Attachments
Key Highlights
- Since 27 November, between 800,000 and one million people have been displaced from many areas across Syria, including over 150,000 people experiencing secondary displacement. Women and girls comprise nearly 50 per cent of those forced to flee their homes. In parallel, there are indications that some internally displaced people (IDPs) are returning to areas of origin, including Aleppo.
- Refugees in neighbouring countries express elation and hope, but also caution as to whether to return. UNHCR is assessing movements across borders, which remain minimal from Türkiye and Jordan. Several thousand Syrians have reportedly crossed back into Syria from Lebanon through the Masnaa official border point, although there are also movements back to Lebanon.
- UNHCR operations from Damascus are resuming as security conditions allow. Community centres are gradually re-opening in Aleppo and Damascus and emergency assistance is being provided in the north-east. UNHCR’s cross-border operation remains fully functional, providing crucial assistance to IDPs and host communities.
Situation Overview
The collapse of the Assad government following the offensive launched by non-state armed groups on 27 November has resulted in elation and hope for the future of Syria. Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries are among those who are celebrating. However, Syrian refugees remain cautious, concerned as to how the situation will develop and what the future will hold. The security situation in Aleppo, Idleb, Hama, Homs and Damascus remains dynamic. There are multiple overlapping population movements, including major internal displacement within Syria, some IDPs returning home, movements out of Syria, and relatively small numbers of refugee returns.
The long-running crisis in Syria has had devastating consequences for the country and its people. More than 13 million Syrians had been forced to flee their homes over the past 14 years, and 90 per cent of people inside Syria require some form of humanitarian assistance. The recent developments across Syria will impact millions of people’s lives both inside the country and within the region.
UNHCR is closely following the rapidly evolving situation. In the immediate term it is crucial that host governments are supported by the international community and that protection continues to be provided to Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries. As with any refugee situation, return of refugees must be safe, voluntary and dignified.