UNHCR reports that over seven million Syrians continue to be displaced within their own country.
The United Nations has announced that since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, approximately one million Syrian refugees have made their way back to Syria. However, the UN also cautions that humanitarian aid funding is rapidly declining.
“In just nine months following the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime on December 8, 2024, one million Syrians have returned home,” stated the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) on Tuesday.
Additionally, UNHCR highlighted that 1.8 million internally displaced Syrians have resettled in their original communities after nearly 14 years of civil war.
Before the conflict erupted in 2011, Syria’s population was around 13 million. The war, sparked by the Assad government’s violent suppression of peaceful Arab Spring protests, forced nearly half of the population to flee their homes.
Obstacles Facing Those Returning
While the large-scale return of Syrians signals renewed optimism following the political shift, many returnees face significant hardships in rebuilding their lives.
“The devastation of housing and infrastructure, inadequate and damaged essential services, scarce employment opportunities, and ongoing security concerns all hinder the ability of people to fully recover and reintegrate,” UNHCR explained.
Despite these returns, more than seven million Syrians remain displaced internally, and over 4.5 million continue to live abroad. The agency calls for enhanced investment in stabilization programs and increased aid for vulnerable households.
Urgent Appeal for Continued Humanitarian Aid
Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, emphasized the need for a united effort: “Governments, the private sector, and Syrians living overseas must collaborate to bolster recovery initiatives, ensuring that displaced individuals return voluntarily, with dignity, and without the risk of being uprooted again.”
A recent UNHCR survey revealed that 80% of Syrian refugees residing in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, and Iraq aspire to return to Syria eventually, with 18% hoping to do so within the next year.
“After enduring immense hardship over the past 14 years, the most vulnerable refugees still require protection and assistance,” Grandi added. “Sustained support for host countries such as Jordan, Lebanon, and Türkiye remains vital to guarantee that returns are safe, voluntary, and dignified.”
UNHCR also warned of a critical shortfall in funding for humanitarian efforts. Only 24% of the necessary funds have been secured for operations inside Syria, and just 30% of the total requested budget for the broader regional response has been met.
“Reducing support at this crucial juncture would undermine the Syrian people’s aspirations for a stable and improved future for themselves and the region,” the agency concluded.
