The United Nations reports that over 300,000 refugees have returned to Syria since the ousting of Bashar al-Assad, with an additional 900,000 internally displaced persons also returning. The UNHCR highlights significant needs for housing and services as many returning individuals confront severely damaged homes. International aid efforts are urgently required to support ongoing needs and infrastructure challenges.
According to the United Nations, over 300,000 refugees have returned to Syria since the overthrow of dictator Bashar al-Assad. Alongside this, nearly one million internally displaced individuals have also returned home. Celine Schmitt of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) reported these figures during a presentation from Damascus, noting that nearly half of the returnees have come from Turkey, which currently hosts approximately three million Syrian refugees.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reported that over 133,000 Syrians residing in Turkey have returned. The offensive that led to Assad’s removal marked the end of his family’s prolonged rule and triggered a devastating civil war that resulted in over half a million fatalities and the displacement of millions. Schmitt emphasized that the situation remains “the world’s largest displacement crisis,” with many displaced individuals eager to return to their homes.
Additionally, Schmitt revealed that approximately 900,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) in Syria have returned to their original areas. A survey conducted by UNHCR indicated that a million IDPs in northwest Syria aim to return home within the next year, with over half planning to do so within the next twelve months. Currently, around 3.4 million IDPs reside in northwestern Syria, mainly in 1,500 camps across the Idlib and Aleppo governorates.
Schmitt noted that IDPs in Idlib are particularly eager to return, forewarning of potential population surges in previously frontline areas. She highlighted two locations, Maarat An-Numan and Kafr Nobol, which could see a dramatic increase in population from 3,000 to 130,000 individuals. Furthermore, she mentioned that 23 districts might double their populations, posing additional pressure on already strained services and infrastructure.
Access to housing is projected to be the primary challenge, with 80 percent of IDPs reporting that their former homes are “severely damaged or destroyed.” The agency is reaching out to international donors for assistance, estimating a need for over $170 million to provide essential services. Schmitt lamented that funding for these initiatives is currently less than 10 percent of the requirements needed to assist the returning population.
In summary, the return of over 300,000 refugees to Syria signifies a significant change in the landscape post-Assad’s fall. The massive displacement crisis remains largely unresolved, with millions still hoping to return. Active support from international donors is essential to address the pressing needs for housing and basic services as populations in affected areas increase dramatically.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
