More than 800 Syrian refugees return home from Libya under UNHCR program
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – A total of 829 Syrian refugees voluntarily returned from Libya to Syria since November 2025 under a repatriation program organized by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Libya Review reported on July 17.
According to statements provided by UNHCR Libya to Migrant News, the latest charter flight departed from Tripoli to Damascus on June 6, carrying 52 Syrian refugees.
Anne-Marie Kerrigan Deriche, Senior External Relations Adviser at UNHCR, said the latest operation raised the number of Syrians who voluntarily returned from Libya during 2026 to 390. Since the program was launched in November 2025, a total of 829 Syrians have returned to their home country.
UNHCR emphasized that all returns are carried out on a voluntary basis, with refugees making free and informed decisions after determining that conditions are suitable for a safe return.
The agency said its voluntary repatriation program is not intended to systematically collect information on refugees’ previous migration routes or attempts to reach Europe. Instead, it focuses on ensuring that participants fully understand the implications of returning before they travel.
UNHCR noted that interest in voluntary return remains high among Syrian refugees in Libya. A survey conducted in mid-2025 found that about 1,300 Syrian refugees, representing approximately 217 families, expressed a willingness to return to Syria.
The agency has continued receiving additional requests through direct applications and other communication channels.
Despite the increasing demand, UNHCR said the program continues to face logistical challenges that slow departures, including the lack of valid travel documents and limited access to consular services required to complete travel procedures.
Libya remains both a transit and destination country for thousands of refugees and migrants from several countries. UNHCR and its humanitarian partners continue working with Libyan authorities to provide protection, humanitarian assistance and long-term solutions, including voluntary repatriation for refugees wishing to return to their countries of origin.
UNHCR reiterated that every return request is assessed individually and proceeds only after confirming that the decision is voluntary and based on a full understanding of the available options.
Since the political transition in Syria following the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, UNHCR has reported a growing number of Syrians choosing to return from neighboring countries and farther abroad. The agency estimates that more than one million Syrians have returned to the country since late 2024, while stressing that returns should remain voluntary, safe and dignified. At the same time, humanitarian organizations continue to warn that many returnees face damaged infrastructure, limited access to basic services and economic hardship, underscoring the need for sustained international support for Syria’s recovery.