UNHCR says over half million Syrian refugees returned since regime change
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced on Monday that more than half a million Syrian refugees have returned to the country since the fall of the previous regime—an average of 100,000 people per month through mid-May.
Lojain Hassan, Protection Officer at the UNHCR office in Syria, stated that the number of returnees is nearing 500,000.
Hassan said that these individuals are starting their lives from scratch and are in urgent need of support.
She emphasized that reintegrating returnees into their communities has become a pressing priority, noting that the lack of funding remains the most significant obstacle to successful reintegration.
Years of conflict and compounded crises have devastated Syria’s economy, destroyed infrastructure, and left many homes in ruins, Hassan explained, adding that the security situation in some areas remains unstable.
She stressed that returning refugees need a safe and stable environment to rebuild their lives—one where they can find work, enroll their children in school, and access healthcare and other essential services.