Since Bashar al-Assad’s regime collapsed in December 2024, more than 270,000 Syrian refugees have returned, and more than 25% of those who are still overseas say they want to return in the next months, according to a top UNHCR official.

UNHCR’s deputy representative in Syria, Aseer Madaien, said Tuesday that the organization has seen a sharp rise in refugee returns since December 8, when a militant alliance overthrew al-Assad’s regime, indicating a change in travel trends.

Madaien told Xinhua news agency, “Since the start of the political transition, we have tracked the return of 270,000 Syrian refugees.” “If the availability of essential services improves, we expect this number to rise even further.”

According to a regional UNHCR poll, 27% of Syrian refugees said they would be prepared to return to Syria within the next year, which is a significant rise from only 1% the year before, she said.

“This rise is significant and reflects a growing confidence among Syrians in returning home,” Madaien said.

Due to ongoing difficulties, many refugees are still apprehensive despite the increase in returns.

Major challenges, according to Madaien, include a shortage of housing, failing public services, and a lack of job prospects.

She said that some internally displaced persons who returned were left without a place to live. “Many Syrians have no homes to return to,” she said.

Humanitarian organizations are also finding it difficult to provide for the needs of refugees who are returning. “One of the biggest problems is the financing dilemma. It is crucial to guarantee that returnees have access to respectable living circumstances,” she said.

The UNHCR official said that the destiny of the Syrian refugee camps in neighboring countries is contingent upon the amount of assistance that is given inside Syria.

“The closure of refugee camps will only happen when conditions inside Syria improve,” she said. “At this time, no neighboring nation is actively advocating for the mass repatriation of refugees. They continue to hold the view that the process need to be gradual.

Over 13 million Syrians were forcefully displaced as a result of the country’s more than ten years of conflict, according to UN figures. UNHCR officials have emphasized that long-term investments in infrastructure, economic rehabilitation, and legal safeguards for returnees are necessary to ensure safe and sustainable returns.