Despite recent political changes, Syria remains unprepared for large-scale refugee returns, according to a joint statement by non-governmental organizations (NGOs). With 16.7 million people requiring humanitarian assistance and nearly seven million internally displaced, premature returns could worsen instability.
Aid Groups Warn Syria is Not Ready for Refugee Returns
The recent statement highlighted key challenges, including legal and security issues for returning refugees. Many lack civil and housing documents, exposing them to the risk of further forced displacement. Additionally, unexploded ordnance threatens 65% of Syria’s population.
A UNHCR survey found that while a quarter of Syrian refugees in host countries intend to return within a year, 55% cite security concerns. NGOs urged donor governments to maintain support for refugees and invest in improving living conditions inside Syria to ensure safe and voluntary returns.
Calls to Ease Sanctions on Syria
In Washington, bipartisan lawmakers Elizabeth Warren and Joe Wilson have urged the US government to ease sanctions on Syria, arguing that restrictions imposed over a decade ago are now outdated. In a letter to top officials, they warned that maintaining broad economic sanctions could hinder reconstruction and drive Syrians toward illicit networks.
The letter emphasized that easing restrictions could counterbalance Russian and Iranian influence in Syria while improving humanitarian conditions. The US Treasury Department has already issued limited sanctions waivers to facilitate humanitarian aid, but broader relief remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, the EU has suspended sanctions on Syria’s oil and transportation sectors, lifting restrictions on several financial institutions, including the Central Bank of Syria. This decision reflects a growing international debate on whether economic measures should be revised to support post-war recovery.
Funding Shortfalls as Crisis Worsens
The UN warned that economic hardship, ongoing conflict, and funding shortages are crippling humanitarian efforts in Syria. UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Adam Abdelmoula described the country as being at a “turning point” but cautioned that 14 years of war have left it with one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.
Since December, an estimated 1.2 million displaced Syrians have returned to their homes, and the UNHCR expects up to 3.5 million more to return in 2025. However, continued hostilities in northern and southern Syria, along with limited aid access, complicate reintegration efforts.
Funding shortages pose an immediate challenge. The 2024 humanitarian response plan is only 35.6% funded, with just 11.7% of the required funds received in the first quarter of the year. Abdelmoula stressed the need for urgent investments, warning that without additional resources, millions will remain in crisis.
As Syria navigates a delicate transition, the humanitarian situation remains precarious, requiring sustained international engagement and policy adjustments to support long-term stability.
