Approximately 200,000 Syrian refugees went back to Syria from Lebanon in the last eight months, since the government in Syria changed following the fall of Assad on 8 December 2024. That's according to statements by Kelly Clements, Deputy High Commissioner of UNHCR, released on Tuesday, September 2.

Voluntary returns, 100 US dollars for returning to Syria

Clements was quoted in the Beirut press as saying that most returns are initiated by the refugees themselves, with a significant increase in the number of movements to the Syrian cities of Hama, Homs, and Aleppo.

Authorities in Lebanon -- the country since 2011 hosts over one and a half million Syrians -- have developed a plan to facilitate the return of Syrian refugees. The returns are called "voluntary".

The program includes an economic contribution of 100 US dollars given to each refugee who agrees to return to Syria, in addition to the exemption from any fine for those refugees who are in Lebanon irregularly.

The UN Refugee Agency activated a support plan for repatriated Syrians that includes small reparations to their homes and financial support.

Read AlsoShould I stay or should I go? Syrians in Germany suffer uncertainty from all directions

'Needs are enormous, funds are insufficient'

However, the situation in Syria remains critical, with approximately 80 percent of the homes damaged, and one-third of the families in need of support for lodging.

According to Clements, the humanitarian needs are "enormous", but the UNHCR funding plan for 2025 is covered only for one-fifth of the total funds needed.

In the meantime, the majority of refugees remain in Lebanon, where international funds for assistance to refugees are decreasing.

In total, according to the UN Agency, since December until today, approximately 850,000 Syrian refugees have returned to Syria from neighbouring countries. In total, 1.2 million have returned since 2024 (from all countries).

To these must be added, according to UN figures, another 1.7 million internally displaced Syrians who returned to their communities.

However, in the last months, another 190,000 Syrians were displaced, having to abandon their homes due to the massacres against Alawites and Druze committed by pro-government affiliated militia.

Read AlsoAustria becomes first EU country to deport Syrian since Assad's fall