Geneva: The United Nations has announced that more than 1.5 million Syrian refugees and displaced persons have returned to their areas since the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024. This significant movement marks a turning point in the ongoing Syrian crisis and highlights the resilience of those affected by years of conflict.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Edoum Wosorno, the Director of Operations and Advocacy at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, emphasized that 16.5 million people in Syria still require humanitarian assistance and protection. Despite the increasing difficulties, humanitarian operations continue unabated, with the United Nations and its partners reaching an average of 2.4 million people per month through local and cross-border efforts.

Wosorno expressed optimism that the recent lifting of US and European sanctions on Syria could aid the recovery and development process. She noted that over one million displaced persons have returned to their areas, with more than half a million refugees coming back from neighboring countries to Syria.

The decision to lift economic sanctions, announced by US President Donald Trump and the European Union, signifies a potential shift in international relations and support for Syria's rebuilding efforts.