Over 2 Million Syrians Return Home Since Assad Ouster, UN Reports

Since the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, over two million Syrian refugees and internally displaced people have returned to their homes, marking a hopeful development amid ongoing regional tensions. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi highlighted that approximately 1.4 to 1.5 million internally displaced Syrians and around 600,000 refugees from neighboring countries such as Lebanon, Jordan, and Türkiye have returned. Despite this progress, significant challenges remain, including damaged infrastructure, homes, and essential services like health, education, and electricity, which require urgent international support to ensure sustainable returns. The UN estimates that reconstruction efforts in Syria could cost over $400 billion, and new transitional authorities led by President Ahmad Al Sharaa are preparing economic recovery plans. Grandi stressed that political solutions and increased global financial assistance are critical to avoid further instability and displacement, with Lebanon and the UNHCR working to facilitate returns but requiring broader international help. The recent lifting of Western sanctions offers a potential opportunity for Syria's reconstruction, but the situation remains fragile and dependent on sustained global engagement.