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STORY: UNHCR / SYRIA INTERNAL DISPLACED
TRT: 3:34
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT UNHCR ON SCREEN
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 03 MARCH 2025, IDLIB, SYRIA
1.Wide shot, out the widow rolling shot of the road to Idlib
2. Various shots, tents by the road
3. Various shots, makeshift shelters, clothes lines, tents
4. Various shots, young girls smiling, looking at the camera
5. Various shots, UNHCR staff walking around
6. Various shots, UNHCR staff meeting with returnees
7. Various shots, tents and kids
8. Med shot, food storage
9. Various shots, UNHCR staff meeting with returnees
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, UNHCR:
"The problems that they face, are shelter. The the level of destruction of the housing is just, very difficult to, to imagine if you have not seen it with your own eyes, either they're going back to homes which are totally destroyed or at best partially destroyed, or they go back and they find that their house has been occupied by somebody else, and then they are engaged in a very complex legal process to try to get that those homes, back in most cases, they don't have any jobs, they don't find any livelihood, opportunities."
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, UNHCR:
"Not only they believe that they can go home, but actually they want to go home and they want to go home as quickly as possible. And that is something that has not happened for the past 13 years. So this is an extraordinary opportunity, for us to help them realize that that dream that they have had for the past 13 years since they left their, their homes."
Up to one million internally displaced people (IDPs) living in camps and displacement sites across north-west Syria intend to return to their areas of origin within the next year, 600,000 of them in the next six months, according to a new survey.
The survey showed that 51 per cent of households intend to return to their areas of origin, with 93 per cent planning to go home within three to twelve months. It was carried out between 26 January and 23 February. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and partners surveyed 4,800 households – more than 29,000 individuals – in 514 IDP sites across north-west Syria.
This week, at IDP sites in Idleb, UNHCR witnessed the determination of internally displaced Syrians to go home and rebuild, as they now feel safe. For that to be dignified and sustainable, they need jobs, housing, schools, hospitals and basic services like electricity and clean water. They also need support to remove landmines; they cite fear of explosive remnants as their biggest security concern.
Access to housing is among the biggest needs. The survey – conducted by UNHCR, a humanitarian initiative REACH and other camp management partners – reveals that nearly all IDPs planning to return intend to move back to their former homes. However, 80 per cent said these are severely damaged or destroyed, rising to 95 per cent among the 350,000 IDPs planning to return to the former frontline districts of Al Ma’ra (Idleb) and Suqaylabiyah (Hama).
While the emotional desire to return was widespread among those surveyed, IDPs said that
obstacles include the lack of humanitarian aid, employment and livelihood opportunities and access to basic services.
UNHCR and its partners are providing transport, legal assistance and support in repairing damaged homes as well as mattresses, blankets and winter clothing for the tough months ahead.
Nearly 14 years after the crisis began, Syria is at a crossroads, urgently needing support for rebuilding as years of conflict have devastated the economy and infrastructure, leaving 90 per cent of the population reliant on aid.
