Saudi Arabia provides $1.5 billion to support the "Syria Without Camps" project.

The Saudi Pledge and Its Scope

Mohammed Bathish, head of the UN Cooperation Division at Syria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, announced that Saudi Arabia has committed $1.5 billion to the "Syria Without Camps" initiative, describing the pledge as a decisive step toward actual implementation of the project.

Speaking on the program "Syria Today," Bathish noted that the Syrian government has engaged the European Union and several donor countries to explore support mechanisms for the current and coming years, as part of a plan to resolve the internal displacement crisis before the end of 2025.

The Government's Vision

The government's approach centers on the gradual dismantling of displacement camps and securing safe, stable conditions for the return of displaced persons to their original towns and villages. The plan also encompasses the development of alternative housing projects and a structural shift away from dependence on humanitarian aid toward local production and self-sufficiency.

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa convened a meeting in February with the ministers of emergency management, housing, and finance, along with the governors of Idlib, Hama, and Aleppo, to discuss implementation mechanisms. Government workshops were subsequently launched in cooperation with specialized organizations to address the obstacles hindering resolution of the camps crisis.

Organizational Structure and Target Sectors

Deputy Minister of Emergency Management and Disaster Relief Ahmad Qaziz confirmed that the Saudi support is embedded within a comprehensive, multi-sector vision. He noted that Decree No. 59 assigned Emergency Minister Raed al-Saleh to chair the supervisory committee, which includes:

• Ministry of Local Administration and Environment
• Ministry of Housing
• Ministry of Finance
• Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor
• Governorates of Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama

Qaziz added that the project has expanded to cover health, education, and energy sectors, with Saudi funding earmarked for school rehabilitation and new construction, alongside health, services, and infrastructure projects. He confirmed that the Saudi Fund for Development will participate in overseeing fund disbursement in coordination with relevant government bodies, supported by financial and oversight committees to ensure transparency and efficiency.

Needs Assessment and Return Priorities

Qaziz stated that the Central Bureau of Statistics and Planning has completed detailed field studies in the camps of Idlib and Aleppo, including comprehensive surveys to identify the reasons why displaced persons have not yet returned. The government is currently developing an electronic platform to map the needs of priority return areas, based on criteria that include:

• The number of displaced persons originating from each area
• The socioeconomic conditions of families
• The availability of economic opportunities and livelihoods
• The nature of required interventions, whether rehabilitation, infrastructure upgrading, or new construction

Qaziz acknowledged that actual needs significantly exceed available funding, and that the $1.5 billion, while an important milestone, does not cover the full requirements for resolving the displacement crisis.

Microfinance Perspectives and International Support Prospects

Mohammed al-Bahaa, Executive Director of the Hayat Microfinance Fund, characterized the Saudi funding as the beginning of a recovery phase rather than a comprehensive rebuilding program, stressing that the continued presence of displaced persons in camps obstructs any meaningful economic or social recovery. He noted that the camps were established as emergency responses and were never designed to support sustainable economic activity or services in education, health, or employment.

Al-Bahaa suggested that a successful, transparent management of the Saudi funding could encourage other Arab and international donors to channel support directly to the Syrian government rather than through international organizations. Qaziz echoed this view, describing the Saudi support as a genuine test of the government's capacity to manage large-scale projects, and expressing confidence that a successful outcome could open the door to additional contributions from the World Bank and the European Union.