Syria
Amer al-Sheikh, the governor of Rif Dimashq, speaking to Rudaw on April 3, 2025. Photo: screengrab/Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Plans to reconstruct the devastated areas in southern Syria’s Rif Dimashq province are “ready” and awaiting official kickoff, the governor said on Wednesday.
Amer al-Sheikh told Rudaw’s Solin Mohammed that “the damages [in Rif Dimashq] are extensive,” adding that “in some areas the percentage of damage reaches as high as 70 percent.”
On Saturday, Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa appointed a 23-member transitional cabinet, including four ministers from minority groups. The government is expected to guide the country through its transitional phase and address post-war crises.
Upon announcing the new cabinet, Sharaa on Saturday stated, “at this historic moment, we mark the beginning of a new phase in our national journey” and “advance toward the future we deserve with strong will and unwavering resolve.”
Governor al-Sheikh explained on Thursday that the reconstruction process in Rif Dimashq province depends on “the government [decisions] and the plans we have in this regard,” adding that provincial officials have already met with “investors and some organizations” to begin the process.
He also highlighted that the government has made significant strides in assessing the province’s needs and the extent of the damage, highlighting that the plans to start the reconstruction are “ready.”
Syrians rose against the regime of toppled dictator Bashar al-Assad in 2011, leading to a full-scale civil war that has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands and left millions more in dire need of humanitarian assistance.
Much of the country’s infrastructure remains in ruins, with more than 13 million Syrians displaced - half the country’s pre-war population. Over 6 million of the displaced Syrians sought refuge abroad, according to UN figures.
International donors have pledged substantial financial support for Syria's reconstruction and stabilization following the fall of Assad. At a European Union-led conference in Brussels, global donors committed nearly $6.5 billion, comprising $4.6 billion in grants and $1.7 billion in low-interest loans.
Key contributions include €2.5 billion (around $2.75 billion) from the EU for 2025 and 2026 to aid Syria's transition and socio-economic recovery, addressing urgent humanitarian needs within Syria and in neighboring countries.
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