Marina Lystseva/TASS
Bulletin of the Centre for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides and Refugee Migration Monitoring in the Syrian Arab Republic (January 28, 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 8 cases of firing in the provinces of Idlib (3), Aleppo (4) and Hama (1).
The Turkish side has registered 49 cases of ceasefire violations in the provinces of Idlib (16), Aleppo (4), Latakia (8) and Hama (22).
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 no humanitarian actions.
The total number of humanitarian actions – 2,052 with total weight of cargo – 3,238.528 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.
Bulletin of the Centre for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides and Refugee Migration Monitoring (January 28, 2019):
Return of Refugees from abroad
Over the past day, in total 1,113 people returned to the Syrian Arab Republic from the territory of foreign states: 417 people (125 women and 213 children) left Lebanon for Syria via the Jaydet-Yabus and Talkalakh CPs, and 696 people (209 women and 355 children) from Jordan via the Nasib CP.
Since July 18, 2018, in total 115,629 Syrians have returned back to their homes from abroad:
- 48,193 refugees have left Lebanon (14,583 women and 24,498 children), with 28,613 of them – via the Jeydet-Yabus CP, Zemrani – 4,346 people, 1,834 people via al-Dabusiyah, 854 people via the al-Qusayr and 12,546 via Talkalakh;
- 67,436 people (20,257 women and 34,376 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 6,675,308 registered refugees seeking asylum in 45 countries worldwide, with 2,002,592 women and 3,404,407 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 6,345,760 Syrians in these countries: (Turkey – 3,622,366, Lebanon – 948,849, Jordan – 671,551, Germany – 534,011, Egypt – 132,553, Iraq – 252,772, 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 344,909 Syrians have returned back to their homes from abroad (103,498 women, 175,796 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 304 Syrians returned back to:
- Eastern Ghouta (Damascus province) – 27 people (10 women and 10 children). Since September 30, 2015 – 138,919 people (41,848 women, 68,993 children);
- 277 people (women – 94, children – 130) and 24 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, 36,120 people (women – 12,263 children 16,769), 2,029 vehicles and 2,245 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 1,274,563 IDPs have returned back to their homes in the Syrian Arab Republic (383,595 women, 646,495 children). Since January 1, 2019, 5,967 IDPs (2,036 women, 2,629 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
Six buildings were recovered over the past day (Aiyash – two (Deir ez-Zor province), al-Mnute – two (al-Suwayda province), Dail – two (Daraa province)) and a water pump station in Yabroud (Damascus province), a bakery in Asharna (Hama province) and a power substation in Zerba (Aleppo province).
They assessed the social infrastructure and facilities, housing fund, amount of construction materials available in Djadua (Hama province), and Saida (al-Quneitra province). In order to improve living conditions for Syrians, and to complete infrastructure rehabilitation it is necessary to supply materials in the following towns:
Djadua –a wheeled crane, a dump truck, 17 windows, 8 cu m of brick, 11 cu m of cement, 9 tons of building bars, 830kg of lime and filling, 750m of water pipes, 1,150m of electric cables to overhaul four houses, a bakery and a water pump station;
Saida – an excavator, a grader, a dump truck, 22 windows, 15 cu m of brick, 16 cu m of cement, 10 tons of building bars, 1,250kg of lime and filling, 1,150m of water pipes, 2,500m of electric cables to overhaul five houses, a medical station and a power station.
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:
- 134 medical and 726 educational organizations have been recovered;
- five road bridges and 986 km of roads were recovered (1 km – over the past day);
- 903 km of power line have been installed (1 km – over the past day);
- 581 power substations (one over the past day), 123 water supply facilities (one over the past day), 145 bakeries (one over the past day), 14,256 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 2,183 houses, 212 schools, 181 kindergartens, 192 bakeries, 235 water pump stations, 206 power substations, 189 medical centres, and 93 places of worship.
Humanitarian Assistance
No humanitarian actions were held over the past day.
Besides, the Kadyrov Regional Public Fund has held two humanitarian actions:
- Syrian students in Aleppo received 40 sets of Russian language textbooks and 40 sets of stationery supplies;
- people in Bir Adjam (al-Quneitra province) received 100 sports suits, 100 blankets and 100 towels.
In total, the Russian side has organised and carried out 2,052 humanitarian actions, delivering 3,238.53 tons of food supplies, the bare necessities and bottled water.
Thirty-two civilians including 20 children received first medical aid in the town of al-Salhiyah (Deir ez-Zor province).
In total, 104,521 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).
15,7 ha of the territory. They found and defused 34 explosive devices including two improvised explosive devices.
In total: 1,760.4ha of the territory, 3,317 buildings and 273.4km of roads. They found and defused 18,119 explosive devices including 5,409 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. Efforts taken by the Syrian Arab Republic activate repatriation of refugees and internally displaced persons.
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.
The Local Authorities of Damascus province have announced the completion of work on the installation of an additional generator with a capacity of 630 kW in Artuz (Damascus province), which will reduce the number and duration of regular power outages.
Officers of the Russian Centre for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides and Refugee Migration Monitoring held three working meetings:
- with the Head of the city Security Committee on discuss reduction of crime in the city;
- with Daraa Governor to discuss organisation of humanitarian and charitable actions;
- with Latakia Deputy Governor to discuss organisation of humanitarian and charitable actions.
