Local Administration Minister Omar Ghalawanji stressed the importance of unifying and coordinating efforts in relief works with the International Organization for Immigration, during a meeting with head of the organization William Lacy Swing on Monday.
Ghalawanji added that the government is exerting great efforts to bring citizens back to their cities and towns after the Syrian army restores security and stability to these areas.
The minister pointed out that about 1.7 million citizens have returned to their areas after the government repaired and restored infrastructure and public facilities in these areas, noting that the government is still overseeing more than 500 temporary housing centers.
He announced the launch of new projects for makeshift housing centers in Damascus countryside and Homs, each of which can house up to 2,000 residents and are funded entirely by the government.
Ghalawanji also referenced the “My Project” program launched by the government in cooperation with the Syria Trust for Development, which aims at giving small loans to families to secure their needs and improve local economies.
Speaking on measures taken to facilitate the access of humanitarian and food convoys to all areas, Ghalawanji said that the government provided the necessary facilitations for U.N. agencies and the International Committee of the Red Cross in cooperation with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.
He said that the government has begun making zoning plans in a number of areas in several provinces as models for reconstruction projects in the next stage, adding that preparations are under way for a comprehensive project to restore life to the Old City in Homs in cooperation with a number of international organizations.
This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
