Syrian President and UNHCR chief discuss refugee return

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa met with UNHCR High Commissioner Barham Salih in Damascus to discuss mechanisms for the voluntary and safe return of Syrian refugees. The meeting, which included Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, focused on strengthening cooperation between the Syrian Arab Republic and the UNHCR.

Discussions centered on supporting repatriation efforts and implementing projects to ensure livelihoods and early recovery for returning citizens. President Sharaa previously expressed an expectation that the majority of the approximately 15 million Syrians living abroad would return to the country within two years. This follows the transition to a caretaker administration led by Sharaa in January 2025, after the previous regime of Bashar al-Assad ended in December 2024.