Displaced Bedouin Families Face Uncertain Future Amid Ongoing Conflict and Political Standoff in Southern Syria

In southern Syria, over 164,000 displaced Bedouin and Druze families remain in limbo due to unresolved sectarian conflict and political deadlock.

Classrooms in a school in Abtaa, Daraa province, have been converted into makeshift shelters for Bedouin families displaced by sectarian violence in neighboring Sweida province, Arab News revealed in a recent article. More than a month after clashes erupted between Sunni Muslim Bedouin clans and Druze militias, these families face an uncertain future amid a standoff between the Syrian government and local Druze authorities.

Munira Al-Hamad, 56, from Al-Kafr village, expressed frustration about the lack of adequate housing and the impossibility of returning home due to sectarian tensions. “Just because you’re Muslim, they’ll see you as the enemy in Sweida,” she said.

The conflict began with localized disputes but escalated into heavy fighting involving Bedouin and government forces against Druze armed groups, with Israel reportedly launching airstrikes supporting the Druze. Amnesty International documented unlawful killings of Druze men and women by government-affiliated forces. Sweida remains under a de facto siege, with limited humanitarian aid.

UN figures report more than 164,000 internally displaced persons, including Druze displaced within Sweida and Bedouins evacuated to other provinces. Many homes have been destroyed or occupied, making return unlikely.

Families like that of Hamoud Al-Mukhmas mourn lost relatives killed while fleeing. Aid remains sporadic, and displaced persons live in overcrowded, inadequate conditions.

Government officials insist displacement is temporary but have yet to provide clear plans for return or resettlement. Experts say a political solution is needed, but dialogue between Damascus and Druze leaders remains stalled. Druze leader Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri has called for southern Syria’s independence and formed a “national guard,” escalating tensions further.

The long-standing Bedouin-Druze coexistence has been marred by sporadic violence and mutual distrust, now exacerbated by the broader political impasse. Without dialogue and political progress, resolving the humanitarian crisis and intercommunal tensions remains a distant prospect.