H.E. Eng. Hilal Al-Attrash, Minister of Local Administration and Environment, Syria, discussed with a team from the WB, headed by Mr. Stefano Motchi, Manager of WB office in Syria and Lebanon, in the presence of Mr. Ahmad Al-Salloum, Director General of AUDI (Riyadh), the representative of Cities Alliance, the Governor of Rural Damascus, and some concerned officials from the Ministry of Local  Administration; discussed the issue of  setting a strategy for the improvement  of Squatter areas in the outskirts of Damascus.

The Minister said that his ministry has strategies and plans that aim at improving the status of structure, planning, living conditions  and all matters related to rural areas of Damascus, especially that the Province encounters greater number of population, Squatter Settlements and a great number of illegal buildings.  He pointed out that his ministry is developing a regional study for Damascus and Rural Damascus, through specialized companies, such as the General Company for Engineering studies and consultation.

Eng. Al-Attrash said that the World Bank and AUDI presented their expertise to set such plans in an applicable way.  He assured that the Ministry will implement each step and there will be relief  procedures for providing educational, hygienic or environmental services.  The study will lead to the study of the future of any cluster.

He said that the WB will facilitate the studies for free, and that in the future they will look in a feasible way.

Dr. Ahmad Owaida the WB urban development expert said the objective of their visit is to develop a strategy for the improvement of the Squatter Settlements in the Province of Rural Damascus.  That means determining all illegal settlements, areas that suffer of poor services and physical structure, define the problems and prepare plans for rehabilitation and provide them with services and the infrastructure, provide employment opportunities for the residents, improve the roads and link these areas with the city of Damascus and the other cities.  The strategy must contain a physical vision as well as the infrastructure, economic and the social dimensions.

Dr. Owaida said that during their tour they noticed that the Syrian Government had accomplished pioneering steps in providing those areas with basic facilities and utilities which is a positive action.  The future will witness revision for the quality of these services and utilities to accomplish any deficiencies.  He said the study of the status quo will take 8 to 12 months and socio-physical and economical studies will be conducted, and not treatments.  All strategies set will seek financing for implementation and that the present grant of US $ 2,050 thousands, could be increased accordingly.

During the meeting a presentation of the status of the Squatter Settlements in Rural Damascus was displayed.