Re-development zones of Syria: How many returning Syrian refugees will get back their homes?

It's a very complicated situation for those with dreams of returning and reclaiming their lost homes they were compelled to leave and missed for years.

Neighborhoods across Syria destroyed during the war are now being rebuilt; these areas are the "re-development zones." In March 2018, returning residents were given only one month to reclaim their homes along with necessary documents as proof of ownership. But that was too short a time, almost impractical. Eight months later in November 2018, that law was changed and Syrian refugees returning home had one year to reclaim their properties. If property claims are proven valid, only then will the residents be allowed to get back their homes or given compensation.

Most of these poor people fled in a hurry, in a state of panic and horror with only the clothes on their back. Whatever documents they may have had were left behind and destroyed in bombed or burning homes.  But that's not the only issue.  Many property records in Syria were never digitized and thousands of Syrians have no proof of ownership. Even if these returnees are fortunate enough to find their homes intact, they may still not be eligible to reclaim them. In pre-war Syria there was plenty of informal property ownership. Lots of Syrians were living in houses and apartments they never registered. Back then they never considered it necessary. But now it puts them in a very worrisome situation.

Also, residents of some towns in Syria had established their own private property-registration offices to keep record of ownership and various transactions within their respective communities. Some of these property-registry offices were destroyed during the war as the one in Homs in 2013. But even those that still remain won't help to serve the purpose. It's unlikely that the government will recognize records that were entered without the state's approval. Even if these properties are intact, they will almost certainly be confiscated by the government. Additionally, it could get tougher for some of these property owners if they are categorized as property-tax evaders and told to cough up thousands in arrears.

Many Syrians may end up in a similar situation as those Palestinians across the West Bank - homeless. Both have their own different reasons but the same plight. Perhaps it might be better for Syrians who fled the country during war to continue living where they are as even the post-war path back home doesn’t seem too smooth any longer.

Initially, since 2011, these poor folks had to abandon their homes because of the rage and destruction of war from various quarters. And now this. Eventually it's always the peaceful, helpless masses who continue to suffer for no fault of theirs.   

The Russians will return home, Erdogan has his thousand-and-one-room fairy tale castle, Assad has his plush presidential residence well protected, the terrorists will keep up their nuisance value, Saudis and the Americans have shifted their focus on a killing spree in Yemen while the Syrian people will be expected to bear their affliction with dignity. 

~sigh~