The Idlib governorate and northwest Syria are facing a severe crisis of deteriorating residential buildings, with thousands of homes suffering wide cracks and partial collapses that threaten the lives of residents and passersby daily.
These buildings have been damaged by years of shelling, earthquakes, and explosions, turning them into a constant hazard amid an urban reality that civilians must navigate, while engineering interventions or official support remain absent.
Maysa Arafat, 39, a mother of five, told +963 that she was forced to return to her cracked home in Khan Sheikhoun, southern Idlib, after living in northern camps for some time. She said staying in the camps was extremely difficult, and returning home, despite the risks, was her only option.
Her home suffers from large wall cracks and a ceiling at risk of collapse, leaving her family in constant fear of an accident while sleeping or performing daily tasks. The lack of affordable repair materials prevents comprehensive restoration, forcing residents to adapt to the ongoing danger.
The potential risks include partial or total building collapse. Any nearby earthquake or explosion could trigger a catastrophe, leaving civilians to rely on precautions and survival strategies amid difficult circumstances.
Local statistics indicate that thousands of buildings in Idlib are heavily damaged, with large cracks, partial collapses, and structural weaknesses. Most were harmed by intense aerial and artillery bombardments carried out by the previous regime, making them unfit for habitation or repair without professional engineering intervention.
Read also: Weapons Depots: Ticking Time Bombs Threatening Civilian Lives in Idlib
New Tragedies
Rafi Al-Qadour, 40, did not anticipate that a simple attempt to repair his home in Kafr Sajna, southern Idlib, would cost him his life. The already-damaged building collapsed on him while he performed basic repairs, leaving his family facing a harsh reality about the daily dangers Idlib residents face due to building cracks and the lack of technical and financial support.
His wife, Lara Osman, 28, recounted to +963 that her husband had been working on repairing the ceiling alone because hiring specialized engineers was too expensive. Frequent minor earthquakes and nearby ammunition depot explosions further increase the risks of DIY repairs, yet economic pressures leave families with no choice but to take those risks.
The incident reflects the broader humanitarian crisis in Idlib, where residents lose their lives trying to protect their properties amid absent preventive measures from local authorities. The community urgently needs intervention to prevent further tragedies.
Northwest Syria, especially Idlib and southern Aleppo countryside, frequently witness building collapses, causing casualties. The latest incident involved a building under construction in “Alam Al-Sihr” area near Al-Zerba, leaving six dead and eight injured.
Read also: Third Explosion in Weeks Strikes Idlib, Northwest Syria
Factors Complicating the Situation
Architect Firas Al-Abdullah, 35, explained that repeated earthquakes and unexplained explosions in ammunition depots complicate any building repair efforts. Many structures require detailed engineering studies before repairs, as unplanned fixes can exacerbate risks.
Speaking to +963, Al-Abdullah said that the lack of official and humanitarian support worsens the problem, leaving civilians with two options: live in unsafe buildings or migrate to less dangerous areas, often returning to camps. Limited resources make repair or demolition nearly impossible, pushing some homeowners to sell their damaged properties at low prices.
In the Al-Furqan neighbourhood, east of Maaret al-Numan, Hamza Al-Khaddour, 44, whose home partially collapsed, told +963: “All our attempts to repair the house stopped due to high costs and the extent of damage.” He noted that this is not an isolated case but a reflection of the economic and technical crisis affecting the city.
The suspension of building permits pending a new urban plan has further hindered reconstruction or repairs. The lack of support has increased the phenomenon of selling damaged buildings cheaply, opening the door to exploitation by investors unconcerned with structural safety.
Engineers and urban experts highlight that Idlib’s recent history is full of incidents revealing infrastructure fragility, from intense shelling before opposition control to ammunition depot explosions and recurrent tremors. They call for a comprehensive engineering survey of all damaged buildings and an urgent plan for repair or controlled demolition, with funding and necessary equipment.
Mohammed Al-Ahmad, 37, a member of Idlib Civil Defense, told +963 that reports of at-risk buildings are rapidly increasing. Some buildings may look intact externally but have dangerously weak internal structures, acting as “silent bombs” that could collapse at any moment.
He emphasized that response teams often face major obstacles, including narrow streets and difficulty accessing heavy equipment, compounded by the absence of official evacuation plans or alternative housing support. Rescue teams are frequently forced to make quick decisions to save lives, even when resources are insufficient to address the root danger.
