Overslaan en naar de inhoud gaan
Water in Syria

Strategic dialogue on Housing, Land and Property in Syria

ZOA Syria recently participated in the Housing, Land and Property (HLP) Technical Working Group Strategy Workshop in Damascus. The workshop, convened by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), UN-Habitat, and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), brought together humanitarian and development partners to discuss the strategic priorities that will guide HLP programming in Syria throughout 2026 and into early 2027.

Why housing, land and property matters

Across Syria, access to housing, land and property remains a major challenge. According to the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, more than 4.1 million people require support or housing, land and property. Years of conflict and displacement have left many Syrians unable to access, prove or reclaim their property rights.

Ownership documents have often been lost or destroyed, while institutions responsible for land registration and dispute resolution frequently lack the capacity to function effectively. As a result, many families struggle to verify ownership, resolve disputes or recover homes and land that were damaged, abandoned or occupied during displacement. These challenges are particularly acute for returnees and for women, who often face additional barriers due to social norms, limited documentation and restricted access to legal information.

A platform for coordination

To address these challenges, humanitarian and development actors collaborate through the Housing, Land and Property Technical Working Group (HLP TWG). Established in 2017 under the Protection Sector, the platform brings together UN agencies, NGOs and other partners working on HLP issues across Syria.

Co-chaired by UNHCR, UN-Habitat and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), the working group strengthens coordination, provides technical guidance and supports dialogue on policies and approaches related to housing, land and property rights.

Strategic discussions for 2026

During the workshop in Damascus, participants discussed priorities for the coming period, including improving access to reliable HLP documentation, strengthening reparation mechanisms and tenure security, and supporting justice reform and harmonisation of legal frameworks.

By participating in this platform, ZOA aims to deepen its understanding of HLP dynamics and explore opportunities for collaboration with partners working to strengthen housing, land and property rights in Syria.

Read more about our work in Syria