The Humanitarian Crisis in Aleppo: Balancing Building Safety and Preventing Forced Evictions

The Syrian Authorities Must Guarantee the Right to Housing in Aleppo After Earthquakes

Concerns over Unlawful Demolitions

Amnesty International has called on the Syrian authorities to ensure that the right to housing of residents affected by the February earthquakes in Aleppo is guaranteed. The organization has expressed concerns about the unlawful demolitions of residential buildings that are deemed unsafe and the bureaucratic obstacles faced by those seeking to repair their damaged homes.

Diana Semaan, Amnesty International’s Syria researcher, emphasized that demolishing residential buildings without proper explanation or due process is a violation of international human rights law and standards. The authorities have an obligation to consult with residents, provide reasonable notice, financial compensation, or alternative housing to avoid rendering anyone homeless.

Amnesty International conducted interviews with humanitarian workers, residents, and reviewed media articles and UN reports between April and July 2023. The organization’s Crisis Evidence Lab also verified videos of demolitions in Aleppo city. Prior to the earthquakes, Aleppo had already experienced widespread damage due to unlawful bombings by the Syrian and Russian forces between 2012 and 2016. The Syrian government took control of eastern Aleppo in 2016, subjecting tens of thousands of civilians to siege and bombardment, leading to their forcible displacement to other opposition-held areas in northern Syria.

According to the governor of Aleppo, the earthquakes impacted 13,000 families, with 220 buildings already demolished for public safety reasons and 303 awaiting demolition. However, Amnesty International has received information from residents and humanitarian workers that the assessments conducted by engineering committees may not be meticulous, leading to unwarranted demolitions. Residents have also reported being unable to challenge the committees’ decisions and not being offered alternative housing or compensation after their homes were demolished.

Ensuring Compliance with International Human Rights Standards

Amnesty International emphasizes that even where eviction is justified, it should be carried out in strict compliance with international human rights law. The authorities must engage residents of unsafe buildings in genuine consultation, provide adequate information about plans, written notice of evictions, and offer alternative housing and compensation for losses. It is crucial to ensure that no one is left homeless or vulnerable to other human rights violations as a result of the demolitions.

Obstacles to Repairs

Residents whose homes were damaged by the earthquakes have reported facing obstacles in repairing their homes. They allege that the authorities failed to inform them how to contact the committees responsible for assessing building safety. Financial support from the authorities has not been provided to repair their damaged homes, and obtaining permits for rehabilitation has been difficult, especially for informal buildings that make up the majority of the affected areas. According to a report by the International Crisis Group, only those with connections to the security forces or militias can secure the necessary permissions for repairs.

Residents from Sheikh Maqsoud, a neighborhood in Aleppo under blockade by the Syrian government, have stated that aid has been prevented or restricted from entering the area. Additionally, government security checkpoints at the entrance have imposed high fees and taxes on those bringing in construction materials to assist in rebuilding.

Amnesty International calls on the Syrian authorities to provide all residents with adequate technical and financial support, without discrimination, instead of imposing onerous bureaucratic requirements on those trying to repair their earthquake-damaged homes.

Editorial

The situation in Aleppo following the earthquakes highlights the urgent need for the Syrian authorities to prioritize the right to adequate housing for its residents. The demolitions of residential buildings without proper explanation or due process not only violate international human rights law but also exacerbate the difficulties faced by thousands of earthquake survivors.

The Syrian government must ensure that building safety measures are carried out diligently, with a focus on consultation with residents and providing reasonable notice, financial compensation, or alternative housing. It is crucial to avoid leaving anyone homeless or vulnerable to further human rights violations. The government should review its assessment processes, ensuring that engineering committees conduct thorough evaluations to determine the safety of buildings, instead of relying solely on visual assessments.

Furthermore, the authorities must address the bureaucratic obstacles faced by residents seeking to repair their damaged homes. The requirement of permits, which are particularly difficult to obtain for informal buildings, hinders the recovery and reconstruction process. It is essential to provide residents with clear information on how to engage with the committees responsible for building safety assessments, and financial support should be provided to all affected residents, regardless of their connections or affiliations.

In addition, the Syrian government should remove barriers to aid and facilitate the entry of construction materials into affected areas. High fees and taxes imposed at government security checkpoints burden residents who are attempting to rebuild their homes.

Advice

For the Syrian authorities:

1. Prioritize the right to housing: Ensure that the right to adequate housing for residents affected by the earthquakes is guaranteed, in line with international human rights standards.

2. Conduct thorough evaluations: Improve the assessment process for building safety by ensuring that engineering committees carry out meticulous assessments, considering the specific details required to determine the safety of each building.

3. Consultation and information sharing: Engage in genuine consultation with residents of unsafe buildings, ensuring that they are adequately informed about plans, provided with written notice of evictions, and offered alternative housing and compensation for losses.

4. Simplify the permit process: Streamline and simplify the process for obtaining permits to repair damaged homes, particularly for informal buildings. Remove discriminatory barriers that prevent residents from accessing these permits.

5. Provide financial support: Allocate sufficient financial resources to provide technical and financial support to all residents seeking to repair their earthquake-damaged homes, without discrimination or favoritism.

6. Facilitate aid and entry of construction materials: Remove obstacles to aid and support the entry of construction materials into affected areas, ensuring that government security checkpoints do not impose unreasonable fees or taxes.

For the international community:

1. Raise awareness: Highlight the situation in Aleppo and the need for the Syrian authorities to prioritize the right to adequate housing. Disseminate information about the violations of international human rights law and standards that are occurring due to unlawful demolitions and bureaucratic obstacles.

2. Provide support: Offer technical and financial assistance to the Syrian authorities in their efforts to ensure the right to housing for residents affected by the earthquakes. Collaborate with local and international NGOs to provide aid and expertise in the reconstruction process.

3. Encourage accountability: Advocate for accountability for violations of international human rights standards and ensure that those responsible for unlawful demolitions and obstructing the right to housing are held accountable.

4. Support civil society: Provide support to local civil society organizations working on housing issues in Aleppo and other affected areas. These organizations play a crucial role in advocating for the rights of residents and monitoring the authorities’ compliance with international standards.

By prioritizing the right to adequate housing and addressing the concerns raised by Amnesty International, the Syrian authorities and the international community can contribute to the recovery and rebuilding process in Aleppo, ensuring that residents are not left homeless or vulnerable to further human rights violations.

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