"Debris isn't waste"

For the past fourteen years, Syria has suffered through a devastating war. It was not a classic civil war but a peaceful revolution against oppression. Every family has suffered under the Assad regime. My nephew, for instance, was brutally murdered by Assad’s militias and his body burned — all because he had peacefully protested against the regime.

The buildings and cities of Syria have also suffered deeply. Every region that escaped the regime’s control was bombed instantly. To this day, there is no precise record of the extent of destruction. According to a World Bank estimate, by 2017 nearly thirty percent of all buildings in Syria had been completely or partially destroyed. These were not isolated buildings, but entire neighborhoods and cities.

Take Homs, for example, whereforty to fifty percent of the city was completely destroyed, including well-known districts such as Khalidiya and Baba Amr. In Damascus, the Jobar neighborhood was hit — its ruins became known in Germany after former Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited the area. Other Damascus suburbs, including East and West Ghouta, Darayya, Muadamiyya, Hajar al-Aswad, and Yarmouk, were similarly destroyed.

International support is now needed

Until its fall, the Assad regime blocked access to destroyed areas — even researchers were barred. Although I obtained a patent in 2018 for concrete recycling and improving its properties, I was not permitted to visit any of the devastated cities or regions. In many cases, displaced residents were only able to glimpse their former neighborhoods after the regime’s collapse. 

From areas outside regime control, however, we did receive some reports of the destruction. After the fighting subsided in 2018, the first reconstruction efforts began, though they remained limited in scope

Now, after the fall of the regime, international support is needed for the reconstruction of the entire country. In April, at the Weimar Innovation Center for Construction — where I have been working since the beginning of this year — we organized an international workshop together with colleagues from the Institute for Applied Building Research Weimar (IAB), the Materials Research and Testing Institute (MFPA), and the Bauhaus University Weimar.

Supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the State Development Corporation of Thuringia, the event took place in Weimar — the capital of construction — under the title “Recycling and Reconstruction – Building Methods and Materials for a Post-War Syria.” 

Several leading German construction companies took part; Syrians from across Germany attended, as did representatives of the government in Damascus and the president of the Syrian Engineers’ Association. Their presence was a clear sign of Syria’s strong interest in German expertise for reconstruction. 

Germany's role

Syria needs German technology, not least because Germany has extensive experience with reconstruction efforts. The country’s development since the Second World War serves as a global model. The large number of Syrian workers in the German labor market fosters additional trust in the cooperation between the two countries.

We must not forget that Germany has taken in over a million Syrian refugees — I am one of them. Today, I work as a senior researcher at the Weimar institute, and I am not ashamed of having fled. I broke with the Syrian regime after it wronged my family and my people.

Our workshop in Weimar aimed to establish a kind of compass for rebuilding Syria. The outcome: my team and I have been given permission to work on two pilot projects simultaneously — one in the symbolic Jobar district of Damascus and another in Baba Amr, Homs, the heart of the revolution. The representatives of German companies who attended in Weimar expressed great interest in taking part. Together with the Syrian government, we are now preparing visits for these firms on-site.

On the German side, the BMZ and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) have created a platform for Syria’s reconstruction. In addition, I am in talks with UN organizations and partners in other countries to mobilize as many resources as possible for a new start.

Recycling saves money and protects the climate

In Weimar, I work in a 650-square-meter workshop on the technical implementation of recycling building materials. My pilot plan for reconstruction involves modern surveying of affected areas and the construction of a small residential neighborhood using recycled materials. By reusing existing debris, we eliminate the need for new resources. This saves money and is far more environmentally friendly. 

If we succeed in using new materials only when absolutely necessary, the enormous costs of reconstruction could be significantly reduced. These costs are difficult to quantify—some estimates currently exceed one trillion US dollars.

Given the scale of destruction, some people are pessimistic. But as an expert, I say: debris is not waste — it is raw material. Partially destroyed buildings must be dismantled with special equipment, and the materials — concrete, brick, gypsum, metal, rebar, and others — sorted and reused. I am aware that some ruins may still contain unexploded ordnance, or even human remains and mass graves. To handle these responsibly, we must cooperate with both international and local organizations.

Reconstruction must be inclusive

What worries me most are property rights. In many destroyed areas, the boundaries between plots of land are no longer clear, and land registries may have been destroyed. The situation is further complicated because many people have left their homes — some are no longer in Syria, while others now live in the homes of the displaced. 

We are currently studying how other countries, such as Kosovo, Rwanda, and Germany, have dealt with such issues. The solution need not be perfect, but it must be practical. Privately, some people have already begun rebuilding individual homes — many simply have no other choice. Many returnees from abroad, as well as people who have lived in tents for long periods, must find a roof over their heads. The government should support these efforts.

After more than a decade of conflict, Syria’s reconstruction goes beyond physical infrastructure—it requires healing deep social fractures. Inclusive governance is essential to ensure that rebuilding benefits all Syrians and prevents renewed conflict. 

Every segment of society — including ethnic and religious minorities, women, and young people — must have a voice in shaping Syria’s political future. A key goal of my project is also to create jobs. According to official data, more than ninety percent of Syrians live below the poverty line. Once the construction sector restarts, new jobs will follow.

Positive signals

The outlook for the future has become more hopeful. At our April 2025 workshop, the government representatives from Damascus mainly lamented U.S. sanctions, which had cut Syria off from the SWIFT international payment system. Since then, U.S. President Trump has lifted them. Now the path is open.

A meeting with GIZ representatives is scheduled to discuss the two pilot projects and further Syria-related initiatives. At the same time, we are coordinating with the Syrian government, which has so far responded positively to our proposals. Together with the standards authority in Damascus, I am developing new construction norms that integrate recycling and modern technology.

The security situation in Syria remains fragile, but we hope it will improve. We Syrians have endured more than half a century of oppression. Now we must be patient, unite our strength and work together toward a common goal.

If all goes well, the coming years could see a comprehensive, internationally coordinated reconstruction. There are already early signs pointing in that direction. With the help of the international community, the Syrian people can rise from the ruins and build themselves a new future.

Protocol by Clara Taxis and Mohammed Magdy

This is an edited translation of the German original. Translated by Julia Stanton.

This text also appeared in a joint edition of Qantara and Kulturaustausch magazine. Find more stories, interviews and analyses in our Syria focus section.