Published : 08-01-2020
Palestinian lawyer Nour AlDeen AlSaman, a resident of Yarmouk Camp, called on Palestinian refugees who used to take shelter in the camp to file lawsuits in order to return to their homes and retrieve their properties.
AlSaman’s calls came in response to the reluctance maintained by local authorities in Damascus regarding the residents’ ongoing appeals to rehabilitate infrastructure and allow displaced civilians to safely return to the camp.
The lawyer said concerned authorities have been dragging their feet despite the presidential decision green-lighting the safe return of Yarmouk residents to their abandoned homes.
He said practical steps, including legal measures, should be opted for in order to protect the ownership rights of displaced civilians and ensure that their properties are safely repossessed.
The Palestinian lawyer slammed Damascus Governor for turning his back on Palestinians’ calls for return, warning of underway attempts to alter demographic character of the camp and blur its identity as a living witness to the Palestinian refugee plight.
“Local authorities have not even removed one single pile of sand from the camp; nor have they reconstructed infrastructure”, he said. “We’ve only seen words rather than action. There’s no need for a new organizational plan. There’s already a certified plan which was approved in accordance with Law 23 of 2015.”
Last year, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) published the results of an assessment of the damage to Syrian cities caused by seven years of relentless bombardment by the incumbent regime and its allies since 2011.
The analysis found out that as many as 5,489 buildings were destroyed in Yarmouk Camp for Palestinian refugees. The damage atlas used satellite-detected damage analysis to identify buildings that are either destroyed, or severely or moderately damaged.
Most of Palestinian families taking shelter south of Damascus fled Yarmouk as a result of the tough blockade imposed by the government troops and also after ISIS grabbed hold of the camp on April 1, 2015.
Scores of other stranded families fled the camp following the 33-day military operation launched by the government forces on April 19, 2018. The Syrian government regained control over the camp and southern Damascus towns following the military operation. Dozens of civilians were killed and dozens more injured in the offensive. Over 80% of buildings have gone either totally or partially destroyed.
A number of activists and residents attempting to reach their homes in Yarmouk have been denied access into the area by Syrian government troops deployed at the main entrances to the camp.
Palestinian lawyer Nour AlDeen AlSaman, a resident of Yarmouk Camp, called on Palestinian refugees who used to take shelter in the camp to file lawsuits in order to return to their homes and retrieve their properties.
AlSaman’s calls came in response to the reluctance maintained by local authorities in Damascus regarding the residents’ ongoing appeals to rehabilitate infrastructure and allow displaced civilians to safely return to the camp.
The lawyer said concerned authorities have been dragging their feet despite the presidential decision green-lighting the safe return of Yarmouk residents to their abandoned homes.
He said practical steps, including legal measures, should be opted for in order to protect the ownership rights of displaced civilians and ensure that their properties are safely repossessed.
The Palestinian lawyer slammed Damascus Governor for turning his back on Palestinians’ calls for return, warning of underway attempts to alter demographic character of the camp and blur its identity as a living witness to the Palestinian refugee plight.
“Local authorities have not even removed one single pile of sand from the camp; nor have they reconstructed infrastructure”, he said. “We’ve only seen words rather than action. There’s no need for a new organizational plan. There’s already a certified plan which was approved in accordance with Law 23 of 2015.”
Last year, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) published the results of an assessment of the damage to Syrian cities caused by seven years of relentless bombardment by the incumbent regime and its allies since 2011.
The analysis found out that as many as 5,489 buildings were destroyed in Yarmouk Camp for Palestinian refugees. The damage atlas used satellite-detected damage analysis to identify buildings that are either destroyed, or severely or moderately damaged.
Most of Palestinian families taking shelter south of Damascus fled Yarmouk as a result of the tough blockade imposed by the government troops and also after ISIS grabbed hold of the camp on April 1, 2015.
Scores of other stranded families fled the camp following the 33-day military operation launched by the government forces on April 19, 2018. The Syrian government regained control over the camp and southern Damascus towns following the military operation. Dozens of civilians were killed and dozens more injured in the offensive. Over 80% of buildings have gone either totally or partially destroyed.
A number of activists and residents attempting to reach their homes in Yarmouk have been denied access into the area by Syrian government troops deployed at the main entrances to the camp.
