Daijiworld Media Network - Damascus

Damascus, Sep 3: The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has reported that approximately 850,000 Syrian refugees have returned to their home country from neighboring nations since December. The announcement came at the conclusion of a five-day visit by UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, Kelly Clements, to Lebanon and Syria.

During her visit, Clements engaged with officials in both countries and met with refugees who have either recently returned or are contemplating their return. According to a UNHCR statement, the agency has expanded its support to ensure that returns are "voluntary, safe, and dignified," providing financial aid, transportation, and assistance with shelter and livelihoods in the communities to which they are returning.

"I saw up close how people have preserved their will to return, stay, and rebuild despite the harsh reality of destruction and lack of services following 14 years of war," Clements remarked.

Lebanon, which hosts a significant number of Syrian refugees, has seen nearly 200,000 people return this year alone. However, the report also noted that new arrivals are still entering Lebanon, highlighting the volatile nature of the displacement crisis.

In Syria, Clements visited Damascus, Homs, and Idlib, where she met with returnees who are receiving aid for housing rehabilitation and small business development. She also opened a newly renovated Civil Registry Office in Maaret Al Nouman, Idlib, to help returning families with documentation.

Clements urged the international community to take a more proactive role in supporting Syria's stabilization and recovery efforts. "They must take an active role in supporting stabilisation and recovery efforts, helping Syrians rebuild and reshape their country," she stressed.

The report also noted that more than 1.7 million internally displaced Syrians have returned, including over 880,000 who have left internal displacement camps in the north.