400,000 Syrians return home after Assad’s fall, says UNHCR

• The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that the main obstacle to the return of Syrians to their homeland is the lack of sufficient funding, which make the expected return of 1.5 million could people this year unfeasible, potentially forcing returnees to leave once again.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported that around 400,000 Syrians have returned to their homeland from neighboring countries since the fall of ousted President Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024, according to Arabic daily Al Jarida.

The commission stated that over one million internally displaced persons (IDPs) also returned to their homes in Syria during the same period, bringing the total number of returnees to more than 1.4 million. It noted that with the school year nearing its end, the summer months present a key window for voluntary returns—an opportunity many Syrians abroad are likely to consider.

However, the commission emphasized that ensuring a successful and sustainable return requires support in areas such as shelter, livelihoods, protection, and legal assistance—fields in which it said it has demonstrated proven expertise.

The UNHCR explained that the main obstacle to the return of Syrians to their homeland is the lack of sufficient funding, which could make the expected return of 1.5 million people this year unfeasible, potentially forcing returnees to leave once again.

The UN body stressed the critical need to support the commission and humanitarian actors to help achieve stability in Syria, warning that the severe funding cuts it faces put millions of lives at risk.

The commission noted that approximately 16.7 million people inside Syria—representing 90% of the population—require some form of humanitarian assistance, while more than 7.4 million Syrians remain internally displaced.

The commission emphasized that without additional funding, it will only be able to assist a small fraction of those intending to return, leading to a decline in the number of returnees. It also pointed to a sharp drop in donor funding between 2024 and 2025.

The decrease in UNHCR’s funding is also impacting staffing levels, with personnel numbers in Syria expected to fall by 30%, significantly hindering its ability to provide essential support to Syrians.