housing land and property

19 10, 2023
  • Satellite images show increasing damage to buildings in al-Hajar al-Aswad, a city south of Damascus, in the years since regime forces regained control in May 2018 (Google Earth/SkyFi/Syria Direct)

Buildings in Damascus’ al-Hajar al-Aswad demolished, rubble sold

By Habib Shehada|2023-10-20T09:47:21+02:00October 19, 2023|

In al-Hajar al-Aswad, south of Damascus, buildings are steadily being demolished—regardless of whether they are structurally sound—with the rubble sold for profit under the eyes of regime forces. Some fear demolitions could be a precursor to expropriations under redevelopment plans.

15 08, 2023

The Hope to Return (Episode 5): The future of the camps

By Lyse Mauvais|2023-08-15T14:44:23+02:00August 15, 2023|

Many houses have been destroyed, looted or confiscated by Turkish-backed armed groups in areas they seized during Operation Peace Spring. Similar acts have been carried out with impunity by a range of armed groups across Syria in recent years. Meanwhile, many displaced people have lost the documents proving that they own land or a house in their native towns and villages. What can Khedr, Amina and Zahra do to protect their property rights back home? This is the fourth episode of “The Hope to Return,” a podcast series by Syria Direct.

7 08, 2023

The Hope to Return (Episode 4): Clinging to the land

By Lyse Mauvais,|2023-08-09T14:42:43+02:00August 7, 2023|

Many houses have been destroyed, looted or confiscated by Turkish-backed armed groups in areas they seized during Operation Peace Spring. Similar acts have been carried out with impunity by a range of armed groups across Syria in recent years. Meanwhile, many displaced people have lost the documents proving that they own land or a house in their native towns and villages. What can Khedr, Amina and Zahra do to protect their property rights back home? This is the fourth episode of “The Hope to Return,” a podcast series by Syria Direct.

17 07, 2023

The Hope to Return (Episode 1): The mill

By Lyse Mauvais,|2023-08-09T14:40:46+02:00July 17, 2023|

Amina al-Fares lives with her family of 11 in an abandoned mill in the countryside of Tal Tamar, in Syria’s northeastern Hasakah province. The family was displaced from their home near Ras al-Ain in 2019, and lived in the open for many months until they found this place. But they now risk being expelled by its owner.

21 03, 2023

‘Strangers in our own homes’: A waning Assyrian community holds on in northeastern Syria

By Lyse MauvaisSolin Muhammed Amin|2023-03-21T17:15:47+01:00March 21, 2023|

Eight years after the Islamic State attacked Assyrian villages along the Khabour River in Hasakah province, less than 10 percent of the community has returned to its historic home. What are the housing, land and property issues faced by this community in exile? And how do Assyrians see the future of their villages, which have become home to thousands of displaced people?

Go to Top