Many Syrian refugees want to return to their homeland after the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad. The mood among the population is ‘hopeful’, says Hossam Elsharkawi of the Red Cross. At the same time, he recalled that about half of schools and the majority of hospitals in Syria are not yet functioning.
“During my previous visits, I was always asked: how do I get out of Syria?” the aid organization’s representative said in Vienna on Monday. “Now the question is: how do I bring my family back to Syria?” Therefore, basic services and infrastructure in the devastated country must be rebuilt.
The refugees who currently want to return are mainly in the neighboring countries of Turkiye and Lebanon. Returns must be done safely. Elsharkawi recalled that about half of the country’s schools and majority of hospitals are not yet functioning. There are also still serious shortages in water, energy and medicine supplies.
Don’t become dependent on help
Syria must not become permanently dependent on humanitarian aid, the Red Cross representative said. That is why relaxing international sanctions is important. Politics and diplomacy should do their job. “If you say the right things, it will be a challenge to do them,” he said of the new Islamic leadership. The international community must help the Syrian government ‘not to make serious mistakes’.
The Austrian Red Cross has been active in Syria since the start of the civil war in 2011. It focuses mainly on the areas of water, sanitation and hygiene.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
