UNHCR Reports Up to 600,000 Syrians May Return Home in the Next Six Months
Significant Movement Expected Amid Ongoing Challenges
The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, has projected that up to 600,000 displaced Syrians could return home within the next six months, based on its latest survey.
UNHCR spokesperson Celine Schmitt emphasized on Friday that returning families will require essential resources such as housing, employment, education, healthcare, electricity, and clean water—many of which remain scarce after 14 years of civil conflict.
She shared the story of a mother who, having fled the ruins of her home, was living in a tent with her children. Without access to water or job opportunities, and with the nearest school two kilometers away, she expressed a strong desire to return and rebuild her life.
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A Deep Desire to Return Home
The mother revealed her plan to take her tent back to her homeland, setting it up next to her damaged house just to feel a sense of home again. She pleaded for minimal humanitarian assistance to help her restart her life.
The survey findings suggest that 23 districts in Syria could see their populations at least double, further straining an already overstretched infrastructure.
According to the data:
– 51% of displaced households intend to return to their places of origin.
– 93% of those planning to return aim to do so within three to twelve months.
The survey, conducted between January 26 and February 23, collected responses from 4,800 households—more than 29,000 individuals—across 514 displacement sites in northwest Syria.
As of January, northwest Syria still housed over 3.4 million internally displaced persons (IDPs). The intention to return is notably strong in Idleb, where two-thirds of displaced families plan to move back. The most commonly chosen destinations are former frontline areas in Idleb and Aleppo governorates.
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UNHCR Assistance for Returnees
To support displaced families, UNHCR and its partners are providing critical aid, including transportation, legal assistance, and help with repairing damaged homes. Essential supplies such as mattresses, blankets, and winter clothing are also being distributed to help returnees cope with harsh conditions.
“Syria stands at a crossroads, urgently needing reconstruction support,” said Ms. Schmitt. “After nearly 14 years of war, the economy and infrastructure have been devastated, leaving 90% of the population dependent on humanitarian aid.”
She urged the international community to seize this moment, calling for firm commitments to provide essential aid and early recovery support for returning Syrians.
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Seven Million Syrians Still Displaced – IOM Report
A PLACEHOLDERccc9e4d46602d711 released by the UN migration agency, PLACEHOLDER0eb5374b1257807c, on Friday reveals that approximately 750,000 displaced Syrians have already returned to their hometowns since November 2024. However, seven million people remain displaced.
Data from IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), the first such report on Syria since 2022, indicates that:
– One in five displaced individuals is currently living in tents or makeshift shelters.
– 28% of returnees reside in damaged or unfinished buildings.
“Syria remains in a severe humanitarian crisis, and the needs are enormous,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope. “We are committed to supporting Syrians in their recovery journey, and collecting accurate data is a crucial step toward effective humanitarian coordination.”
Re-establishing its presence in Damascus, IOM is ramping up data collection efforts in Syria to address knowledge gaps and improve humanitarian interventions.
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Returns from Lebanon, Türkiye, and Iraq
Since January 2024, 571,388 individuals have returned to Syria from abroad. Of these, 259,745 returned after November 2024, coinciding with events that led to the fall of the Assad regime in early December.
Key statistics from IOM:
– 76% of returnees from abroad have gone back to their original homes.
– 50% of returning refugees came from Lebanon, 22% from Türkiye, and 13% from Iraq
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