Human Rights Watch Warns Syria’s Reconstruction Deals Lack Critical Human Rights Protections

The Syrian transitional government is entering billions of dollars in reconstruction agreements without establishing a necessary human rights framework to safeguard affected communities, Human Rights Watch reported from Amman.

Following the March 2026 unveiling of Syria's national recovery blueprint, international pledges, financing, and investment commitments have expanded. However, Human Rights Watch stated that the legal rules governing reconstruction fail to mandate consultations with affected residents or displaced populations before project approvals. The organization emphasized that current frameworks also lack independent mechanisms to challenge property decisions and do not require negotiated compensation terms.

Field research conducted by the rights group in Syria in May 2026 revealed severe deficits in basic services. In Ghadfa, a village in the Idlib countryside, returnees reported living without running water, functional electricity, adequate sanitation, operating schools, or local healthcare. Similar devastation was noted in Damascus's Jobar neighborhood, where an estimated 95 percent of buildings were destroyed, according to The Syria Report.

The World Bank previously estimated in October 2025 that Syria suffered $108 billion in physical damage, with overall reconstruction costs projected to average $216 billion. Diplomatic re-engagement and the lifting of certain sanctions have accelerated foreign capital commitments. Saudi Arabia pledged $6.4 billion across multiple sectors, while Qatar committed $4 billion, and the UAE's DP World obtained a 30-year concession for Tartus port. Additional support includes over $1 billion in World Bank grant-funded projects and a €620 million commitment from the European Union for 2026–2027.

Despite high-profile pledges, the Global Governance Institute noted in August 2026 that actual on-the-ground investment lags behind announcements, pending proper legal and governance frameworks.

According to an International Rescue Committee report from July 2026, more than 3.5 million refugees and internally displaced persons have returned to their communities since December 2024, though deteriorating conditions and aid cuts often forced these returns. UNHCR data showed that approximately 5.5 million people remained internally displaced as of March 2026, while the World Food Programme halved emergency food assistance in Syria in May due to funding shortages.

Human Rights Watch highlighted that Syria's current judicial system remains under-resourced and largely inaccessible for resolving housing, land, and property disputes from the Assad era. The advocacy organization called on international donors and investors to conduct thorough human rights due diligence and urged the transitional government to ensure transparent, rights-aligned recovery plans.

Source