Uprooted Syrians mulling return mustn’t be pushed, says UNHCR
- 2024-12-10 12:00
GENEVA, Dec 10 (UNHCR) – The UN refugee agency on Friday (December 9) said that displaced Syrians contemplating a possible return home should not be pressured into doing so and that those opting to do so should be supported.
In an operational update on the Syria situation, UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, Raouf Mazou, said that voluntary, safe and dignified returns only become possible when conditions in the country of origin allow returnees to live in safety and rebuild their lives in peace.
“UNHCR maintains its position that the conditions inside Syria are not currently conducive for the promotion of return,” Mazou stressed.
He added that perceptions among the displaced population, who number 6.8 million people in neighboring countries and many more within Syria itself, suggest growing interest in return.
“UNHCR respects the right of refugees to return to their homes, and we endeavor to provide them with objective, accurate and up-to-date information so that they can make informed decisions about their future,” Mazou said.
He noted that the majority of Syrian refugees continue to express concerns about safety, security, arbitrary detention, lack of access to basic services and the need for political solutions.
UNHCR is particularly concerned about the fate of an estimated 100,000 Syrian refugees in Lebanon who may be at risk of return.
“UNHCR urges the international community to continue providing support to refugees and their host countries, and to continue to work towards creating the conditions necessary for a voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of refugees to their homes when they decide to do so,” said Mazou.
In the meantime, UNHCR is working to ensure that refugees have access to the information they need, and that those who decide to return do so in a safe and dignified manner.
The agency is also working to address the root causes of displacement by supporting peace efforts and promoting durable solutions, such as local integration and resettlement.
Uprooted Syrians mulling return mustn’t be pushed, says UNHCR
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