By Omar Abdurrahman
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – With the fall of the al-Assad regime and the withdrawal of Iranian-backed militias, most displaced residents of the city of Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria, have returned to find destroyed homes, economic hardship, and an uncertain future.
Their joy has been overshadowed by immense challenges in rebuilding their lives amidst the devastation left by war. The streets remain filled with rubble, and destroyed homes serve as a stark reminder of the conflict.
Struggles to secure shelter
Umm Mohammed, a returning resident of Deir ez-Zor who lost her husband in the conflict, describes the hardship of coming back, “The return was incredibly difficult.”
She tells North Press, “We came back to find only ruins. Everything was destroyed, and I feared for my children.”
Her biggest challenge is finding a safe place to live. “We are crammed into a tiny room. Prices are sky-high, and I cannot afford rent,” she says.
Umm Mohammed stresses the urgent need for aid, calling for debris removal, housing reconstruction, and financial assistance to meet daily needs. However, she notes that local and international support remains insufficient for rebuilding her and her children’s lives.
Many residents face the same struggle, unable to clear the rubble or secure alternative housing due to skyrocketing rental costs.
Ahmed Mohammed, 45, from the town of al-Mayadin, returned to Deir ez-Zor after years of displacement. Speaking to North Press, he says “Returning home was a dream after years of suffering in the camps.”
However, his hopes were shattered upon arrival. “I thought I would start a new life in my home, but the reality was painful. My house was completely destroyed, and rubble was everywhere. I cannot remove it, and I do not have the money to rebuild.”
His feelings of joy quickly turned to despair. “I cannot find a proper shelter for my family. We sleep in a tent next to our ruined home. My children are suffering, and I cannot provide for their basic needs.”
“It feels like my happiness has turned into a nightmare,” he laments. “How can one live in a tent beside their own home? Are we destined to remain in camps forever?”
Like many others, he calls on local and international organizations to take action, stressing that Deir ez-Zor is among the most devastated areas in Syria—destruction caused by wars in which civilians had no role.
Samir al-Ali, who returned to Abu Kamal with his children after hearing about improvements following the Assad regime’s fall, expressed similar frustration. He says, “I found my home completely destroyed. I cannot afford to remove the debris or build a new house.”
He adds, “I feel helpless and lost. We rely on friends and family, but it is unstable. We have no electricity, no clean water, and the children need schools. We are trapped in an endless cycle of suffering.”
International support
Local activist Ibrahim al-Hassan tells North Press that many returnees face overwhelming challenges. “They return to find nothing but the ruins of their homes, with no means to remove the rubble,” he explains.
He described the economic situation as “catastrophic,” with countless families living in dire conditions.
Al-Hassan emphasized the need for both international and local support to rebuild infrastructure, provide financial assistance to affected families, and launch debris removal and alternative housing programs.
“We must rehabilitate schools and public facilities to meet the community’s needs,” he adds.
Years of war have made Syrians the largest refugee population in the world, with displaced citizens spread across more than 127 countries, according to Human Rights Watch.
The U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports that 800,000 Syrian refugees have returned to Syria, while 600,000 internally displaced people have gone back to their homes.
In January, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi urged the international community to support reconstruction efforts in Syria to facilitate the return of millions of refugees and displaced individuals.