Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Damascus, SANA- Syria has discussed the standing cooperation projects between the Ministry of Local Administration and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
That came during a meeting held Tuesday between Minister of Local Administration and Environment, Chairman of Higher Relief Committee, Eng. Hussein Makhlouf and the UNDP Syria Resident Representative, Ramla al-Khalidi, and UNHCR Resident Representative in Syria Sivanka Darsha Dhanapala.
During the meeting, minister Makhlouf underlined the importance of focusing on the priorities of returning the displaced to their homeland and following up the work in all regions to provide all services such as infrastructure, schools, hospitals, livelihood projects, in addition to implementing projects that contribute to strengthening local administration services and developing capabilities of local councils in managing its resources.
He highlighted the importance of the project in strengthening the ability of local communities in the Eastern Ghouta to confront climate changes and water shortage through integrated management of natural resources and immediate adaptation interventions, which are implemented jointly by more than one organization in cooperation and coordination with the local community.
Makhlouf called on the representatives of the UNDP and UNHCR to support the efforts exerted by the government to encourage safe and voluntary return of the displaced.
He said that unilateral coercive measures imposed on Syria are considered one of the most important pressures that prevent the return of the displaced.
For her part, al-Khalidi underlined the necessity of following up the work in coordination with the Ministry according to the program that is currently underway, with the possibility of studying the work according to an integrative participatory approach with other humanitarian organizations, in coordination with local bodies with the aim of providing services and seeking to secure the necessary funding for that.
In turn, Dhanapala stressed the need to continue coordination and cooperation with the Syrian government to achieve the desired results of the commission’s work and to work to ensure the appropriate conditions for the return of the displaced.
Rafah al-Allouni/ Ruaa al-Jazaeri
