The UN reports that over 300,000 refugees have returned to Syria since Assad’s removal, with Turkey hosting nearly three million refugees eager to return. More than 900,000 internally displaced people have also returned, totaling 1.2 million since early December. Many displaced persons plan to go back within a year, highlighting the continuing humanitarian crisis in the region.
The United Nations announced that over 300,000 refugees have returned to Syria since President Bashar al-Assad’s ousting. Celine Schmitt from the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) disclosed that this milestone was reached as of December 8. Her comments were made during a report from Geneva, connecting the number of returns to statements from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who indicated that more than 133,000 Syrians returned from Turkey after Assad’s fall.
Turkey currently hosts nearly three million refugees who fled Syria since the civil war erupted in 2011. The Turkish government is eager to facilitate the return of refugees to their homeland. Assad lost power in early December due to a rebel offensive, culminating a civil war that began in 2011, which resulted in over half a million deaths and displaced millions.
Schmitt emphasized that Syria’s ongoing conflict remains “the world’s largest displacement crisis,” noting that many of the displaced individuals yearn to return home. In addition to the reported returnees, UNHCR stated that approximately 900,000 internally displaced persons have also returned to their original areas, totaling 1.2 million who have returned since early December.
Surveys conducted by UNHCR revealed that one million internally displaced individuals residing in camps in northwestern Syria are planning to return to their homes within the upcoming year.
In summary, the return of over 300,000 refugees to Syria since President Assad’s ouster signifies a significant development in the ongoing conflict situation. With close to a million internally displaced individuals also intending to return, the humanitarian crisis remains critical. The Turkish government plays a key role in facilitating these returns as many refugees seek to return to their homeland after years of displacement.
Original Source: www.ndtv.com
