Damascus-SANA
The Minister of Local Administration and Environment, Chairman of the Higher Relief Committee, Engineer Hussein Makhlouf, discussed with the resident representative of the United Nations Development Program “UNDP” Ramla Al-Khalidi and the resident representative of the High Commissioner for Refugees Sivanka Darsha Dhanapala, the existing cooperation projects between the ministry, the United Nations Development Program and the High Commissioner for Refugees.
Minister Makhlouf pointed out during the meeting the importance of focusing on the priorities represented in the return of the displaced to their homeland and follow-up work in parallel in all regions to provide all services such as infrastructure, schools, hospitals, livelihood projects, and implement projects that contribute to strengthening local administration services and developing the capabilities of local councils in managing their resources.
Makhlouf highlighted the importance of the project to strengthen the capacity of local communities in Eastern Ghouta to face climate changes and water shortages through integrated management of natural resources and immediate adaptation interventions, which is implemented jointly by more than one organization in cooperation and coordination with the local community, calling on representatives of the program and UNHCR to support the efforts made by the government to encourage safe and voluntary return. for immigrants abroad.
He pointed out that the unilateral coercive measures imposed on Syria are considered one of the most important pressures that prevent the return of the displaced.
For her part, Al-Khalidi stressed the need to follow up the work in coordination with the Ministry in accordance with the programs that are currently being implemented with the possibility of studying the work according to an integrative participatory approach with other humanitarian organizations, each according to its competence, in coordination with local authorities with the aim of providing integrated services and seeking to secure the necessary funding for that.
In turn, Dhanapala pointed to the need to continue coordination and cooperation with the Syrian government to ensure the achievement of the desired results from the work of the Commission and to work to create the appropriate conditions for the return of the displaced to their homeland, while providing integrated services that meet their needs.
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