President Al Shara discusses Syrians' safe return with UN refugees chief

UN Refugee Commissioner Barham Salih held discussions with Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara about the return of displaced Syrians and the challenges they face. Salih, an Iraqi Kurd, served as Iraq's president from 2018 to 2022 before taking up his current role at the United Nations refugee agency in September. He vowed to prevent refugees from falling into cycles of dependency without access to education and job opportunities.

On Sunday, Salih met with a committee aiming to close all refugee camps in Syria. The civil war in Syria, which concluded with the ouster of dictator Bashar Al Assad in late 2024, has led to one of the largest and longest displacement crises. Since 2011, 14 million people have been displaced both inside and outside the country, with 3.7 million refugees and internally displaced people returning home as of 2024.

About 5.5 million people remain internally displaced, according to UN figures. Rebuilding Syria will require significant investment, estimated at a minimum of $216 billion. Salih emphasized the determination of Syrians to rebuild and urged the international community to provide sustained support, investment, and solidarity. The United Nations agency under Salih's leadership has advocated for an initiative to reduce long-term displacement and dependence on humanitarian aid by 2035, alongside improved access to education and employment.

The International Monetary Fund reported that while Syria's economic recovery is accelerating, it is uneven across regions, and poverty remains widespread, though somewhat reduced.