Brussels: The UN’s refugee chief, Filippo Grandi, is calling for increased efforts from both the Syrian government and international aid donors to facilitate the return of millions of Syrians displaced by war back to their homeland.
Grandi stressed the importance of addressing refugee concerns, citing the Gaza war and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as cautionary examples of the consequences of neglecting refugee issues. “If you leave it unattended … it comes back with a vengeance,” Grandi remarked during an interview with Reuters in Brussels, on the sidelines of a European Union-led conference on aid for Syrians.
While the conference resulted in pledges of 7.5 billion euros in grants and loans for future years, the fate of over five million Syrian refugees remains a contentious issue. Lebanese officials have been advocating for the repatriation of refugees, with approximately 800,000 Syrians registered with the UN refugee agency in Lebanon, though authorities estimate the actual number to be around two million.
The refugee crisis has also garnered attention in Europe, with concerns in EU member Cyprus about potential refugee influxes from Lebanon. However, Western nations continue to withhold ties with President Bashar al-Assad, considering him a war criminal, and assert that Syria remains unsafe for large-scale refugee returns.
Although some Arab states have attempted to re-engage with Assad, efforts to create conducive conditions for refugee returns have yielded limited success. Grandi emphasized the need for voluntary returns, emphasizing that refugees must feel safe in Syria and have access to essentials such as housing and employment opportunities.
Acknowledging the slow progress, Grandi highlighted the necessity for Syrian authorities to address security concerns and bureaucratic obstacles. He reiterated his message to Assad regarding the significant trust deficit among the Syrian populace.
With over 500,000 lives lost and numerous infrastructural devastations, including damage to schools and utilities, Syria faces immense challenges. Grandi emphasized the crucial role of Western aid donors in funding projects within Syria to facilitate the creation of conditions conducive to refugee repatriation.
“We need to invest more to create conditions for people to go back,” Grandi emphasized, underlining the imperative for concerted efforts from all stakeholders to address the protracted refugee crisis in Syria.
