UNHCR’s Grandi calls for global action to support Syrians returning home

DAMASCUS – Wrapping up a visit to Syria on Monday, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, appealed to the international community for bold and decisive action to help Syrians rebuild their war-torn country and support displaced Syrians in returning home.

Since September, more than 500,000 refugees have returned to Syria, including 200,000 after the fall of the Assad regime. Additionally, nearly 600,000 people who were displaced inside Syria have since returned to their homes. However, 7.4 million Syrians are still uprooted inside the country and there are more than 6 million Syrian refugees worldwide.

Despite the major political shifts in Syria over the last few weeks, the humanitarian crisis persists.

“We must seize this critical window of opportunity to help the country emerge from years of crisis and bloodshed,” said Grandi. “Many families are taking the brave step of returning home, longing for a better future, but they face overwhelming difficulties: destroyed and damaged homes, shattered infrastructure and widespread poverty.”

In Damascus, Grandi held high-level discussions with the caretaker authorities, including the country's leader, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, which focused on how best to support Syrians returning home.

Grandi made a call for donors to support efforts to meet the immense immediate humanitarian needs as well as ensure the country’s long-term recovery. Safeguarding the rights and safety of all Syrians is also essential for creating favorable conditions for people to return.

During the visit, Grandi met with returnees at key border crossings, such as Masnaa and Bab Al-Hawa. In Aleppo, he spoke with families who described the harsh realities they have faced upon their return, and their need for urgent support so that they can reunite with their families and start rebuilding their lives.

“To make returns sustainable, safe and dignified, and to prevent further displacement in the longer-term, we need a comprehensive approach,” he added. “This means investing in jobs, restoring health care, rebuilding schools, and re-establishing essential services like electricity and clean water. Additionally, lifting sanctions will act as a vital catalyst for recovery, paving the way for more Syrians to return home.”

Syrian refugees are eager for an improved security situation and political stability so they can return home safely; 27 percent of Syrian refugees recently surveyed in Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan and Iraq told UNHCR that they were planning to return to Syria in the next 12 months, up from less than 2 percent before the fall of the Assad regime just a few weeks ago.

UNHCR and its partners are scaling up humanitarian aid to meet the huge needs of returnees. This includes supporting people voluntarily returning from neighboring countries with transportation and legal support, as well as help to repair their damaged houses, providing cash assistance and relief items such as mattresses, blankets and winter clothing.

“This is a pivotal moment,” said Grandi. “The world must act now to support Syria’s recovery. Cooperation between neighboring countries, donors, and the Syrian caretaker authorities is essential to bring much-needed peace and stability to Syria and the entire region.”

Originally posted by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency