Syrians stuck in camps after finding homes destroyed

For Mehdi al-Shayesh, returning to his hometown in central Hama province after more than a decade of displacement was supposed to mark a fresh start. But like countless others, he found only ruins and devastation.

"We were unbelievably happy when the regime fell," the 40-year-old father of four told AFP from his makeshift home in Atme displacement camp, one of the largest in Idlib province.

But his excitement quickly turned to despair when he found his home had been bombed and abandoned for years, rendering it uninhabitable.

A displaced nation's struggle to return

The December 8 overthrow of Bashar al-Assad gave millions of displaced Syrians and refugees new hope for return. However, the reality is stark: widespread destruction, lack of infrastructure, and economic collapse make resettlement difficult, if not impossible.

According to David Carden, UN Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator, over 71,000 people have left camps in northwest Syria in the past two months, but two million remain. "Many are unable to return as their homes are destroyed, lack electricity or water, or are near minefields," he warned.

Life in limbo

Atme camp, near the Turkish border, was supposed to be temporary, yet tens of thousands still live there in cramped conditions, relying on humanitarian aid.

Mariam Aanbari, a 30-year-old mother of three displaced from Hama, summed up the dire situation: "We all want to return, but there are no homes to return to."

Her husband's income barely covers bread and water, and freezing temperatures make survival even harder. "It was difficult under Bashar al-Assad, and it's difficult now," she said, washing dishes in ice-cold water.

Who will help?

Syria's transitional authorities are looking to international donors—especially wealthy Gulf Arab states—to fund post-war reconstruction. But the scale of devastation, coupled with a collapsed economy, makes recovery a monumental challenge.

For many, hope remains. Sabah al-Jaser, 52, dreams of going home by the end of the school year, even if her house is destroyed.

"Thank God, we will return," she said determinedly. "We will pitch a tent if we have to."