Damascus, SANA – The Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, Kelly Clements, said that approximately 850.000 Syrian refugees have returned to their homeland, in addition to 1.7 internally displaced returned to their homes over the past ten months.
In an exclusive interview with SANA, Clements pointed out that most of these returnees have been displaced multiple times over the past fourteen years, posing significant challenges to their resettlement and integration into their communities.
Clements emphasized that the most important needs that faces these returnees are safe shelter, health, and education services, in addition to the need for legal documentation for their return, as many of them lack the necessary documentation.
Clements said that there is an urgent need to provide health clinics close to communities and schools to return children to education after a long interruption, noting that UNHCR is working with a number of partners to support the Syrian authorities in providing legal documentation and such services.
Regarding the challenges facing the Commission, Clements noted that currently available funding covers only 22% of the Commission’s 2025 requests. She emphasized that the Commission alone cannot provide the cash support and basic services needed by vulnerable families, and that there is a great need for sustained financial support from the international community.
Clements added that, given the strong desire of Syrian refugees to return, an operational response has been launched to support returning communities in cooperation with the Syrian authorities. UNHCR has provided assistance in home repairs and cash support to the most vulnerable families in more than 69 community centers across Syria.
She explained that the sustainability of these efforts depends on securing the necessary financial support from the international community and continued fruitful cooperation with the Syrian government.
In conclusion, Clements stressed the need for continued cooperation between the Syrian government and the international community to meet the critical needs of returnees and provide sustainable solutions that contribute to their stability and integration into their communities, thus enabling the reconstruction of Syria as soon as possible.
Amer Dhawa
