UNHCR says 3.5 million Syrians returned since Dec. 2024 amid dire needs
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The UN refugee agency said on Wednesday that Syria is witnessing large-scale refugee and internally displaced person (IDP) returns, but warned that severe humanitarian needs and poor living conditions continue to threaten the sustainability of those returns.
In its May 2026 operational update, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said about 1.67 million refugees and 1.9 million internally displaced Syrians have returned to their areas of origin since December 2024.
Despite the returns, 15.6 million people across Syria still require humanitarian assistance, according to the agency.
UNHCR added that Syria’s operational environment is increasingly shifting from an emergency displacement response toward support for return and reintegration, in line with the Syrian government’s recovery priorities and its “No Tents, No Camps” vision.
The agency, however, stressed that return conditions remain fragile, citing damaged housing, weak access to services, limited livelihood opportunities, lack of civil documentation, and overstretched local infrastructure as key obstacles facing returnees.
“UNHCR advocates that movements out of camps or collective shelters remain voluntary, informed, safe, and dignified,” the report said, adding that sustainable reintegration depends on adequate support in areas of return.
UNHCR said it continues to work with partners across all 14 Syrian governorates to support vulnerable returnees, refugees and displaced communities.