Grandi: UNHCR committed to helping Syrian refugees return voluntarily to their country

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has stressed that “UNHCR is committed to supporting Lebanon and helping Syrian refugees return voluntarily to their country.

“We seek to ensure that this return is sustainable, and this matter requires improving security and political stability and respecting the rights of all groups in Syria. This also requires the international community’s support for recovery and reconstruction efforts in a country devastated by years of war.”

According to Grandi, about 210,000 Syrians returned to Syria during the past few weeks from neighboring countries, including Lebanon. “Just a few months ago, less than 2% of Syrian refugees in the region were planning to return to Syria within 12 months. However, this percentage has jumped to about 30% since the fall of the regime in Syria in less than two months,” he clarified.

“I will visit Syria to meet with the new authorities and discuss the possibility of the return of more refugees from neighboring countries,” he went on to say.

Grandi explained that cooperation between the Syrian authorities, the donor community and neighboring countries is essential, along with international support for infrastructure and livelihoods, to ensure sustainable return and reduce displacement.