UNHCR / SYRIA GRANDI VISIT
STORY: UNHCR / SYRIA GRANDI VISIT
TRT: 06:08
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT UNHCR ON SCREEN
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / ARABIC / NATS
DATELINE: 24 JANUARY 2025, JDAIDAT YABOUS / MASNAA BORDER CROSSING, LEBANON / SYRIA
1. Various shots, people crossing Masnaa border in Lebanon
2. Travelling shot, Syrian valley
3. Various shots, Khaled and Daham at Jdaidat Yabous border crossing, Syria
4. Various shots, the two brothers meeting UNHCR High Commissioner Filippo Grandi
5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Khaled, Syrian Returnee:
“My dream is to return to my country and to feel comfortable. To see my house, to go out. I am overwhelmed with joy returning to my country without fear.”
6. Wide shot, border crossing sign
7. Various shots, Khaled and Daham getting registered
8. Various shots, Qasem and daughter Sireen at border crossing point
9. Various shots, Qasem meeting and speaking UNHCR High Commissioner - Filippo Grandi
10. Close up, Sireen
11. Close up, Qasem
12. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Quasem, Syrian Returnee:
“We were fleeing from Bashar’s regime. Now that he left, we are going to continue the rest of our life in our country.”
UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi arrived in Syria today (24 Jan) as part of a wider visit to the region to discuss with Syrian de facto authorities and Syrian refugee hosting countries how best to support Syrian refugees who are voluntarily returning home.
Grandi crossed into Syria early morning after a one-day visit to Lebanon. While at the Jdaidat Yabous / Masnaa, he met with some Syrian refugees who were crossing from Lebanon. Some were planning to return permanently to Syria while others said they are visiting but are planning to return back to their country in the next few months.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Khaled, Syrian Returnee:
“My dream is to return to my country and to feel comfortable. To see my house, to go out. I am overwhelmed with joy returning to my country without fear.”
In Lebanon Grandi said recent developments had created an opening to solving Syria’s large displacement and humanitarian crisis, but said the returns must be sustainable and depend on progress in security matters as well as on the respect of the rights of all communities in Syria.
Grandi is calling on the international community’s support for recovery and reconstruction of Syria, which has been devastated by years of war.
Qasem and his daughter Sireen also met the High Commissioner at the border crossing point.
. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Quasem, Syrian Returnee:
“We were fleeing from Bashar’s regime. Now that he left, we are going to continue the rest of our life in our country.”
Grandi's regional visit will also include stops in Turkey and Jordan.