Reconstruction Challenges in Post-Conflict Cities: Sustainable Management of Construction and Demolition Waste in Iraq and Syria
Abstract
Reconstruction Challenges in Post-Conflict Cities: Sustainable Management of Construction and Demolition Waste in Iraq and Syria
Incoming article date: 07.06.2025Cities prone to natural disasters face the problem of accumulating large volumes of construction waste, which is heavy and poses a source of environmental pollution and a risk to human health. This is especially true for countries in the Middle East, such as Iraq and Syria, which have suffered heavy damage as a result of conflicts and natural disasters. The presence of this waste affects the emergency response process, including the access of emergency services to the affected area and the inability to search for and save lives, and poor management of this waste leads to a negative impact on the cost and time of the recovery process. On the other hand, this waste also offers new opportunities: it can contain valuable materials such as concrete and steel, which can be either a source of income or a source of reconstruction materials, and reduce the consumption of natural resources through reuse and recycling. The aim of this study is to analyze the reconstruction process, including construction waste management, and identify the problems and obstacles that prevent local authorities from effectively implementing their reconstruction plans, as well as to present solutions to combat the huge amount of construction waste that has accumulated over the years.
Keywords: Inspection of structural elements, reinforced concrete, defects of monolithic structures, cracks, reinforcement corrosion, repair, concrete quality, cold joint, monolithic construction, concrete surface quality