Attachments
Humanitarian context
The fall of the Assad regime in early December 2024 has prompted mass movements within much of Syria, with at least 1 million internally displaced people (IDPs) returning to their areas of origin.
From neighbouring countries, nearly 400,000 Syrians have returned to Syria.
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is currently not promoting returns to Syria given due to ongoing uncertainty and insecurity and is focused on facilitating voluntary returns for those who choose to return. This is based on actual and projected returns, intentions expressed by refugees in UNHCR’s latest intention survey in neighbouring countries, and driven by requests from refugees seeking UNHCR’s support to facilitate their return.
As outlined in UNHCR’s Operational Framework for voluntary return of Syrian refugees and IDPs, the process will be gradual and phased, grounded on the voluntary character of return and refugees’ well-informed and free choices. Up to 1.5 million Syrians may return from Jordan, Lebanon, Türkiye, Iraq and Egypt in 2025, alongside 2 million IDPs.
The voluntary return of Syrian refugees, primarily from the neighbouring countries, and IDPs has been ongoing amid the recent displacement of 1 million people, following an offensive by armed opposition groups beginning in northwest Syria on 27 November. In addition, between late September and late November, Syria received more than half a million Syrians and Lebanese fleeing Israeli airstrikes in neighbouring Lebanon.
Nearly 14 years of conflict have devastated Syria’s economy and infrastructure, leaving 90 per cent of the population reliant on aid. More than 16 million Syrians inside the country still need urgent help— food, shelter, healthcare, and more, and over 7.4 million Syrians remain displaced in the country.
The needs are immense, but there is now hope for a historic opportunity to rebuild.