Latest news with #SyriaReturn
Arab News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
UN: Two million Syrians returned home since Assad's fall
BEIRUT: Over two million Syrians who had fled their homes during their country's war have returned since the ouster of Bashar Assad, UN refugee agency chief Filippo Grandi said Thursday, ahead of a visit to Syrian civil war, which erupted in 2011 with Assad's brutal repression of anti-government protests, displaced half of the population internally or Assad's December 8 ouster at the hands of Islamist forces sparked hopes of return.'Over two million Syrian refugees and displaced have returned home since December,' Grandi wrote on X during a visit to neighboring Lebanon, which hosts about 1.5 million Syrian refugees, according to official is 'a sign of hope amid rising regional tensions,' he said.'This proves that we need political solutions – not another wave of instability and displacement.'After 14 years of war, many returnees face the reality of finding their homes and property badly damaged or with the recent lifting of Western sanctions on Syria, new authorities hope for international support to launch reconstruction, which the UN estimates could cost more than $400 this month, UNHCR estimated that up to 1.5 million Syrians from abroad and two million internally displaced persons may return by the end of 2025.
LBCI
04-06-2025
- General
- LBCI
Arida border reopens, offering Syrian families a way home after months of closure
Report by Edmond Sassine, English adaptation by Mariella Succar The reopening of the Arida border crossing between Lebanon and Syria on Tuesday offered a long-awaited chance for Syrian families to return home, more than six months after Israeli airstrikes forced its closure. In the dusty strip of land separating the two countries, scenes of reunion and anticipation played out as families gathered on their way back to Syria. Arida, the second-largest land crossing between Lebanon and Syria, had been closed since November 26 following Israeli strikes on the area. At 7 a.m. Tuesday, traffic resumed—and quickly picked up speed in both directions. The crossing is a crucial route for Syrians seeking to return home while avoiding lengthy and costly detours. It's also essential for Lebanese travelers heading between northern Lebanon and Syria's coastal towns. The road damaged in the November strikes has been patched with compacted earth, and Syrian authorities have outfitted the crossing with temporary facilities to welcome travelers returning for the Eid holidays. Passenger halls on the Syrian side saw steady movement, with border officials processing entries and exits throughout the day. Though the reopening went smoothly overall, at least one woman was unable to complete her journey due to issues with her paperwork. Reconstruction efforts at the site are ongoing, and the crossing will remain open through the holiday period. Of the three border posts linking northern Lebanon and Syria, Arida is currently the only one in operation.
