As part of efforts to improve the conditions of displaced persons and restore government facilities, a humanitarian initiative led by the Abductees’ Mothers Association and SAM Organization for Rights and Freedoms, with support from the DT Institute, held a coordination workshop and a series of follow-up meetings.
These meetings included local authorities, relevant agencies, and initiative members to discuss a plan for the organized and non-coercive evacuation of government facilities currently occupied by displaced persons, while preserving their dignity and providing safe alternative housing.
A source from the Reconciliation and Coordination Committee explained that the targeted facilities include the museum, the health center in Al-Manin, the Youth and Sports Office, and the Saba Region University.
The first phase will focus on the health center due to its vital importance as the only healthcare facility in the area; its disruption exposes residents to serious health risks, including home births and emergency cases without service.
The source highlighted the initiative’s goals: to ensure voluntary evacuation of government facilities, reactivate them to serve the community, provide suitable housing alternatives for displaced families, and enhance coordination between official authorities and supporting organizations.
The source also noted key challenges to the evacuation process, including some displaced persons refusing to move to alternative housing, interference by social actors putting pressure on authorities, the limited number of alternative units and their inadequacy for family sizes, and demands for additional services before agreeing to vacate.
On a positive note, another committee member confirmed that all parties agreed the evacuation should be voluntary, prioritizing the health center for reopening. Additional housing units will be provided with support from the Norwegian Refugee Council, and a joint committee will be formed to monitor implementation on the ground.
The workshop also produced several practical outputs, including assigning the initiative’s legal consultant to draft an official document outlining the evacuation mechanism for approval and signature by local authorities, the executive unit, initiative members, and local organizations.
Attendees agreed to conduct a field visit on Saturday for handover, preceded by an introductory visit to inform displaced persons of the evacuation date and give them time to prepare. Implementation will start with the health center in the first phase, followed gradually by other facilities, in a legal and peaceful manner that preserves public interest and the dignity of all parties.
