Saturday, October 31, 2026, marks “World Cities Day”—an international observance established by the United Nations General Assembly (via resolution A/RES/68/239) to foster global interest in urbanization and to promote international cooperation in addressing the opportunities and challenges arising from the residential and architectural transformations of cities.
On this occasion—which carries significant developmental and civilizational implications—the Syrian Future Movement (SFM) asserts that, within the Syrian political consciousness, the concept of the “city” has transcended mere physical infrastructure and public services. It has become a living testament to the cost of change—a heavy price paid in the pursuit of freedom.
Syrian cities were never merely clusters of concrete; they were inclusive cultural hubs. Protecting them, reconstructing them, rehabilitating their physical and human landscapes, and preserving their unique architectural heritage lie at the heart of a new social contract—a fundamental commitment toward achieving civil peace and political stability.
The vision of the Syrian Future Movement aligns with the objectives of this day, translating its four core pillars into action:
The civic and political dimensions necessitate the empowerment of decentralized local administrations and the effective governance of urban resources, following years of administrative fragmentation. Our vision is rooted in a commitment to humanity and civilization, encompassing the right to decent housing, the preservation of the historical identity of Syrian urban centers, and the protection of archaeological sites—such as Palmyra, the ancient souks of Aleppo, Bosra, and the historic districts of Damascus—which constitute a national and human heritage that must not be erased, destroyed, or subjected to systematic demographic change.
The prolonged armed conflict, instigated by the Bashar al-Assad regime, along with policies of systematic destruction targeting Syrian urban centers, has resulted in a catastrophic demographic, geographical, and cultural-heritage crisis. Statistical data and humanitarian assessment reports from 2026 indicate that more than 50% of the infrastructure and built environment in major cities—including Aleppo, Homs, and the Damascus countryside—have suffered total or partial destruction, rendering them uninhabitable in the immediate term. Furthermore, the presence of unexploded ordnance poses a persistent threat to the lives of civilians.
Conversely, forced displacement has placed immense and disproportionate demographic pressure on cities and towns in northwestern Syria—such as Idlib, Azaz, and Dana. In these emerging urban hubs, population density has surged by 300% to 400%, creating a severe deficit in the provision of essential services. Furthermore, widespread destruction, systematic looting, and military clashes have affected vast areas of historic cities and ancient marketplaces, threatening the extinction of the living cultural identity of some of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in history.
Guided by our national responsibility as a civil political movement born from the heart of the great Syrian Revolution, and mindful of the requirements for economic, social, and cultural stability during the transitional phase—as well as the task of building the foundations of a new state—
The Syrian Future Movement puts forward the following political demands and vision:
Adopting a unified national strategy for urban planning and local governance during the transitional phase, in order to address administrative fragmentation and ensure the equitable distribution of resources and development projects across Syrian governorates.
Establishing a “National Fund for the Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of Destroyed and Historic Cities”—an independent entity that, in coordination with international organizations and relevant ministries, will develop urgent timelines for restoring essential infrastructure and clearing rubble, thereby creating the conditions for the voluntary and safe return of refugees and displaced persons.
Launching a “National Project for the Restoration and Preservation of Damaged Archaeological Cities and Historic Marketplaces,” in direct cooperation with UNESCO and specialized international bodies. This initiative aims to prohibit modern urban encroachments that would disfigure the historic fabric of cities such as Aleppo (Old City) and Palmyra, while also pursuing antiquities-smuggling networks and recovering looted artifacts—a national right that is non-negotiable. Provide targeted, urgent economic support packages and reforms for urban centers in northern Syria that have absorbed large displaced populations. These measures should aim to modernize service infrastructure and transition from temporary, relief-oriented interventions toward sustainable development projects that alleviate severe living crises.
Enact strict transitional legislation and laws to protect the property rights of all citizens—including the displaced, refugees, and the forcibly disappeared—and categorically prohibit any attempts at illegal land seizure or the engineering of demographic changes within cities and towns.
Urge UN agencies and international partners to shift their financial support from a model of “emergency humanitarian aid” toward “investments in early recovery, urban development, and heritage preservation.” This will bolster the resilience of Syrian cities and enhance their capacity to meet the demands of the political transition toward a state governed by the rule of law and democracy.
