UNHCR / SYRIA ALEPPO GRANDI

UNHCR’s Grandi calls for global action to support Syrians returning home. They face significant challenges including difficulties in securing adequate housing, high cost of living, and the urgent need for essential services such as electricity, education, and healthcare. UNHCR

• Video Length: 00:05:07
• Production Date: 27 January 2025
• Asset Language: English; Arabic
• Personal Subject: FILIPPO GRANDI
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGUEES - UNHCR
• Subject Topical: REFUGEE ASSISTANCE; RETURN MIGRATION
• Geographic Subject: SYRIA
• MAMS Id: 3333002
• Parent Id: 3333002
• Alternate Title: unifeed250127c

Description

STORY: UNHCR / SYRIA ALEPPO GRANDI
TRT: 05:07
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT UNHCR ON SCREEN
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / ARABIC / NATS

DATELINE: 26 JANUARY 2025, ALEPPO, SYRIA

Shotlist

1. Various shots, High Commissioner working with UNHCR staff
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Filippo Grandi, High Commissioner, UNHCR:
“The moment is positive. There is a political transition that opens up new opportunities, but we must continue to support these people with humanitarian assistance and beyond humanitarian assistance so that their return can be lasting."
3. Various shots, High Commissioner with UNHCR staff, talking to a man
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Filippo Grandi, High Commissioner, UNHCR:
“They come back full of hope and the energy and determination to rebuild their lives. But they face very big challenges in a country that has been affected by conflict, by crisis for so many years.”
5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Issa, Syrian returnee:
“I came back here, there is no electricity, no water, the buildings are damaged, there is garbage on the ground, no internet, no job opportunity. There’s nothing at all.”
6. Various shots, High Commissioner meeting Issa and having a discussion
7. Various shots, High Commissioner at NFGI distribution centre, meeting with SARC staff
8. Various shots, SARC staff working
9. Various shots, High Commissioner meeting with family benefiting from NFI distribution
10. Various shots, NFI items
11. Various shots, High Commissioner working with UNHCR staff
12. Various shots, High Commissioner with a women group, discussing issues they are facing

Storyline

UNHCR’s Grandi calls for global action to support Syrians returning home. They face
significant challenges including difficulties in securing adequate housing, high cost of living, and the urgent need for essential services such as electricity, education, and healthcare.

Wrapping up a visit to Syria on Monday, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, appealed to the international community for bold and decisive action to help Syrians rebuild their war-torn country and support displaced Syrians returning home, including millions of refugees in neighboring countries.

Since September last year, around 500,000 refugees have returned to Syria, including 200,000 after the fall of the Assad regime. Additionally, nearly 600,000 people who were displaced inside Syria, have since returned to their homes. However, more than 7.4 million Syrians are still displaced inside the country and there are more than 6 million Syrian refugees worldwide.

Despite the seismic political shifts in Syria over the last few weeks, the humanitarian crisis persists. Grandi made a call for donors to support efforts to meet the immense immediate humanitarian needs as well as support long-term recovery efforts. Safeguarding the rights and safety of all Syrians is critical.

Syrian refugees are eager to see an improved security situation and political stability so they can return home safely.

In Damascus, Grandi held high-level discussions with the caretaker authorities, including Mr. Ahmed Al-Sharaa, focused on how best to support people returning home.

During the visit, Grandi also met with returnees at key border crossings, such as Masnaa and Bab Al-Hawa. He spoke with families who have returned to Aleppo, who described to him the harsh realities they have faced upon their return and their urgent need for support so they can start rebuilding their lives and reunite with their families.

He met 27-year-old Issa and his family – his wife, who is six-months pregnant and their three children. They returned to Syria from Turkey, right after the fall of the former regime. Issa says he wants to start a small business so he can provide for his family but will need support.