Reports have emerged on social media networks about a new organizational plan for Yarmouk Camp for Palestinian refugees, in Damascus, which aims at altering the camp’s demographic identity.

A Palestinian engineer published a copy of the new plan on his Facebook account, saying the chart shows no intention of facilitating civilians’ return to their homes.

Red squares figuring on the chart allegedly represent new towers that will replace Yarmouk buildings and residential neighborhoods. New commercial markets will also be established in the area, replacing local shops, the reports further revealed.

Palestinian lawyer Nour AlDeen Salman said Syria’s Council of Ministers said in a session held on October 10, 2019 that a new rehabilitation plan has received green-light in order to be implemented on the ground and will be announced on January 2, 2020.

He added that the situation of Yarmouk Camp had already been organized according to a detailed regulatory plan duly authenticated in 2004 in line with a presidential decree issued to that end.

Salman urged Syrian officials to release official statements in this regard and to clarify ongoing rumors about major demographic changes in Yarmouk Camp.

The situation took a dramatic turn for the worse in Yarmouk Camp following a military offensive launched by the Syrian government battalions, in partnership with the Russian squads, on April 19, 2018. The onslaughts led to the destruction of 60% of civilian structures and the death of dozens of civilians.

Yarmouk is a Syria-based based refugee camp; it was home to the largest Palestinian refugee community in Syria. As of June 2002, there were 112,550 registered refugees living in Yarmouk. Palestinians consider it as a living witness to their refugee plight.