Minister of Transport Yarub Badr met with Gonzalo Gabriel Vargas Llosa, Head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Syria, to discuss cooperation aimed at facilitating the return of Syrian refugees. The meeting focused on strengthening coordination between the two sides to ensure safe, efficient, and sustainable repatriation.
At the start of the meeting, Llosa congratulated the Syrian people on achieving national liberation, describing it as a major motivation for many refugees considering their return. He reaffirmed UNHCR’s readiness to provide technical and logistical support to assist this process and ensure it proceeds in an organized and humane manner.
Progress in Refugee and Displacement Figures
Llosa noted that approximately one million Syrian refugees have already returned to the country, while around 1.8 million people remain internally displaced. He added that UNHCR expects nearly one million more refugees to return in 2026, citing improving conditions and ongoing cooperation with national institutions.
For his part, Badr expressed appreciation for UNHCR’s continued efforts and reiterated the Transport Ministry’s commitment to supporting the return process. He emphasized the ministry is prepared to deploy its full logistical capabilities, transport services, and infrastructure to facilitate the safe movement of returnees across different regions. Badr stressed ensuring the smooth transport of returning citizens is part of the ministry’s mission to serve the public and contribute to national recovery.
Continued Coordination and Shared Goals
At the conclusion of the meeting, Llosa welcomed Syria’s reintegration into the international community and praised the strong partnership between UNHCR and the Ministry of Transport to ensure the return process remains effective, safe, and aligned with humanitarian standards.
