The people of Aleppo returned to homes that had disappeared... widespread destruction and no reconstruction

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The streets of the neighborhoods of the Syrian city of Aleppo are almost devoid of traces of the destruction left by the war, but despite this, thousands of displaced people and refugees continue to return to their homes since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in early December 2024, as they try to adapt to their new reality within their available capabilities.

About two million internally displaced people and approximately 1.8 million Syrian refugees were able to return to their homes, according to the latest statistics published by the United Nations. This number does not include those who returned to their country and then left it again after inspecting their property or visiting their family members who did not leave the country during the war years.

While photos and video clips from the city of Aleppo showed scenes of destruction in the city, which is the second largest city in the country after the capital, Damascus, where the destruction is noticeably concentrated in the eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo, which witnessed fierce confrontations nearly a decade ago between the Assad regime and its armed opposition.

Syrian families returned after a long absence to find themselves facing a new battle no less difficult than the displacement journey. After its homes lost a large part of their components, they were required to repair what was destroyed and secure what was lost, without having the necessary resources for that, especially with the economic crisis that resulted from the years of war and the country has not yet gotten rid of its effects.

In this context, the head of a family of 6 people said that he returned from Turkey days after the fall of Assad without knowing that his house was partially destroyed as a result of the battles that the city witnessed years ago, pointing out that he did not receive any financial compensation from the government to restore his house.

The thirty-year-old man also added, in telling his story to Al Arabiya.net/Al Hadath.net, that not starting reconstruction prevents many people from returning to their country. He pointed out that his brother had not yet been able to return from Türkiye because his apartment located in the Al-Shaar area was completely destroyed after the building was targeted.

Thousands returned to the city of Aleppo, like the man in his thirties, and most of them were shocked by a different reality: destruction, poverty, and the absence of livelihood. In the city's eastern neighborhoods, traces of war are still present in the cracked walls, broken windows, and houses in need of restoration.

While the returnees face a new winter with limited capabilities and aid that does not meet their needs.

Families who returned to their homes also found that restoring a roof to shelter them does not necessarily mean restoring life inside, as many homes need basic repairs, while furniture disappeared and property was lost or stolen during the years of war that lasted more than a decade.

Between a house that needs comprehensive renovation and another that lacks the most basic housing necessities, residents face burdens that exceed their ability to bear, at a time when many families do not have enough savings to start over.

This suffering is multiplied in the destroyed neighborhoods of Aleppo and other Syrian cities, with the approach of winter, as restoration work and ensuring heating turn into a daily challenge for returning families, and the costs of repairing doors, windows, and roofs rise.

The recent high cost of diesel fuel increases residents’ concerns about their ability to cope with the cold, especially since many of them are still unable to provide furniture, blankets, and basic needs for their family members.

In addition, residents contacted by Al-Arabiya.net/Al-Hadath.net indicated that they did not receive government support to renovate their homes, which prompted some of them to postpone repairs or to be content with what they could accomplish with simple capabilities, while parts of their homes remained unfit for comfortable and safe housing.

A number of returnees called on the Syrian government, international bodies, and humanitarian organizations to provide urgent aid, including building materials, financial grants, and the restoration of damaged homes, in addition to providing heating supplies, furniture, and basic needs.

They also expressed their hope that the return would turn from a mere return to the place into a real opportunity for stability, allowing them to live in homes that protect them from the cold and provide their children with the minimum level of safety.

Eastern Aleppo remains a witness to the extent of the devastation caused by years of war, while its residents are trying to rebuild their lives amid limited capabilities and accumulated needs. Between walls awaiting restoration and families preparing for a harsh winter, the people’s appeals are renewed for support that will ease the burdens of return and give them a real opportunity to start over.