If we neglect immediate humanitarian needs in Syria, social and political divisions will not heal

Ibtihal and her family returned home to the war-torn town of Dara'a in southern Syria in January, after more than a decade as refugees in Jordan. The house had taken extensive damage to the walls, windows and water tanks – her husband pointed to a hole in the roof where a mortar had punched through. There was no electricity and so no lighting. Piece by piece, Ibtihal's husband and his neighbors were putting the building back together. Despite the destruction, they were overjoyed to be back.

"When I first arrived, I was shocked by the state of the entire country," said Ibtihal. "But I have great faith in God that Syria will be rebuilt."

The same month, I was in Amman, Jordan’s capital, watching refugees load their suitcases onto buses, take their seats and prepare to follow Ibtihal back to their homeland. For millions of Syrians, displaced by 14 years of brutal conflict, this is a day they thought would never come.

Moments like these, when people forced to flee their homes can finally make the journey in the opposite direction, are among the most uplifting sights for anyone working at UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. In an era when forced displacement has reached record levels, we have been given a rare opportunity to help people return home and rebuild. It is also an unexpected chance to promote peace and stability both in Syria and the wider region. But this window of opportunity will not be open forever.

Since former president Bashar al-Assad was overthrown in early December 2024, we estimate that over a million Syrians have gone home, counting those returning from other countries and from within Syria’s borders. Many more intend to follow suit: In a recent survey we conducted, 27 percent of refugees expressed an immediate intention to return to their homeland in the next 12 months, up from less than 2 percent before Assad was ejected.

But 14 years of chaos and violence leave a mark. The sheer scale of the destruction is hard to convey. Nothing has gone unscathed – housing, schools, hospitals, office blocks, roads, power plants, sewage treatment... Basic services, including water supply, electricity and trash collection, are limited, if non-existent. In such circumstances, people wonder how they will live, and how they will make a living.

Guaranteeing a lasting return

Those worries are being compounded by the latest violence in western Syria, including the deaths of hundreds of civilians. More people have fled their homes. The current government has previously noted the 'rare historical opportunity' to rebuild the country; that opportunity will be squandered if ethnic and sectarian rivalries win out over a desire for peace, law and order, and human rights. In Aleppo, home to a large Christian community, I listened to religious leaders attempting to calm their anxious congregations about which course the country might take. Their fears will only have deepened after last week’s killings.

But while the commitment of Syria’s government and its many factions to a lasting peace is crucial, the country’s future also depends on the strength and speed of financial and diplomatic support for reconstruction, security, investment and development. These are the ingredients of stability and prosperity, and of the lasting return of millions of people. The EU’s recent suspension of some sanctions is a welcome start but much more is needed.

If we neglect both the immediate humanitarian needs and the longer-term vision, social and political divisions will not heal; extremists will find more space to operate; fewer Syrians will return, and those who try may be forced to flee once more.

Urgent need for action

Even though our funding for this year is uncertain, UNHCR is still supporting refugees and people displaced within the country. Where requested, we and our partners offer transport home, advice and information, help with reintegration, and humanitarian aid such as blankets, winter clothing, and repairs to damaged homes. We are helping people at crossing points and at our network of 122 community centers inside Syria.

Without adequate and reliable funding, however, we will not be able to do this – nor support the many local organizations that provide invaluable aid.

Then there is the wider region: There are still 5.5 million Syrian refugees in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt, plus around 1.4 million more elsewhere, mostly Europe. Those countries have hosted them for 14 years. The existence of these refugees, and the responsibility for looking after them cannot simply fall off the agenda. Neither should they be forced to return against their will; the calculation and the decision must be theirs alone if those returns are to be long-lasting.

In a few days, the EU will host a conference in Brussels to address the many and various needs I have outlined above. I hope that all participants will recognize the urgency of action, and the potential consequences of failure. Millions of people have dared to hope. We cannot allow that hope to die.

Originally posted by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency