconstruction, security, and military support in our war for the Syrian Republic against the enemy. Heartfelt thank you to all Russian personnel !
Impressive that they found 1.5 million places for returning refugees amid the ruble…there is some very thoughtful planning and regard here amongst the figures.
And Raqqa is still in absolute ruins after more than 2 years, that still are the resting place of thousands of civilians killed by the USA whose troops currently control the city..
Don’t be fooled, there are two different Syria’s, there’s the one the US deep state media stooges show us, and then there’s the real Syria, if you want to see what the real Syria looks like now, just read the Syrian news you’ll see a different picture. The north where the US and Turks are currently in charge, are still just mostly piles of rubble, that’s true, but if you look at what’s going on down south, you won’t just see piles of rubble, you’ll see people trying to get on with their lives and rebuilding. It’s not all doom and gloom in the south, and in fact in some of the more secure locations, life is nearly back to normal. I don’t know where Assad’s been getting the money, but he’s already doing an excellent job of rebuilding the country, even before the fighting has even finished and the official money starts pouring in. I suspect china is helping out a lot more than we’re all being told. I suggest taking a look at the Syrian news sources themselves and see what the people are actually doing, don’t just assume it’s a destroyed country now, look for yourselves and decide. The refugees are starting to return in higher numbers now, and that alone is a good sign things have improved a lot. The poor civilians in the north watch the news and see life returning to normal in the south, I wonder what they think as they’re sitting in their burnt out homes, watching the kids in the south go to school every day and play in the parks after school, and even go to fares and excursions with their families, while they watch their own kids play in the burnt out rubble of their old homes, waiting for the next SAAF/Russian bomb to fall. I suspect a lot of anti Assad civilians in the north are becoming less and less anti Assad everytime they switch on the news from the south.