DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — The United Nations refugee chief said Saturday that about 200,000 refugees have returned to Syria from neighboring countries since the government of Bashar al-Assad was overthrown last month.
The influx comes after an estimated 300,000 refugees returned from Lebanon late last year when it was under attack during the Israel-Hezbollah war.
Many who fled the country's nearly 14-year uprising-turned-civil war are considering returning soon.
However, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, warned during his visit to Damascus, during which he met with Syria's new de facto leader, Ahmad al-Shara.
“For this return to be sustainable and to make life better for all Syrians, the economy needs to come back, services need to be restored and restored, and security needs to be guaranteed. “And housing needs to be the subject of a very important rebuilding program,” Grundy said.
He called for the lifting of Western sanctions against the country. Many targeted the Assad government but have not been removed since falling on December 8 as a result of a lightning rebel attack.
“Sanctions are a significant obstacle to the return of refugees,” Grandi said.
More than 4.7 million refugees are registered with the United Nations Refugee Agency, or with UNHCR in neighboring countries. The largest number is in Türkiye, with approximately 2.9 million people, followed by Lebanon, with more than 755,000.
In addition to the return of refugees, about 600,000 of the estimated 7 million internally displaced Syrians have returned home, Grandi said.
Some of these returns may be debatable. Kurdish authorities in the northeast of the country are preparing to release Syrian detainees at the vast al-Hol camp, which houses families of suspected members of the Islamic State group, and hope they will return to their homeland. I am allowed to do so.
Although there are concerns that some of those people still subscribe to IS's extreme ideology, Grundy said: This is very welcome. ”
