HRW: Syria regime preventing return of displaced refugees

Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday that the Syrian regime is preventing internally displaced people in areas which were previously held by opposition forces from returning to their homes and properties.

The organisation quoted a resident of Qaboun town; a formerly opposition-held area as saying that government forces were demolishing their properties without warning and without providing them with alternative housing or shelter.

The rights watchdog said it has analysed satellite images over Qaboun neighbourhoods which showed extensive demolitions that began in May 2017 after the fighting ended there.

Read: 776 Syrian refugees returned to their country on Monday, say Lebanese authorities

Deputy Middle East Director at Human Rights Watch Lama Faqih said: “Russia and Syria are calling on people to return to attract reconstruction funding, but as always with the Syrian government, reality is much different.”

“Apparently under the guise of a notorious property rights law, the Syrian government is actually blocking residents from returning,” she added.

Caricature of Syrian President sending air strikes in Syria – Cartoon [Alaraby/Twitter]