At the end of a visit to Syria, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, on Monday called on the international community to take bold and decisive action to help Syrians rebuild their war-torn country and support displaced Syrians returning home. More than 500,000 refugees have returned to Syria since September, including 200,000 after the fall of the Assad government in early December.
In addition, nearly 600,000 people displaced within Syria have returned to their homes since the collapse of the Syrian government. However, 13.4 million people remain displaced, with 7.4 million Syrians uprooted within the country and more than 6 million Syrian refugees worldwide, making Syria the largest global displacement crisis after Sudan.
Syrians continue to live through one of the world's largest humanitarian crises, despite significant political changes in Syria in recent weeks. Across Syria, an estimated 16.7 million people - more than 70 percent of the population - are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, with women and children particularly affected. Hundreds of thousands of Syrians have been killed since the conflict began in March 2011.
Nearly 14 years of war have left the Syrian people facing mass displacement, widespread food insecurity, crumbling infrastructure, economic decline and preventable disease. Syrian civilians have been subjected to massive and systematic violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.
“We must seize this critical window of opportunity to help the country emerge from years of crisis and bloodshed,” said Grandi.
“Many families are taking the brave step of returning home, longing for a better future, but they face overwhelming difficulties: destroyed and damaged homes, shattered infrastructure and widespread poverty.”
In Damascus, Grandi held high-level discussions with the de facto authorities, including the country's interim leader, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, which focused on how best to support Syrians returning home.
The High Commissioner for Refugees called on donors to support efforts to meet the immense immediate humanitarian needs and to ensure the long-term recovery of the country. Protecting the rights and security of all Syrians was also essential to creating favorable conditions for people to return, he said.
“To make returns sustainable, safe and dignified, and to prevent further displacement in the longer-term, we need a comprehensive approach,” Grandi added.
“This means investing in jobs, restoring health care, rebuilding schools, and re-establishing essential services like electricity and clean water. Additionally, lifting sanctions will act as a vital catalyst for recovery, paving the way for more Syrians to return home.”
On Monday, European Union (EU) foreign ministers agreed to ease some sanctions imposed against Syria following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad and to scale up humanitarian aid to the country.
“This could give a boost to the Syrian economy and help the country get back on its feet. While we aim to move fast, we also are ready to reverse the course if the situation worsens. In parallel, we will scale up humanitarian aid and recovery efforts,” said Kaja Kallas, EU’s foreign policy chief.
Syria's new foreign minister, Asaad al-Shibani, called the EU move a "positive step."
Meanwhile, Syrian refugees are eager for improved security and political stability so they can return home safely.
27 percent of Syrian refugees recently surveyed in Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan and Iraq told the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) that they plan to return to Syria in the next 12 months, up from less than 2 percent before the fall of the Assad regime just a few weeks ago.
The story is similar for those uprooted within the country.
According to a recent survey by MĂ©decins du Monde (MdM) Turkey, 44 percent of internally displaced people in Syria said they planned to return within six months to a year, while 41 percent said they preferred to wait for full stabilization.
UNHCR says it is scaling up humanitarian assistance to meet the huge needs of returnees. This includes providing transportation and legal assistance to those returning voluntarily from neighboring countries, as well as help repairing damaged homes, cash assistance and non-food items such as mattresses, blankets and winter clothing.
“This is a pivotal moment,” said Grandi.
“The world must act now to support Syria’s recovery. Cooperation between neighboring countries, donors, and the Syrian caretaker authorities is essential to bring much-needed peace and stability to Syria and the entire region.”
On December 8, 2024, Syria experienced a dramatic and historic turn of events when rebel forces took control of the capital Damascus and President Bashar Assad resigned and fled the country after a swift 11-day rebel offensive across the country, raising hopes of an end to the nearly 14-year civil war.
The rebel offensive across the country, led by the non-state armed group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and supported by other non-state armed groups, led to the capture of the capital Damascus and other strategic cities in north-west and central Syria.
However, ongoing fighting in several parts of Syria continues to leave people living in fear of attacks and at risk of renewed displacement. Clashes between the new authorities and armed groups continue, particularly in eastern Aleppo and coastal areas.
According to relief agencies, humanitarian access also remains a challenge, particularly in areas of north-eastern Syria where recent hostilities have damaged critical infrastructure.
Syria now faces a turning point in its history, with immense challenges ahead. However, the collapse of the Assad government raises hopes for an end to the civil war and a resolution to one of the world's largest humanitarian crises.
After nearly 14 years of war, humanitarian needs in Syria remain high, also driven by international neglect and lack of funding.
Last years’ Syria Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) called for more than US$4 billion to reach some 13 million people with humanitarian assistance. However, as of January 2025, the UN's humanitarian appeal for people inside the country was only 35 percent funded.
The UNHCR-led Syria Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan 2024 (3RP), which aimed to reach some 6.3 million refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless people, as well as more than 6.6 million members of host communities in Syria's neighboring countries, was only 29 percent funded as of January this year.