Those returning to Homs are forced to start their lives over amid widespread destruction. In many areas, homes have been reduced to ruins: walls are damaged, floors have burned out, tiles have been torn up, and façades are covered with cracks. According to an Al Jazeera Mubasher report, varying degrees of destruction have affected 16 districts of the city, leaving its central neighborhoods in many respects resembling a ghost town.
Reconstruction is being hampered by a sharp rise in the prices of building materials and labor. Residents say material costs have increased roughly fourfold compared with the prewar period, while supply shortages and higher contractor fees have sometimes made repairing completely destroyed homes more expensive than building new housing. For many families, returning their homes to their former condition has become virtually unattainable.
At the same time, Homs has faced a sharp influx of people: between 300,000 and 400,000 residents have returned to the city, making it the leading destination in Syria in terms of the scale of return. The infrastructure was unprepared for such a burden: the volume of household waste has risen from 700 to 1,700 tons, while the need for debris removal, water, electricity, and other basic services has increased significantly. Despite this, the authorities cannot prevent people in urgent need of housing from returning.
Residents are seeking specialists among their relatives to assess the safety of damaged buildings, while young engineers are voluntarily advising them through the Engineers’ Union. This mutual assistance reflects the city’s continuing social cohesion. Despite the enormous costs, residents are determined to rebuild their homes and maintain their ties to their old neighborhoods. For example, Khalidiya, which was almost deserted just a year ago, has once again begun receiving families and passersby.
Comments on the News
How have the war and subsequent displacement affected the structure of Homs’s neighborhoods and the return of families to districts such as Khalidiya? — The war destroyed housing and infrastructure, altered the demographic makeup of neighborhoods, and led to the prolonged displacement of residents. The return of families to Khalidiya and other districts depends on the reconstruction of homes, the availability of public utilities, security guarantees, and economic opportunities; as a result, it is taking place gradually and unevenly.
What role does the Syrian Engineers’ Union play in assessing the safety of damaged homes and coordinating reconstruction efforts? — The union takes part in the technical assessment of damaged buildings, classifying them as habitable, in need of repair, or dangerous. It may also provide engineering expertise and coordinate reconstruction efforts with government agencies, municipalities, and other organizations. However, actual reconstruction depends on funding and administrative decisions.
Full version: High Costs and Lack of Support: Two Obstacles Hindering the Renovation of Homes of Those Returning to Homs