As of January 16th, nearly 195,200 Syrian refugees have returned to their homeland after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad on December 8th, Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) chief, tweeted on Saturday via X (formerly known as Twitter).
Since early December, nearly 200,000 Syrians have returned home, in addition to about 500,000 who went back during last year’s conflict in Lebanon. Soon I will visit Syria — and its neighbouring countries — as UNHCR steps up its support to returnees and receiving communities. pic.twitter.com/8LWX4HJoaH
— Filippo Grandi (@FilippoGrandi) January 18, 2025
Grandi posted the tweet ahead of a visit to the region, where the UNHCR is ramping up its support for returning refugees and host communities.
The recent wave of returns follows a year marked by upheaval and hope. Hundreds of thousands of Syrians returned last year, fleeing Lebanon to escape Israeli attacks during its conflict with the Hezbollah militant group.
However, the most significant turning point was the lightning rebel offensive led by Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham late last year. The offensive ousted Assad, igniting optimism for an end to the 13-year-long civil war that left over half a million people dead and displaced millions more.
Türkeye, Despite the policy, the return process remains fraught with challenges. Experts warn that a rapid influx of returning refugees could worsen Syria’s fragile situation.
Syria’s infrastructure has been severely damaged after over a decade of war, with homes, roads, and essential services in ruins. International sanctions remain in place, though some have been lifted to facilitate humanitarian efforts.
Additionally, Syria’s political landscape remains uncertain. The transitional government is under pressure from domestic and international stakeholders to adopt an inclusive political framework to ensure long-term stability.
Grandi’s upcoming visit to Syria and neighboring countries is part of the UNHCR’s efforts to enhance support for returnees and the communities receiving them.
The agency’s involvement underscores the importance of coordinated international efforts to address the humanitarian, social, and political dimensions of Syria’s recovery.