According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), more than three hundred thousand Syrian refugees have chosen to return to Syria. Celine Schmitt, a spokesperson for UNHCR, called it the “world’s largest displacement crisis” during her address at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on Friday, highlighting many Syrians’ desire to return home following the conflict.

This comes after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that 133,000 Syrians residing in Turkey had also returned back to Syria. Turkey hosts almost three million refugees who fled Syria following the civil war’s beginning in 2011.

The return of these refugees is reportedly due to the overthrow of President Bashar Assad in December 2024 following a rebel success. An UNHCR survey found that many internally displaced individuals in Syria also intend to return to their families within the next year, with around 600,000 refugees expected to return to their home areas within six months. Although the survey showed a strong will to return home, it also noted major difficulties such as limited access to aid, employment opportunities, and basic services. The rebuild of housing remains a significant challenge, with 80% of respondents reporting their homes were severely damaged or destroyed.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/after-assad-s-fall-over-300-000-syrians-return-home/a-71859622?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf