UNHCR says 30 percent of Syrian refugees consider returning
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi, announced on Saturday that approximately 30 percent of the millions of Syrian refugees currently residing in neighboring countries are considering returning to their homeland next year.
Speaking at a press conference in Damascus following a meeting with the new Syrian administration, Grandi stated that the return indicator has finally shifted after a long period of stagnation.
This change stems from a United Nations assessment conducted in January, weeks after the Bashar al-Assad regime’s collapse.
Prior to the fall of al-Assad’s regime, the prospect of Syrian refugees returning was virtually nonexistent.
Grandi noted that around 200,000 Syrian refugees have already returned since al-Assad’s fall. He also highlighted that approximately 300,000 individuals fled from Lebanon to Syria during the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, with many believed to have remained in the country.
He emphasized that “Sanctions are an important obstacle for the return of refugees,” remarking that lifting sanctions could drastically improve living conditions in areas where people are returning.
The High Commissioner also urged the international community to provide more support, stressing the need to reassess sanctions and increase donor contributions.
Earlier this month, the United States introduced a six-month waiver on certain sanctions, including those affecting the energy sector. Meanwhile, the European Union is set to address the issue during its upcoming foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels on Monday.