Speaking at the 2026 Global Security Forum in Doha, Syria’s Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh said that the main pillar of national security must be investment in Syrian citizens, protection of their dignity, and their right to live in safety and freedom. According to him, building the state and its institutions begins and ends with restoring people, who are the “compass” guiding the government’s work. The minister stressed that the challenges are compounded by the legacy of decades of authoritarianism and a devastating war: damaged infrastructure, millions of tons of rubble, and extensive mine networks.
According to al-Saleh, the ministry has adopted an action plan along two parallel tracks: strengthening field readiness and responding to everyday and emergency disasters, while also creating the engineering and organizational foundations for a comprehensive national response system and a multisectoral early-warning network. The strategy was supplemented by a detailed study of Syria’s geography and the classification of regions according to environmental risks. On this basis, the number and profiles of centers were determined, with the centers distributed among three operational categories featuring different levels of staffing, training, equipment, and response protocols, so that services can reach every citizen.
The minister paid particular attention to the legacy of the war. The ministry operates around the clock while simultaneously implementing a strategic plan for mine clearance, the removal of remnants of war, and rubble disposal. To this end, the National Center for Mine-Related Affairs was established to oversee strategy, national standards, and the technical and field supervision of organizations and companies. In addition, Presidential Decree No. 59 created a supreme government committee chaired by the minister of emergency situations to restore infrastructure in areas of voluntary return. Priorities include clearing rubble, demining residential and agricultural land, repairing schools, restarting medical facilities, and restoring water, sewage, and electricity networks—all as part of the goal of a “Syria without camps.”
Commenting on rising public expectations and criticism of the pace of the work, al-Saleh called them natural and understandable. He said these demands stem from Syrians’ love for their country and their desire for a rapid recovery after decades of deprivation. He recalled the government’s strong momentum since its formation, its successful management of the operation to deter aggression, and the decisive overthrow of the previous regime in 11 days, as well as the process of lifting sanctions, the eradication of drug trafficking, and preventive measures that spared Syria from the fires that engulfed neighboring countries. In his view, high expectations are the legitimate right of a people who have suffered for a long time. Syrians deserve services that preserve their dignity and uphold justice and equality, while the government nevertheless feels that its efforts remain insufficient given the scale of the sacrifices.
Speaking about international partnerships and sovereignty, the minister explained that Damascus maintains a clear division of responsibilities: the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management handles cooperation and partnerships from a technical, technological, and operational perspective, while political frameworks and sovereign decisions remain exclusively under the authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Once a political decision has been officially made and its strategic parameters defined, the ministry concludes technical negotiations, establishes working protocols, coordinates implementation, and facilitates the exchange of experience. He also noted a shift from the traditional understanding of security toward “human security,” in which the protection of citizens comes first, so that Syrians feel safe at home, at work, at school, at university, and on the roads.
As part of “disaster diplomacy,” al-Saleh stressed that natural disasters recognize neither geographical nor political borders and remind peoples of their shared fate, helping them overcome divisions. He cited the rapprochement between Turkey and Greece after the February 2023 earthquake, when a Greek humanitarian initiative to send rescuers opened channels for dialogue. According to him, the new Syria seeks to be a source of security and stability and a state that is the first to extend a helping hand. In particular, Damascus sent rescue teams to Venezuela despite the distance and the former regime in Caracas’s previous position toward the Syrian revolution. The minister concluded: “Humanitarian duty must not be politicized.”
Comments on the News
- Who was Raed al-Saleh before his appointment as minister of emergency and disaster management, and is he connected to the Syrian Civil Defence (the “White Helmets”)? — Before his appointment, he headed the Syrian Civil Defence, a volunteer rescue organization known as the “White Helmets.” Yes, he is directly associated with the organization and was one of its key figures.
- What does the goal of a “Syria without camps” mean in the Syrian context, and which camps or informal settlements for displaced people is it intended to close? — This is a government initiative and slogan calling for the gradual closure of camps and makeshift settlements for internally displaced people and their return to their places of permanent residence or to organized housing. It primarily concerns hundreds of informal tent camps and IDP settlements in northwestern Syria, especially in Idlib and the rural areas of Aleppo, as well as makeshift settlements for displaced people in other provinces.
- Which events are meant by the “operation to deter aggression” and the “overthrow of the previous regime in 11 days” that the minister cites as government achievements? — The “operation to deter aggression” refers to the offensive launched by Syrian opposition groups led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham on November 27, 2024. It led to the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024. Thus, “in 11 days” refers to the result of the same operation, not to a separate event.
Full version: Raed al-Saleh: We employ disaster diplomacy, and Syrians are the pillar of our national security