UN: 200,000 Syrian Refugees Return Home

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi, revealed yesterday that over 200,000 Syrian refugees have returned to their homeland since fleeing the country following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime.

This significant milestone marks a shift in refugee trends since the height of the Syrian conflict.

During a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Beirut, Grandi shared the UNHCR's estimates on the number of Syrians who have repatriated from neighboring countries.

He emphasized that many refugees are increasingly expressing a desire to return, with recent surveys conducted by the UN showing a dramatic rise in willingness to go back—from 1% to 30% in just a few weeks.

Grandi explained that the UNHCR is focused on providing the necessary support for the refugees choosing to return, describing the relationship with the new Syrian administration as "constructive."

However, he also warned that without adequate support systems, including financial assistance and infrastructure rehabilitation, refugees may once again be forced to flee.

He stressed the importance of rebuilding areas of Syria that refugees are returning to in order to ensure long-term stability. Without securing essential elements for safety and livelihood, the risk of repatriated Syrians returning to their host countries remains high.