UNHCR / SYRIA DISPLACEMENT

While recent developments bring hope and a chance for peace and stability, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) urges continued protection and support for Syrians inside and outside the country. UNHCR

• Video Length: 00:05:36
• Production Date: 17 December 2024
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGUEES - UNHCR
• Subject Topical: DISPLACED PERSONS; REFUGEE ASSISTANCE; HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
• Geographic Subject: SYRIA
• MAMS Id: 3324103
• Parent Id: 3324103
• Alternate Title: unifeed241217h

Description

STORY: UNHCR / SYRIA DISPLACEMENT
TRT: 5:36
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT UNHCR ON SCREEN
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 16 DECEMBER 2024, IDLEB- BAB EL HAWA CROSSING POINT WITH TÜRKIYE / RECENT

Shotlist

16 DECEMBER 2024, IDLEB- BAB EL HAWA CROSSING POINT WITH TÜRKIYE

1. Various shots, the road between Aleppo and the Bab al-Hawa border crossing with
Türkiye in the Idlib countryside
2. Various shots, internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in rural Idlib.
3. Wide shot, , a group of Syrian returnee' refugee families near a bus that transported them from the Turkish border
4. Close up, luggage of a returning Syrian refugee family
5. Close up, belongings and luggage of a group of Syrian refugees inside a bus that transported them from the Turkish border
6. Various shots, UNHCR staff talks to Syrian returnee refugee families
7. Various shots, a child carrying his toy
8. Various shots, Syrian returnee refugee families at the border
9. Close up, luggage of returning Syrian refugee families
10. Various shots, Syrian returnee families near a bus that transported them from the Turkish border
11. Med shot, UNHCR staff talks to Syrian returnee refugee families.
12. Various shots, Syrian returnee families near a bus that transported them from the Turkish border
13. Various shots, Syrian refugee returnees unloading luggage from the bus that transported them from Türkiye to Syria
14. Various shots, Syrian returnee refugee families at the border

RENCENT - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Rema Jamous Imseis, Director for the Middle East and North Africa, UNHCR:
“it's important to recall that these people are actually returning to a country that has been devastated by 14 years of civil war. We have over 7 million internally displaced Syrians in the country, and over 90 percent of the population is living below the poverty line and reliant on some form of humanitarian assistance to survive. So while we hope that current developments will eventually bring an end to this crisis, we also have to recognize that a change in the regime doesn't mean that there is an end to the humanitarian crisis already there. Syrians inside the country and outside the country still need protection and support. In addition to the need for a peaceful transition of power, respect for the rule of law and human rights, we also need the international community to support what we are doing in Syria and to support Syrians. We have massive humanitarian needs on a scale that that hasn't in any way diminished. And we need the international community to support us in our efforts to reach those people, to provide them with assistance, but also to invest in Syria now to move from just humanitarian assistance to early recovery and reconstruction so that Syria can absorb all of its returning citizens and people can become self-sufficient, which is something they want. We are agile and we've adapted to the new operational reality. And we asked donors and member states to join us and to be equally agile and flexible in providing us the resources we need to meet all of the things that are required now to make these returns dignified, safe and sustainable.”

Storyline

While recent developments bring hope and a chance for peace and stability, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) urges continued protection and support for Syrians inside and outside the country.

The situation in Syria is fluid. The security situation in the country is far from stable. In the past three weeks, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has seen more than one million people forced to flee their homes, thousands of Syrian refugees returning and thousands of Syrians fleeing the country.

Thousands of Syrian refugees have spontaneously returned to Syria from Türkiye and Lebanon, and a smaller number from Jordan. Over seven million were already internally displaced in the country. Over 90 percent of the population needs humanitarian support to survive.

UNHCR is trying to monitor all of that and to respond where it can, despite a fragile security situation.

Whilst UNHCR hopes recent developments will eventually bring an end to the largest displacement crisis in the world, the change in regime doesn’t mean this humanitarian crisis has ended.

Syrians inside and outside the country still need protection and support. UNHCR released an updated position on returns to Syria, which underscores the principle of nonrefoulement (or no forced returns) and the right of Syrians to access asylum. While protection risks related to persecution by the former Government have receded, other risks for particularly vulnerable groups may persist or emerge.

Given the ongoing uncertainty in Syria, UNHCR calls on States to be patient and to avoid making any rash assessments or drastic decisions until there is more clarity. It is important to maintain protection for those who have already found refuge in host countries and that they are not forced to return to Syria.

The world must not forget that the last 14 years have created a humanitarian catastrophe on so many levels in Syria. The destruction of large parts of the country, homes and infrastructure. UNHCR and its partners are on the ground in Syria and is rapidly resuming its assistance and support programs where security has improved. Over 80 percent of UNHCR community centers across the country are functioning again after a brief pause.

UNHCR has also made significant strides in resuming operations over the past week in areas where the security situation has started to stabalise like in Aleppo, Damascus, Homs and Hama. Through its partner SARC, UNHCR is also reestablishing presence at border crossing points. This allows for regular monitoring of inbound and outbound movement trends, and allows the Agency to engage with returning Syrians, providing them with information on available humanitarian assistance and support in their areas of intended return, including UNHCR- funded Community Centres across the country— 82 percent of which have already resumed services.

As well as the need for a peaceful transition of power, UNHCR calls for firm commitment from the international community to support Syrians and meet the dire humanitarian needs and invest in Syria- to invest in reconstruction and recovery initiatives and livelihood opportunities that will empower Syrians to become self-sufficient and less reliant on aid- which is something we know they are desperate for.

Today, UNHCR released a ‘Preparedness and Response Plan” for Syria seeking $310 million to address the critical needs of up to 1 million Syrian refugee returnees expected to arrive in Syria between January and June 2025 as part of spontaneous and host government organized movements from neighbouring countries. This appeal also includes support for 200,000 local community members who will be hosting the refugee returnees, as well as returning internally displaced persons (IDPs), in collaboration with other UN agencies and partners.

UNHCR is operating in a very dynamic situation, but it is adapting and being agile given the new operational reality. UNHCR calls on donors to respond with the same flexibility. Resources need to be provided as flexibly as possible to allow for assistance to be provided where it is most needed.