The decision to repatriate voluntarily is an individual one that is affected by many factors, including the circumstances surrounding flight and conditions for return. In accordance with its mandate to find solutions for displacement, UNHCR continues working to address the concerns of vulnerable internally displaced people (IDPs) and refugee returnees through protection services and assistance in their areas of return, irrespective of the modality of return.
UNHCR is leading the collective efforts of the humanitarian community in Syria to address existing obstacles to return, advocating with all relevant stakeholders to create an enabling environment for voluntary return, guided by refugee choices and international standards.
UNHCR follows IDPs and refugees who have already exercised their right to return. In line with the community and area-based approach, UNHCR Syria assists refugee returnees through its network of community centres, mobile units, and community outreach volunteers to address needs and help build resilience through a range of multi-sector interventions.
Between January 2016 and July 2024, UNHCR verified the return of some 419,284 Syrian refugees from neighbouring countries. In July alone, 27,091 Syrian refugees returned to the country. These figures reflect only those that been monitored/verified by UNHCR operations in neighbouring countries to have returned, and do not reflect the actual number of returns, which may be significantly higher.