Thousands of Syrian refugees are set to return from Lebanon this week as part of the first United Nations-backed plan that offers financial incentives for repatriation, Reuters reported on Wednesday.
The initiative comes as Syria’s new Islamist-led government, which replaced President Bashar al-Assad in December, says all citizens are welcome home despite widespread destruction and security concerns.
According to Reuters, returning Syrians will receive $100 each while still in Lebanon and an additional $400 per family upon arrival in Syria. Lebanese Minister of Social Affairs Haneen Sayed told Reuters that transportation is “fully covered” and border fees have been waived.
“I think it’s a good and important start. We have discussed and are coordinating this with our Syrian counterparts, and I think the numbers will increase in the coming weeks,” Sayed said.
More than 6 million Syrians fled the country since the conflict erupted in 2011, with the majority seeking refuge in Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan. Lebanon alone is hosting about 1.5 million Syrians among a population of roughly 4 million, making it the country with the highest number of refugees per capita worldwide.
Sayed told Reuters that around 11,000 Syrians have already registered to return during the first week of the program, which aims to facilitate the return of between 200,000 and 400,000 refugees over the course of the year. The plan initially targets informal tented settlements housing some 200,000 refugees.
She also stated Lebanon may consider granting work permits to Syrians who choose to remain in the country, on the condition that their families return to Syria. These permits would apply to sectors such as agriculture and construction.
The UN had previously deemed Syria unsafe for large-scale returns due to fears of arbitrary detention and persecution under Assad’s rule. However, with the regime change, the narrative appears to be shifting. Reuters also quoted Ivo Freijsen, UNHCR’s Representative in Lebanon, saying, “while the situation in Syria continues to rapidly evolve, UNHCR considers the current context a positive opportunity for larger numbers of Syrian refugees to return home, or to begin considering return in a realistic and durable way.”
According to Reuters, as of the end of June 2025, UNHCR estimates that over 628,000 Syrians have returned from neighboring countries since December 2024, including 191,000 via Lebanon.
“Many refugees have expressed a desire to return to their country but also remain hesitant due to the uncertain short- and long-term conditions in Syria,” Freijsen added.
Security concerns remain a major factor. Despite the ongoing returns, over 106,000 new Syrian arrivals have been recorded in Lebanon this year alone, many of them Alawites fleeing renewed violence in Syria’s coastal regions, Reuters indicated.
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