Over half a million refugees return to Syria post-Assad: UNHCR
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Despite the optimism surrounding these returns, the reality on the ground remains grim.
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A man offers camel rides near one of the city's waterwheels, known as the "Norias of Hama," along the Orontes River in Hama, Syria, Sunday, January 26, 2025. (AP)
Since September 2024, more than 500,000 Syrian refugees have made the journey back to Syria, including 200,000 who returned after the al-Assad government fell in December, according to estimates released by the UNHCR on Monday.
The UN agency also reported that nearly 600,000 internally displaced Syrians have returned to their homes during the same period. Despite this movement, the challenges of displacement remain staggering, with 7.4 million Syrians still uprooted within the country and over six million living as refugees abroad.
Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, stressed the urgent need for international assistance during his recent visits to Damascus and Beirut.
Meeting with Syrian interim leadership, Grandi stated, "Many families are taking the brave step of returning home, longing for a better future, but they face overwhelming difficulties: destroyed and damaged homes, shattered infrastructure, and widespread poverty."
In Aleppo, I spoke to Syrian returnees about their challenges.
— Filippo Grandi (@FilippoGrandi) January 27, 2025
People here need lifesaving help - like shelter.
But to rebuild their lives, they need much more: jobs, healthcare, schools, services...
There is a real sense of hope here. To sustain it requires a global effort. pic.twitter.com/tGjorcMERe
Grandi also met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun earlier this month, who called on the UN to accelerate efforts to organize the repatriation of Syrian refugees, particularly after al-Assad’s resignation.
With al-Assad no longer in power, the refugees who fled his administration "have no reason to stay in Lebanon anymore", President Aoun said, urging the international community to provide financial and humanitarian aid to facilitate safe returns.
Fragile recovery
Despite the optimism surrounding these returns, the reality on the ground remains grim.
The current interim government in Syria faces immense obstacles, including rebuilding decimated infrastructure, addressing economic hardship as a result of ongoing Western sanctions, and fostering reconciliation among Syria’s fractured communities.
Reports indicate that less than half of returnees have access to clean water and healthcare. Damaged infrastructure, limited basic services, and ongoing instability pose severe challenges to reintegrating displaced populations. Additionally, legal and economic barriers, such as the lack of essential documentation, hinder access to property and public services, complicating efforts to rebuild livelihoods.
Moreover, regional instability continues to complicate Syria’s recovery. Israeli airstrikes on Syrian territory and violations of sovereignty have delayed reconstruction efforts and increased security risks for returnees. Clashes between Kurdish and Turkish-backed forces have also exacerbated tensions in the north.
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