Damascus, Syria– The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) issued a stark warning on Friday, highlighting the risk of a setback in efforts to return Syrian refugees to their home country due to severe funding shortages.
UNHCR spokesperson Celine Schmitt, speaking at a press briefing in Geneva, expressed concern that “without adequate funding, the projected 1.5 million returns this year may not happen, and those who do return may have no other choice but to leave again.” Currently, around 16.7 million people inside Syria need some form of aid, and over 7.4 million people remain internally displaced.
She further noted that approximately 400,000 Syrian refugees have returned from neighboring countries since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime last December. In addition, over one million internally displaced Syrians have returned to their areas of origin, bringing the total number of returnees to more than 1.4 million people.
Schmitt called for effective support in housing, livelihoods, protection, and legal assistance to ensure the safe and sustainable return of Syrian refugees. She emphasized that summer represents “critical moment for voluntary returns and a window of opportunity that should not be missed.”
In January, the UNHCR launched an initiative aimed at supporting 1.5 million refugees and 2 million internally displaced persons to return to their homes by 2025. However, the agency has only received $71 million out of the $575 million required for the program.
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Schmitt explained that the funding deficit would force a 30% reduction in UNHCR staff in Syria, with 44% of the agency’s centers in the country facing closure this summer.
During the press briefing, Schmitt also announced the launch of a new digital platform designed to help Syrian refugees make informed decisions about their return. The platform, named “Syria Is Home,” provides up-to-date and objective information about the return process, including legal procedures, identity documents, housing, healthcare, education, and more.
The platform also features a section on frequently asked questions, covering topics such as renewing personal documents, supporting the repair of damaged homes, and obtaining legal assistance.
Earlier this year, UNHCR’s High Commissioner Filippo Grandi emphasized the agency’s commitment to supporting the voluntary return of Syrian refugees, during his visit to Beirut in late January. Grandi reiterated the importance of ensuring that returns are sustainable, which, he stated, requires improvements in security and political stability, respect for the rights of all Syrians, and international support for recovery and reconstruction efforts in a country devastated by years of conflict.
