Since President Assad was ousted, over 300,000 refugees have returned to Syria, according to the UN. Turkish President Erdogan reported that more than 133,000 displaced Syrians returned from Turkey. Alongside this, 900,000 internally displaced persons have returned, totaling 1.2 million returnees since December. Many in camps in northwestern Syria plan to return within the next year.
The United Nations reported that over 300,000 refugees have returned to Syria since President Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December. Celine Schmitt from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) announced that this milestone was reached as of December 8, during a virtual briefing from Damascus.
This announcement coincided with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s remarks that over 133,000 Syrians had returned from Turkey since Assad’s removal. Currently, Turkey hosts nearly three million Syrian refugees who fled due to the civil war that began in 2011, and Turkey is encouraging their return.
President Assad’s ousting was the result of a rebel offensive, which ended his family’s long-standing rule and led to a brutal civil war, resulting in over half a million deaths and massive displacement. Schmitt emphasized that the ongoing crisis remains the world’s largest displacement issue, with many refugees eager to return home.
In addition to the refugees, Schmitt noted that approximately 900,000 internally displaced individuals have returned to their areas within Syria. Overall, 1.2 million people have returned since December. A UNHCR survey revealed that one million internally displaced persons living in camps in northwestern Syria plan to return home in the coming year.
The UN reports significant returns of refugees to Syria, marking over 300,000 since the ouster of Assad. This reflects a broader trend of returning displaced persons amid a humanitarian crisis that has caused widespread suffering. The situation continues to evolve as many displaced individuals express a strong desire to return to their homes.
Original Source: www.ndtv.com
