Damascus, Syria - February 23, 2025 Millions of displaced Syrians are facing monumental challenges as they return to their hometowns in war-ravaged areas, where they confront the stark reality that overcoming these difficulties will require time and stability. The massive scale of destruction and a lack of essential services are the main challenges faced by many displaced Syrians. After the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government last December, safety restrictions for civilians returning to war-ravaged areas have been lifted by the interim government, allowing many families to begin a new phase of life in their hometowns. More than 80 percent of the Syrian population are living below the poverty line, according to the United Nations. High rental prices and under-resourced government services contribute to the difficulties,which include finding ways to make a living, repairing damaged houses, and finding heating materials for the winter. Syria is witnessing a cold snap, with temperatures dropping to below 0 degrees Celsius at night. People's priorities have shifted to sourcing heating for their families, no matter the source. In cautious steps, 45-year-old Samer Jalbout, is making his way through the rubble of destroyed buildings, to look for anything that can be burned to produce heating for his family. After being displaced during the war, Samer has returned to his home, to find it partially destroyed by shelling. Samer's resettlement challenges include the security situation and poor economic conditions, including a lack of job opportunities. But facing the harsh winter now with unaffordable heating materials is his most urgent problem. Shotlist: Damascus, Syria - Feb 23, 2025: 1. Various of damaged buildings; rubble; displaced people on road; 2. Various of man pouring flammable liquid into heater; 3. Displaced people on road; damaged buildings; rubble; 4. Various of Samer Jalbout, displaced man, searching rubble to find heating materials; 5. Various of Samer walking back home, holding materials; 6. Samer sorting out materials; 7. Clothes; 8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Samer Jalbout, displaced man (starting with shot 7/partially overlaid with shot 9): "The majority of the residential buildings here, need to be demolished as they are uninhabitable. This is the first hurdle. Secondly, not many people can come back as water and sewage systems are gone. Electricity is also not provided so returning to an area with no water or electricity is difficult."; [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 9. Various of damaged buildings; rubbles; traffic, displaced people on road; [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 10. Samer sorting out materials; 11. Various of Samer standing on rubbles; 12. Samer turning on light; 13. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Samer Jalbout, displaced man (starting with shot 12/partially overlaid with shot 14): "The most pressing issue is heating because this weather is too harsh. I collect wood, old clothes, anything that can burn in the stove that we use for cooking and boiling water. This stove is our life line. I can't afford diesel for heating so I try any other heat producing alternatives that I can find."; [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 14. Various of Samer putting materials into stove; [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 15. Various of Samer at his damaged house; 16. Various of displaced people; damaged buildings; rubble. [Restriction - No Access Chinese Mainland/Orient TV/Syria Alshaab TV/Zanoubia TV/Alhurra TV/ANN TV/Al Jazeera/ Al-Arabiya TV]