Calling on the international community to take concrete action to assist vulnerable returnees in Syria, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, emphasized that many families are facing inadequate shelter and limited economic opportunities.
“There has been discussion at high levels about the need for ‘early recovery’ and ‘rebuilding’ in recent weeks,” stated Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, UNHCR Representative in Syria, following a Security Council meeting on the future of Syria. “However, until we move beyond words to action, many returnees will unfortunately find themselves living in makeshift conditions in Syria.”
After 14 years of conflict and the recent military takeover in Damascus, the extent of the devastation in Syrian towns and cities has become increasingly evident.
In addition to refugee returnees, nearly 500,000 internally displaced individuals have returned to northwest Syria by the end of last year, according to OCHA. Before the fall of the Assad regime, 7.4 million people were displaced inside Syria, with millions relying on humanitarian aid.
Following the Security Council discussions, foreign ministers and the EU’s High Representative planned to meet in Rome to address the situation in Syria.
Focus on Winter Shelter
Highlighting the urgent need for winterization assistance in Syria, the UN migration agency, IOM, called for $73.2 million to aid over 1.1 million people in the next six months. This represents a significant increase from previous appeals.
“The funds will support vulnerable communities by providing essential relief items, shelter, sanitation, hygiene, and health services,” IOM stated. Since December 2024, IOM has assisted thousands of people with winter relief items, WASH services, and cash assistance inside Syria.
