Damascus, Dec. 10 (SANA) The Government of Japan has provided a grant to Syria to support the “Humanitarian Protection for Sustainable Return and Reintegration” project, implemented in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The project is expected to directly benefit around 1,642,500 people, including returnees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and host communities.
Céline Schmitt, UNHCR spokesperson in Syria, told SANA that the project aims to rehabilitate the Immigration and Passports Department in Damascus Governorate, benefiting approximately 200,000 people. In addition, 16 civil and land registry offices in Daraa, Sweida, Damascus Countryside, and Deir Ezzor will be renovated, reaching around 1,442,500 beneficiaries.
“The project also seeks to improve access to essential civil registry documents and will be implemented from January to December 2026,” Schmitt said.
She added that since December 2024, more than 1.2 million Syrians have voluntarily returned from neighboring countries, while over 1.9 million internally displaced persons have returned to their areas of origin.
Schmitt emphasized that UNHCR continues to cooperate closely with the Government of Japan and the international community to strengthen early humanitarian recovery and enhance resilience in Syria.
