Syrian refugees’ return is not currently facilitated or promoted by UN
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Due to present conditions in Syria not being conducive for voluntary repatriation in safety and dignity yet, return is not currently facilitated or promoted by UNHCR and partners, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said on Tuesday.
As of 31 December 2021, Iraq hosted a total of 254,561 Syrian refugees and asylum seekers of which 96 percent resides in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, the UN said.
Spontaneous returns from Iraq to Syria have been taking place through the years of the conflict and have seen a steady decline since early 2020, mainly due to a deterioration of the security and living conditions in Syria, COVID-19 restrictions and full (since March 2020) or partial borders closure, it said.
Strengthening self-resilience and the inclusion of Syrian refugees in national and local services in Iraq remains the key solution strategy of the refugee response, in collaboration with the Government of Iraq (GoI) and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
Refugees in camps in Iraq demand resettlement in a third country, as Iraq did not sign the 1951 Convention regarding the reception of refugees, which means that they are not recognized as refugees, or the provision of rights in the place of asylum, primarily “education, health and citizenship.”