Attachments
Context
Following the collapse of the Assad government in Syria in early December 2024, many among the 5.5 million Syrian refugees in Türkiye, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt have expressed elation and hope about the prospect of returning to their homes, together with caution.
Subsequently, as of end-January 2025, UNHCR estimates that some 250,000 Syrians have already returned to Syria since then. Similarly, with unrestricted movement within much of the country restored, particularly to the northwest and northeast, UNHCR and partners have observed an uptick in the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) inside Syria who have returned home during the same period, often to damaged dwellings and areas lacking services and livelihood opportunities.
Depending on how the situation inside Syria develops, it is likely that the number of refugees and IDPs deciding to return will increase over the course of 2025.
Based on the numbers of Syrians returning home, including refugees registered with UNHCR, and explicit requests from refugees in host countries to be supported to return, UNHCR is shifting to a mode of facilitation of voluntary refugee return.
This Operational Framework projects up to 1.5 million Syrians to return in 2025. It covers UNHCR’s engagement from preparations in host countries, counselling, and other protection services.It further includes the provision of return grants that will aid refugees to organize their return, and additional requirements for reintegration programmes for both returning refugees and IDPs inside Syria.
This Framework equally covers the return of IDPs, of which there are currently an estimated 7.4 million displaced inside Syria. UNHCR is projecting up to 2 million IDPs to return in 2025.
While this Framework is specific to UNHCR, inclusive partnership underpins voluntary return operations. Host governments and the Syrian authorities hold the primary responsibility to ensure the protection and well-being of returning refugees and IDPs, and with whom UNHCR and partners will interface on any planning and implementation. UNHCR is actively seeking collaboration and partnership with UN agencies, NGOs and International Financial Institutions (IFIs), and consulting with refugees on operational design and delivery. Inside Syria, programmes for the reintegration of refugees will be linked to longer-term UN development and reintegration frameworks, inclusive of IDPs, returning IDPs and other Syrians in need.
For refugee and IDP reintegration to be sustainable, an urgent recalibration of the various sanctions regimes needs to occur, including a determination of their ongoing necessity.
Crucially for Syrian refugees, return and reintegration should be situated within a broader comprehensive protection and solutions approach for the region, in line with the Global Compact on Refugees. Many refugees will not return in 2025.
Some returnees may face continued or new protection risks inside Syria. While supporting those who want to return, protection space, funding and programmes should be maintained in host countries.
UNHCR’s position on Syria returns from December 2024 remains unchanged, urging all States to grant civilians fleeing Syria access to their territories, uphold the right to seek asylum, and ensure full respect for the principle of non-refoulement.