Attachments
Background
The fall of the Assad government in December 2024 and Syria’s political transition marked a historic turning point, ending 14 years of conflict and renewing hope for resolving one of the world’s largest displacement crises. As a result, voluntary return has become a real possibility for millions of Syrians displaced within the country, across the region and beyond. The response from Syrians in the region to this new political reality was immediate. As of mid-December 2024, a spontaneous and gradual movement of Syrians back across land borders was evident, with others arriving from North Africa, the Gulf and Europe, transiting through some neighbouring countries. UNHCR reinforced its community engagement through well-established networks with refugee communities, including help lines, community centres, outreach volunteers, return monitoring and focus group discussions,1 and launched systematic perception and intention surveys to better quantify interest in return and capture refugees’ concerns. Refugees expressed hope and optimism, tempered by caution about how the situation in Syria would develop. Many adopted a ‘wait and see approach’, while others explicitly requested support from UNHCR, national authorities and the broader humanitarian community to facilitate returns, particularly assistance to regularize civil documentation, cover transportation costs, and access reintegration support upon arrival in Syria.2 One year into the transition, UNHCR has recorded the return of over 1.2 million Syrians from abroad and 1.9 million IDPs within Syria, with the majority returning using their own resources and enabled by support from host governments in the immediate region, and by the Government of Syria. At the same time, Syria continues to face significant challenges across the security, political and economic spheres. Security remains fluid in some parts of the country, with incidents of localized violence or instability. Politically, efforts to consolidate governance and implement transitional justice are progressing. While economic sanctions have largely been removed or suspended, secondary sanctions against third parties doing business with Syria continue to hinder investment and rebuilding efforts. Widespread destruction of homes and critical infrastructure, high unemployment, and limited access to basic services further hamper economic recovery. These overlapping challenges not only complicate prospects for sustainable return and reintegration but also demand continued attention, coordinated action, and longterm support.