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[INTERNATIONAL] · Syria, Türkiye, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq · 4 sources

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UNHCR calls for international aid as Syrian refugee returns increase

UNHCR High Commissioner Barham Salih has called for increased international support for Syria following a one-week mission to the country, including visits to Damascus, Idlib, and Aleppo. Salih stated that Syria is at a ‘historic turning point,’ noting that more than 3 million Syrians have returned to their communities from abroad or from internal displacement since December 2024.

Despite the increase in returns, Salih emphasized that the country faces immense challenges in reconstruction, essential service restoration, and economic opportunity. He stressed that any return of refugees must be safe, voluntary, and dignified. The UNHCR highlighted that while the momentum for returns is growing, the Syrian government cannot manage the scale of the challenge without significant external assistance from governments, humanitarian actors, and financial institutions.

Currently, approximately 4 million Syrian refugees reside in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt, while roughly 5.5 million people remain internally displaced within Syria. The Syrian government is reportedly working with UN agencies on a strategy titled ‘No tents, no camps’ to facilitate the closure of displacement settlements through reintegration.

Entities

Ahmad al-Sharaa · Barham Salih · Syria · UNHCR · United Nations

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