UNHCR, IrisGuard to deliver secure cash aid to returning Syrian refugees
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has signed a new agreement with IrisGuard, a UK-based technology firm, to provide cash assistance to eligible Syrian refugees returning home after years of displacement, IrisGuard announced on Tuesday.
The initiative extends a partnership that began in 2012, when IrisGuard first introduced iris recognition technology to verify refugee identities across the Middle East.
The company’s EyeCloud platform is already integrated into UNHCR’s systems in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Egypt, helping millions of refugees access aid securely through ATMs, post offices, and supermarkets—without cards, phones, or identification documents.
Under the new agreement, the same system will now support returning refugees in Syria, ensuring they receive financial aid directly and securely.
The technology provides strict verification, transparency, and accountability, preventing fraud and ensuring assistance reaches the right beneficiaries.
“This partnership is deeply meaningful to us,” said Imad Malhas, IrisGuard’s Founder and Managing Director. “From the day families were forced to leave Syria, we have been there to help protect what was rightfully theirs. To now serve them again as they return home, and to know our technology has accompanied and protected them full circle, is both humbling and profoundly satisfying.”
UNHCR estimates that over 5.9 million Syrians remain displaced in neighboring countries, while about 300,000 have returned since 2016. Many face severe challenges, including damaged infrastructure, limited services, and economic hardship.
With this agreement, UNHCR and IrisGuard aim to extend that protection “full circle” — from the refugees’ initial registration during their displacement to their return and reintegration in Syria — using the same technology that safeguarded their identity for over a decade.