Attachments
Overview
The humanitarian response in Syria remains one of the most complex and critical crises in the world today. With over a decade of conflict, widespread displacement, and persistent socio-political instability, millions of Syrians continue to face severe hardships. The situation is further compounded by the ongoing hostilities, economic collapse, and deteriorating infrastructure, which have left large swathes of the population in urgent need of food, shelter, healthcare, and protection.
In recent days, the return of Syrian refugees from Lebanon has become an increasingly pressing issue due to the deteriorating security situation in Lebanon, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in Lebanon and the region. As Syrian refugees flee Lebanon, they face immense challenges upon crossing back into Syria. According to UNHCR, those returning under these circumstances are doing so in highly adverse conditions, and their journey is fraught with legal, security, and protection risks.
One of the most significant factors complicating the return of Syrian refugees is the “crossline” dynamic. Syria is fragmented into areas controlled by various actors, including the government of Syria, and local authorities in northwest and northeast Syria. These fragmented territories create substantial obstacles for refugees attempting to return, as they navigate complex control zones and bureaucratic hurdles. The safety and security concerns for new Syrian IDPs are particularly acute. In government-controlled areas, new Syrian IDPs face risks such as arbitrary detention, conscription, and harassment, particularly men of military age. Women and children, while facing challenges of their own, are more likely to attempt the return journey. In addition to these concerns, new IDPs must pass through areas controlled by different actors, each with its own rules and checkpoints. This crossline nature of the return presents logistical and safety challenges, as new IDPs face potential interrogation, detention, or worse when crossing from government-controlled to opposition-held areas.
Furthermore, many new IDPs find their homes destroyed or illegally occupied, while land and property laws issued by the government of Syria like Decree 66 (2012) and Law 10 (2018) complicate the reclaiming of property, particularly in areas previously under opposition control. The reintegration process is also fraught with social tensions, especially in communities divided by the war along political, ethnic, or social lines. Bearing in mind that all of de facto authorities in Syria are politicizing the returnee file and leverage it for their interests locally and internationally.
This complex situation is compounded by the recent reduction in humanitarian assistance in northwest Syria, where 91.18% of the population lives below the poverty line, 41% face hunger, and the unemployment rate has reached 89%. Inflation, at 77.13% as of September 2024, has further eroded purchasing power, while the funding deficit for the Syria response, at 73.5%, threatens to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis. With 65% of the population in northwest Syria being IDPs reliant on aid, the reduced assistance will have a severe impact.
Given these challenges, it is critical that donors and civil society focus on both immediate humanitarian assistance and long-term solutions that address protection risks, housing and land rights, freedom of movement, and reintegration into Syrian society. These issues must be addressed to ensure the safe and dignified return of Syrian refugees, especially in the context of worsening conditions in Lebanon.