International community urged to expedite Syrian refugee repatriation following anticipated end of Bashar al-Assad's rule
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Syria's Rebuilding Journey: A Patchwork Path Forward
Amid the ongoing transformation of Syria, Filippo Grandi, the head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), made a plea to the international community from Damascus. On June 20, he urged global support for Syria's accelerated reconstruction and the enablement of more refugees to return home. "It's time to act," Grandi expressed to journalists on the sidelines of his visit to the Syrian capital.
More than 14 years after the onset of the country's devastating civil war and the fall of Assad in December 2024, the early months of 2025 have seen a uptick in Syrians returning to their homeland. According to Grandi, over two million refugees and internally displaced persons have returned to Syria since the beginning of December's fall of Bashar al-Assad. Out of those, approximately 1.5 million have made their way back to their homes, while 600,000 have trekked back from neighboring countries like Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, and others.
The UNHCR forecasts that by the end of 2025, around 1.5 million Syrians from abroad and two million internally displaced persons could return to their homes. Yet, the organization estimates that 13.5 million Syrians remain refugees abroad or internally displaced.
While the returns are a hopeful sign of progress, they are faced with significant challenges. Syrian infrastructure and housing remain drastically damaged, with over 325,000 homes destroyed and more than a million damaged, especially in urban centers like Damascus suburbs, Homs, Aleppo, Idlib, and Deir ez-Zor. The security situation, political instability, and limited humanitarian access continue to complicate safe and dignified returns. UN agencies emphasize that refugee returns must be voluntary and carried out in safe conditions.
The international community and humanitarian agencies stress the need for well-supported returns and substantial reconstruction assistance, as many returning Syrians express a desire to help rebuild their communities. However, reconstruction is hindered by the scale of destruction, ongoing security issues, and limited international aid funding, which has remained roughly at 2015 levels despite the nearly doubling of displaced populations worldwide. Humanitarian aid cuts have left refugees and returnees vulnerable.
As the Syrian journey towards rebuilding continues, it is essential to address the multifaceted challenges faced by returnees head-on. The international community, along with the Syrian government, must collaborate to ensure a safe, secure, and prosperous return for Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons.
Background:In mid-2025, Syria's refugee return is on the rise, driven by deteriorating conditions in host countries rather than improved conditions at home. Although nearly 2 million Syrians have returned, continued infrastructure devastation, fragile security, and constrained aid limit the pace and sustainability of these returns and rebuilding efforts. The international community and humanitarian agencies continue to emphasize the need for voluntary, safe, well-supported returns paired with robust reconstruction assistance.
[1] Overview of the Syrian crisis – UNHCR[2] Syria: Refugees return in greater numbers – ReliefWeb[3] Returns of Syrian refugees to remain slow despite some recent increase, experts say – The New Humanitarian[4] Syria refugee returns: In contested areas, it's a race to see who comes back first – Middle East Eye[5] Syria: I want to plan my life – I'm waiting for the right moment to return – Norwegian Refugee Council
- As the Syrian crisis continues, the surge in migration indicates that many Syrians are facing deteriorating conditions in host countries, prompting a call for the international community to prioritize voluntary, safe, and well-supported returns alongside robust reconstruction aid.
- With war-and-conflicts and politics playing significant roles in Syria's ongoing transformation, it's crucial to address the challenges posed by unstable security, infrastructure devastation, and limited aid, crucial elements in the larger narrative of Syria's rebuilding journey, as reported in general news.
