By Emma FargeGENEVA (Reuters) – A United Nations refugee agency official stated on Tuesday that an estimated 1 million Syrian refugees are anticipated to make their way back to their homeland within the initial six months of 2025, urging nations to avoid coercing them into returning. A rapid rebel advancement resulted in the ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power this month, sending shockwaves across the globe and giving rise to the possibility that a portion of the millions who had sought refuge elsewhere during the nation’s 13-year civil conflict might decide to return.
“We have now projected that we anticipate roughly 1 million Syrians making the journey back between January and June next year, and we have shared this projection with donors, appealing for their assistance,” disclosed Rema Jamous Imseis, the UNHCR Director for the Middle East and North Africa. “The humanitarian needs are monumental and have not dwindled in any way,” she emphasized, highlighting that a million individuals have been displaced internally since the rebel incursion commenced.
In the immediate aftermath of the rebel seizure of power, a multitude of individuals fled Syria, while others, primarily originating from Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan, have also made the choice to return to their homeland, as mentioned by Imseis. She pointed out that some of those who are fleeing could be associated with the former administration or may belong to religious minority groups harboring apprehensions about their status under the new ruling authority, headed by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) faction, which had past affiliations with al-Qaeda.
Imseis underscored the importance of exercising patience as Syrian refugees deliberate on whether to embark on the journey back. “It is crucial to uphold protection for Syrians who have sought refuge in host nations, ensuring that they are not compelled to return to Syria,” she asserted. Addressing the issue of certain nations opting to halt the acceptance of asylum applications from Syrians, she remarked, “We have issued an unequivocal directive in the form of a non-returns advisory to all nations. It is simply premature to ascertain the safety and stability of Syria, and there are numerous unresolved questions that require answers.”
