Amid ongoing regional and international efforts to address the issue of Syrian refugees, Qatar has launched a new initiative aimed at facilitating the voluntary, safe, and dignified return of displaced Syrians to their homeland, in coordination with international partners.
Qatari–International Initiative for Voluntary Return
Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Muhammad al-Khalifi announced the launch of a project supporting the voluntary return of Syrian refugees from Lebanon, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The announcement was made during a joint press conference in Beirut with Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Tarek Mitri.
Khalifi explained that the first phase of the project carries an estimated budget of $20 million and is designed to assist approximately 100,000 displaced Syrians. He explained the initiative adopts an integrated humanitarian approach going beyond transportation logistics to include securing adequate housing, providing food and medicine, and ensuring the basic conditions necessary for stability upon return. The project’s overarching goal is to support sustainable reintegration into Syrian society and prevent secondary displacement, thereby contributing to long-term social cohesion and recovery.
Cooperation with Syria and Support for Lebanon
Khalifi expressed appreciation for what he described as “constructive cooperation” from the Syrian government, which he said has helped enable the implementation of this humanitarian and developmental initiative.
He also reaffirmed Qatar’s continued support for Lebanese government efforts aimed at facilitating the return of displaced Syrians, easing the social and economic pressures caused by prolonged displacement.
Khalifi emphasized providing logistical assistance and targeted relief incentives would help accelerate return procedures and foster durable resettlement, benefiting both returning families and host communities.
UNHCR: Nearly 1.4 Million Syrians Have Returned
In a related context, UNHCR spokesperson in Syria, Celine Schmitt, told UN News in Geneva that nearly 1.4 million Syrian refugees have returned to the country. She noted that the majority of returns have taken place from neighboring countries, including Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan, as well as from Iraq and Egypt.
Schmitt explained that many refugees cited family reunification and the desire to return home as their primary motivations. She added that UNHCR, alongside other UN agencies, continues to provide emergency humanitarian assistance, particularly during harsh winter conditions in several regions.
Continued Humanitarian Support and Protection
“We’ve been providing humanitarian assistance and winter kits, but also protection,” Schmitt said, stressing that protection remains UNHCR’s core mandate. She confirmed that she and the UNHCR representative in Syria recently visited Hawl camp, where they met with Syrian government officials. According to Schmitt, Syrian authorities reassured humanitarian actors of their support for resuming aid deliveries that had been temporarily suspended, including water trucking and bread distribution.
This coordination, she said, is essential to maintaining stability in camps and facilitating safe and voluntary return pathways. Together, these initiatives highlight growing regional and international momentum toward addressing refugee return through coordinated humanitarian, logistical, and development-oriented approaches.
