Sobhieh al-Saleh thought she would finally leave her tent and return home after a rebel offensive ousted President Bashar Assad in late 2024, ending more than a decade of conflict. However, she remains in the al-Karama camp in Atmeh, Idlib province, near the Turkish border, with her husband and 11 children. Her home in al-Lataminah was completely destroyed, and she cannot afford to rebuild.
Around 40,000 people still live in the sprawling camp, enduring leaking tents in winter and sweltering heat and flies in summer. Syria's civil war from 2011 to 2024 plunged over 90% of the population into poverty, and rebuilding will cost hundreds of billions of dollars, according to the UN. The war killed 500,000 people and displaced more than half of Syria's prewar population of 23 million.
Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa has vowed to provide alternative housing for displaced Syrians by the end of 2027, with Saudi Arabia pledging $1.5 billion. However, the World Bank estimates reconstruction costs at around $216 billion, and large parts of major cities remain in ruins. Humanitarian agencies are cutting programs due to budget reductions, and the World Food Program halved its food assistance in May.
Inflation has surged, making it difficult for people to save for rebuilding. Abdulhamid Abu Alaa, who lives in the same camp, said building material costs have soared beyond reach. He urged the government to prioritise the poorest, who still live in abysmal conditions. UN humanitarian coordinator Nathalie Fustier acknowledged that private sector and international financial institutions may need to help meet the 2027 deadline, but admitted she does not know how long it will take to end the camps.
