Kelly T. Clements, Deputy High Commissioner of the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said that around 850,000 Syrians have returned from abroad, in addition to 1.7 million others who returned from different regions inside Syria, during the past ten months.
In an interview with the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), published late on Monday, September 1, Clements stressed that the main needs facing returnees are safe shelter, health and education services, and legal documentation for their return, as many lack the necessary papers.
Current funding covers only 22% of UNHCR’s 2025 appeals, Clements explained, noting that the agency cannot provide cash support and essential services to vulnerable families on its own, stressing the need for sustainable financial contributions from the international community.
She revealed that an operational response was launched in coordination with Syrian authorities to support returnee communities, including home repairs and cash assistance for the most vulnerable families at more than 69 community centers across Syria.
The sustainability of these efforts depends on securing sufficient international funding and continued cooperation with the Syrian government, she added.
During her visit to Syria, Clements inaugurated a civil registry office in Maarat al-Numan (southern Idlib province) and met with returnees, stressing that legal documents are the cornerstone for rebuilding their lives, reclaiming property and housing, and reintegrating into their communities.
The UN has also helped rehabilitate some health facilities, such as primary health clinics, in cooperation with humanitarian agencies, in order to facilitate healthcare access for returnees and local residents. Clements said such cooperation with Syrian authorities would help improve service levels for communities.
About 8.5 million Syrian returnees
The UNHCR issued a report on August 29 detailing the return of Syrians from abroad as well as internally displaced Syrians.
According to the report, 843,994 refugees returned from neighboring countries since December 8, 2024, bringing the total number of returnees since early last year to 1,204,864 people.
Meanwhile, 1.7 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) have returned home, according to the report.
Turkey
The report noted that voluntary returns continue through seven border crossings. Between December 2024 and August 25, 2025, the UNHCR monitored the return of 318,566 Syrians (115,512 families). Motivations included political changes, improved security, family reunification, nostalgia, and economic and housing difficulties. Most returnees went to Aleppo, Idlib, Damascus, and Hama.
Lebanon
As of August 27, 25,930 Syrians were registered in Akkar and northern Lebanon since March 2025. In the Bekaa Valley, 72,929 new arrivals were registered since December 2024, mainly in Baalbek, north of Bekaa, across 125 informal collective shelters.
Jordan
By August 23, 141,000 registered refugees had returned to Syria since December 2024. Women and girls accounted for 49% of returnees, while children made up 43%. Since January 2025, UNHCR has assisted more than 8,200 refugees with return transport.
Iraq
Between December 8, 2024, and August 21, 2025, more than 5,500 refugees and asylum seekers returned from Iraq to Syria, mostly through the Fishkhabour crossing, heading mainly to Aleppo, al-Hasakah, and Damascus. Reasons included waivers of residency fines, improved security, and family reunification.
Egypt
As of August 25, 2025, about 125,400 Syrian refugees remained registered. Since December 2024, 10,373 asylum files (covering about 22,705 people) were closed. According to the report, 63% of applicants for file closure were men, mostly from Damascus and its countryside, followed by Homs and Aleppo.
Gradual return
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said on June 25 that the return of all Syrian refugees at once is neither possible nor desirable given the current situation in Syria, stressing that the best solution is a gradual return.
At the time, SANA quoted Grandi as emphasizing the importance of ensuring voluntary, gradual, and well-planned refugee returns to Syria, with international support for stabilization efforts. He underlined UNHCR’s support for the Syrian government’s efforts in this regard.
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