Attachments
Key highlights
Even as relative calm falls over many parts of Syria since the fall of the former government,
humanitarian needs remain acute. Collective centers host tens of thousands of people;
people lack access to basic necessities including water, food and health care. Many IDPs
report that their houses in return areas are damaged or destroyed. Safety and security
remain key concerns for displaced people as they consider going home or not.
The IDP Taskforce reported some 225,000 IDPs have also returned to their areas of origin,
primarily in Hama and Aleppo governorates, significantly reducing the number of newly
displaced individuals from 1.1 million to 882,000 as of 15 December.
UNHCR is engaging with thousands of refugees in neighboring countries, often with daily
contact through helplines, surveys, focus group discussions, and other communications
channels, listening to their concerns, providing up-to-date information, and understanding
their perceptions and intentions around return. While many indicate a cautious optimism
about returning home, most are waiting to see what happens next in Syria. Questions span
from safety and security to practical considerations, such as documentation, schooling for
children, transportation costs, and the state and availability of housing back home.
UNHCR meets families returning from Türkiye at Bab al-Hawa crossing in Syria (16 December). © UNHCR