FILE IMAGE: Andrey Gryaznov/TASS
During a press briefing on September 20, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova revealed additional details on the humanitarian situation in Syria and Russian efforts to improve it (source):
With the assistance of the Russian Centre for Receiving, Distributing and Accommodating Refugees, the flow of returnees from Lebanon and Jordan continues. More than 13,000 people have returned to their homes in Syria since July 18, 2018 (that is, only in a matter of two months), and more than 242,000 people since September 30, 2015.
Internally displaced persons are returning to their homes as well, since the situation in the area liberated from terrorists has stabilised. Since January 1, 2018, 148,000 IDPs have returned to their homes, and 1,321,000 people in total since September 30, 2015 (the figures are tentative, but based on factual data).
We note with satisfaction the stabilisation of the situation in southwestern Syria after the military operation was successfully completed there in August. Life there is gradually returning to normal. The Syrian government is organising work to restore key infrastructure facilities and various humanitarian projects are still underway.
In all, about 30,000 residential buildings, over 5,000 educational and 150 medical institutions have been repaired in Syria since September 2015. We are talking about a period of several years. Importantly, all of that is happening amid the brutal fight against international terrorism being waged by the Syrians and the Syrian government with Russia’s support. These are not data during peacetime, developing or restoring these buildings during a time not marred by fighting terrorism, but rather at the high point of this fight.
During the same period, Russia carried out about 2,000 humanitarian aid projects, as part of which over 3,000 tonnes of food and basic necessities were distributed. Russian military doctors provided qualified help to 93,000 Syrians.
We are making contacts with stakeholders in order to resolve the acute problem of the Rubkan camp of refugees and internally displaced persons in an area that the United States illegally and unilaterally took under its control. According to our estimates, it can be resolved by providing residents with all forms of humanitarian aid, arranging safe corridors for the people who want to leave, creating status resolution points, and continuing the practice of concluding ceasefire agreements.
Now compare this to what’s going on in areas under western control.