Date: 8/10/2025
Damascus — Under the directives of His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), and as part of the Palestinian leadership’s ongoing follow-up on the situation of Palestinian refugees in Syria, Dr. Ahmad Abu Holi, member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and Head of the Refugee Affairs Department, visited the Martyrs’ Cemetery in Yarmouk Camp in the Syrian capital, Damascus, this morning, accompanied by the Palestinian Ambassador to Syria, Dr. Samir Al-Rifai.
Dr. Abu Holi began his visit by reciting Surat Al-Fatiha for the souls of the martyrs and the great leaders Khalil Al-Wazir (Abu Jihad), Saad Sayel, Sabri Sidam, Abu Al-Abbas, and others — symbols of the Palestinian struggle whose pure bodies rest in the soil of Yarmouk.
Dr. Abu Holi affirmed that this visit comes in implementation of the directives of President Mahmoud Abbas, who has given special attention to Yarmouk Camp and the Martyrs’ Cemetery. He pointed out that the first phase of reconstruction began with the removal of rubble from the streets under the direct instructions of His Excellency, while the current phase focuses on restoring the cemetery and providing the minimum requirements for life within the camp.
Dr. Abu Holi indicated that Yarmouk Camp represents the beating heart of Palestinian presence, and that this visit carries positive changes on the ground. “We sense an increasing desire among our people to return to their homes and restore them. We will convey their suffering and aspirations to President Abbas, who closely follows their situation and supports all steps aimed at improving their lives.”
He added that preparations are underway to launch a comprehensive project to restore the Martyrs’ Cemetery, affirming that presidential instructions have been issued to the Department of Refugee Affairs and the Palestinian National Fund, in coordination with Ambassador Dr. Samir Al-Rifai, to immediately begin restoration works.
He continued: “This cemetery is not merely a burial site, but an eternal national memory that brings together the symbols of our struggle and the history of our resistance. We will begin by restoring the wall as a first stage, followed by subsequent phases befitting the dignity of the martyrs and their place in the conscience of our people.”
For his part, Ambassador Dr. Samir Al-Rifai emphasized that Dr. Abu Holi’s visit to Yarmouk Camp and the Martyrs’ Cemetery embodies the practical commitment of the Palestinian leadership to the directives of President Mahmoud Abbas.
He noted that Dr. Abu Holi’s visit today is a practical step within a long path of follow-up and concern for the camp. “Yesterday, meetings were held with the Syrian Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, and further meetings will follow to discuss the conditions of the refugees and ways to improve them in cooperation with the official Syrian authorities.”
Al-Rifai explained that the Martyrs’ Cemetery represents one of the most prominent symbols of Yarmouk Camp, and that work on its restoration will begin soon as part of a comprehensive project to rehabilitate the camp. He confirmed that coordination between the Palestinian Embassy and the Department of Refugee Affairs continues to ensure the best response to the needs of Palestinian refugees in Syria.
Dr. Abu Holi concluded his statement by affirming that the Palestinian leadership, under the direction of President Mahmoud Abbas, remains steadfast in supporting the Palestinian people in the camps inside Syria.
He added: “We promise our people that we will remain faithful to their history and memory, and we will not abandon them — whether at the Martyrs’ Cemetery or in their daily lives within the camps. The dignity of both the martyrs and the living is a trust we carry under the guidance of the President.”
During the tour, Dr. Abu Holi and Ambassador Al-Rifai also met with several residents of Yarmouk Camp, listened to their needs and daily hardships, and confirmed that restoring the cemetery is part of a comprehensive national vision to bring life back to the camp and revive its role as a center of Palestinian presence in Syria.
