Many Syrians who fled to Europe now face tough choices about going home, but returning isn’t easy or safe. Returnees often find their homes destroyed, schools closed, and few public services working. Aid workers warn that without better support, coming back could force many people into new displacement

Since December 2024, roughly 779,000 Syrians have returned home via neighboring countries, taking the total number of returnees to over 1.14 million by mid-August 2025. Meanwhile, about 1.69 million internally displaced people (IDPs) have also gone back to their homes within Syria, including 828,000 who left camps or temporary sites.

Between August 6 and 12, UNHCR helped families travel back through border crossings at Bab al-Hawa, Bab al-Salama, and Joussieh—bringing the total number of returnees assisted this year up to 13,239. At the same time, UNHCR distributed relief kits including blankets, hygiene supplies, and mattresses to many housholds, most of whom were returnees, while others included recent IDPs from Sweida.

Furthermore, The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has received formal approval from Syria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry to re-establish its full presence in the country and expand humanitarian and recovery work.

IOM Director General Amy Pope welcomed the decision, noting it creates room to scale up support for Syrians affected by years of conflict, displacement, and other emergencies. The agency plans to strengthen migration governance, track population movements, engage the Syrian diaspora, and help returnees rebuild communities.

Germany can take practical steps to make Syrian returns safer and more sustainable. Allowing Syrians in Europe to visit their home country without losing their residence status would give them the chance to reconnect with communities and explore job opportunities, while still ensuring their protection abroad.

At the same time, Germany’s commitment to rebuild Syria’s health system should be expanded to cover other urgent needs such as electricity and communications, with support reinforced by diaspora remittances, private investment, and skills transfer. International actors like UNHCR, IOM, and UNDP will be vital partners in coordinating reintegration programmes in health, education, and employment.

Equally important is unlocking the full potential of the Syrian diaspora: securing their legal status, supporting their political representation, funding their participation in international dialogues, and strengthening their civil society organisations. Together, these measures would not only help Syrians prepare for return but also ensure that when it happens, it is safe, inclusive, and lasting.

Also, as part of strengthening healthcare in Syria sustainably. Mehad Germany e.V. funded by BMZ supported by GIZ officially launched new two medical projects in Daraa and Idlib the framework of the Hospital Partnerships program. Together with partners from Syria and the diaspora, the project will address most urgent needs, design and implement practice-oriented trainings for doctors and nurses.

However, challenges still remain. Syria still has over 13 million people in need of aid, including 6.8 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), and many regions continue to face instability, damaged infrastructure, and limited access to basic services—making recovery and reintegration a complex task.