UN Estimates 1 Million Refugees Will Return To Syria In The First Six Months Of 2025

Syrian refugees on the Hungarian-Austria border. (Wikimedia Commons/Mstyslav Chernov)

JAKARTA - About one million Syrian refugees are expected to return to their country within the first six months of 2025, United Nations (UNHCR) refugee agency officials said on Tuesday, asking countries not to force them to do so.

The insurgents' rapid attack toppled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power on December 8, increasing the chances of some of the country's millions of refugees returning to his homeland after a 13-year civil war.

"Now we have estimated that we hope to see about 1 million Syrians back between January and June next year, so we share this plan with donors, asking for their support," said UNHCR Director for the Middle East and North Africa Rema Jamous Imseis. December 17th.

"We have a huge humanitarian need on a scale that has not diminished at all," he added, noting 1 million people had been internally displaced since the insurgent attack began.

Soon after the rebels seized power, thousands fled Syria, while thousands more returned to the country, mostly from Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan, Imseis said.

He added that some of those who fled may be related to the previous government or are religious minorities worried about their position under the new authority, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group who has had ties to al-Qaeda.

He said countries must be patient when Syrian refugees consider whether to return to their homeland or not.

"It is important to maintain protection for Syrian citizens who have found protection in the host country, and that they are not forcibly returned to Syria," he explained.

Asked about the decision by several countries to freeze asylum requests for Syrian citizens, he said: "We have made it very clear in our appeal not to return to all countries. It is too early to make this decision about Syria's safety and stability and there are many questions that need to be answered."