BULLETIN OF RUSSIAN MILITARY’S CENTRE FOR RECONCILIATION OF OPPOSING SIDES AND REFUGEE MIGRATION MONITORING IN SYRIA (JANUARY 14, 2019)

Bulletin of the Centre for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides and Refugee Migration Monitoring in the Syrian Arab Republic (January 14, 2019):

Ceasefire observation

As part of the implementation of the Memorandum on the establishment of de-escalation zones in the Syrian Arab Republic, signed by the Russian Federation, the Republic of Turkey and the Islamic Republic of Iran on 4 May 2017, control groups continue monitoring ceasefire compliance.

Over the last 24 hours, the Russian party of the Russia-Turkey Commission on violations of the Joint Agreement has registered 3 cases of firing in the provinces of Aleppo (1), Latakia (1), and Idlib (1).

The Turkish side has registered 19 cases of ceasefire violations in the provinces of  Aleppo (2), Hama (3), Idlib (13) and Latakia (1).­

Humanitarian aid provided for the Syrian population

Over the last 24 hours the Russian Centre for reconciliation of opposing sides and Refugee Migration Monitoring has held one humanitarian action in al-Harra, Daraa province.People received 500 food sets with the total weight 2.165 ton.

The total number of humanitarian actions – 2,041 with total weight of cargo – 3,261.88 tons.

Reconciliation of opposing sides

Over the last 24 hours, no ceasefire agreements have been signed.

Total number of settlements that had signed reconciliation agreements is 2,518.

The number of armed formations, which have claimed to observe the ceasefire regime, is 234.

Bulletin of the Centre for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides and Refugee Migration Monitoring (January 14, 2019):

Return of Refugees from abroad

Over the past day, in total 1,166 people returned to the Syrian Arab Republic from the territory of foreign states: 398 people (120 women and 203 children) left Lebanon for Syria via the Jaydet-Yabus and Talkalakh CPs, and 768 people (230 women and 392 children) from Jordan via the Nasib CP.

Since July 18, 2018, in total 98,064 Syrians have returned back to their homes from abroad:

• 41,504 refugees have left Lebanon (12,577 women and 21,088 children), with 24,601 of them – via the Jeydet-Yabus CP, Zemrani – 4,346 people, 1,834 people via al-Dabusiyah, 854 people via the al-Qusayr and 9,869 via Talkalakh;
• 56,560 people (16,993 women and 28,831 children) have passed via the Nasib CP from Jordan.

According to consolidated information provided by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, as for January 1, 2019 there are still 6,676,636 registered refugees seeking asylum in 45 countries worldwide, with 2,002,991 women and 3,405,084 children among them.

In 45 embassies of the Russian Federation in foreign countries where the Syrian refugees seek asylum, 30 countries (Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Germany, Egypt, Iraq, Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, Greece, Switzerland, Cyprus, Belgium, Italy, Romania, Spain, Ireland, Malta, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Argentina, Luxembourg, Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Iceland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Latvia) confirmed the figures provided by the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, on Syrian citizens in these countries.

At present there are 6,337,088 Syrians in these countries: (Turkey – 3,622,366, Lebanon – 950,334, Jordan – 671,148, Germany – 534,011, Egypt – 132,553, Iraq – 252,772, Netherlands – 74,998, Austria – 42,505, Denmark – 17,995, Greece – 13,139, Switzerland-6,702, Cyprus-5,899, Belgium-3,982, Italy-3,836, Romania-3,101, Spain-2,352, Ireland-1,729, Malta-1,289, Bosnia and Herzegovina-1,630, Poland – 1,069, Argentina – 1,496, Luxembourg – 663, Croatia – 530, Slovenia – 460, Bulgaria – 180, Hungary – 51, Iceland – 197, Slovakia – 43, Czech Republic – 39, Latvia – 19).

It is estimated, that 1,712,264 Syrians in nine countries expressed their desire to return back to their homeland(Lebanon – 889,031, Turkey – 297,342, Germany – 174,897, Jordan – 149,268, Iraq – 101,233, Egypt – 99,834, Denmark – 412, Brazil – 149, Austria – 68, Argentina – 30).

Since September 30, 2015, in total 327,344 Syrians have returned back to their homes from abroad (98,228 women, 166,841 children).

Ten CPs have already been deployed for returnees, among them there are:

• five on the Syria-Lebanon border (Zemrani, Jaydet-Yabus (Zabadani), al-Sabusiya (al-Aarida), Talkalakh and al-Qusayr (Qusayr));
• one on the Syria-Jordan border (Nasib);
• two in the Syrian Arab Republic (Abu-al-Duhur and al-Salhiyah);
• one CP at Damascus international airport;
• one CP at Baniyas sea port.

The leadership of Syria is taking active steps aimed at increasing the efficiency of the process of repatriation of Syrian refugees from the territory of foreign states.

Internal Displacement

It is reported that 245 Syrians returned back to:

• Eastern Ghouta (Damascus province) – 28 people (10 women and 11 children). Since September 30, 2015 – 138,489 people (41,703 women, 68,830 children);
• 217 people (women – 71, children – 104) and 25 vehicles returned back to the places of permanent residence in Deir ez-Zor and Damascus provinces through the checkpoint al-Salhiyah;
• Since August 25, 2018, in total, 33,223 people (women – 11,274 children 15,434), 1,800 vehicles and 2,227 heads of cattle.
• Over the past day, no refugees have left the Idlib de-escalation zone;
• Since March 4, 2018, in total, 44,736 people (women – 14,413, children 20,398), 4,751 vehicles and 54,841 heads of cattle left the Idlib de-escalation zone.

Since September 30, 2015, in total 1,271,236 IDPs have returned back to their homes in the Syrian Arab Republic (383,461 women, 644,897 children). Since January 1, 2019, 2,640 IDPs (902 women, 1,131 children).

Cities and Towns Ready to Receive Refugees

There are 1,497,650 places arranged to receive and accommodate refugees in 412 settlements less affected by the combat actions.

Infrastructure Rehabilitation

Seven buildings were recovered over the past day (Tuizan (Raqqa province) – one, al-Mtune (al-Suwayda provice) – two, al-Shir (Hama province) – two, Karahta (Damascus province) – two) as well as a power substation in Jaba (al-Quneitra province).

They assessed  the social infrastructure and facilities, housing fund, amount of construction materials available in Kairouan and Muraywid (Hama province). In order to improve living conditions for Syrians, and to complete infrastructure rehabilitation  it is necessary to supply materials in the following towns:

Kairouan –  a tractor, a dump truck, 16 windows, 6 cu m of brick, 6 cu m of cement, 5 tons of building bars, 400kg of lime and filling, 400m of water pipes, 850m of electric cables, to overhaul five houses, and a medical centre.

Muraywid – a excavator, a dump truck, a mobile drilling unit, 14 windows, 5 cu m of brick, 6 cu m of cement, 4 tons of building bars, 350kg of lime and filling, 1,500m of water pipes, 500m of electric cables, to overhaul four houses, a medical centre and a water well.

Heads of local administrations prepared applications  to the Ministry of Public Works and housebuilding to received construction materials for recovering social infrastructure.

Since July 18, 2018, in total, in the Syrian Arab Republic:

• 132 medical and 719 educational organizations have been recovered;
• five road bridges and 972 km of roads were recovered (2km – over the past day);
• 889km of power line have been installed (1 km – over the past day);
• 569 power substations (one over the past day), 117 water supply facilities, 135 bakeries (one over the past day), 14,252 industrial enterprises have been put into operation.

Currently, in 345 settlements of the provinces of Aleppo, Damascus, Deir-ez-Zor, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Daraa, al-Suwayda, al-Quneitra, Raqqa, work is underway to overhaul 2,152 houses, 212 schools, 184 kindergartens, 199 bakeries, 235 water pump stations, 210 power substations, 187 medical centres, and 93 places of worship.

Humanitarian Assistance

Over the past day the Russian side has carried out a humanitarian action in al-Harra (Daraa province) to distribute 500 food sets with a total weight of 2.17 tons.

In total, the Russian side has organised and carried out  2,041 humanitarian actions, delivering 3,216.88 tons of food supplies, the bare necessities and bottled water.

Twenty-seven civilians including 16 children received first medical aid in the town of al-Salhiyah (Deir ez-Zor province).

In total, 104,133 Syrians were provided with medical assistance by Russian military medics.

Mine Clearance

The SAA engineering units carry on the mine clearance operation in the settlements of Shaukatliya, al-Othmaniyah, Oufaniya, Trunja, Rafid, Qseiba (al-Quneitra province), al-Zelaf (Damascus province), Ein-Zat, Talbiseh (Homs province).

13,4 ha of the territory were cleared. They found and defused 42 explosive devices.

In total: 1,494.7ha of the territory, 3,317 buildings and 260km of roads. They found and defused 17,673 explosive devices including 5,394 improvised explosive devices.

Arrangements for Refugee Reception

The government program on restoration settlements liberated from the militants has started in Damascus, Aleppo and Hama provinces. The program consists of three phases: preparation of infrastructure (water supply, electrification), targeted aid to the population, the repatriation of residents to permanent housing. Efforts taken by the Syrian Arab Republic activate repatriation of refugees and internally displaced persons.

National Reconciliation Committees established in Syrian provinces and cities (made up by heads of administrations, police, sheiks, representatives of public organizations and opposition) hold negotiations on joining ceasefire regime and voluntary defection to the side of legal government and the surrender of weapons. Former members of illegal armed formations and internally displaced persons are granted amnesty who lived in the territories earlier occupied by terrorists.

The Joint Coordination Committee of the Syrian Arab Republic on the repatriation of refugees headed by Local Administration Minister Hussein Makhlouf  carries out social and economic activities to activate the process of infrastructure rehabilitation; all necessary measures are taken to enable refugees and internally displaced persons to return back to their homeland.

Officers of the Russian Centre for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides held two working meetings:

• with the Head of the city Security Committee on discuss reduction of crime in the city;
• with a representative of the refugee affairs committee of Aleppo on the readiness of the refugee camps.