The Lebanese government officially launched the first phase of its “self-organized voluntary return” program for Syrian refugees on Tuesday, with 71 individuals from 14 families returning to Syria.
The group was transported via three buses and two trucks across the Lebanese-Syrian border, under the supervision of Lebanese authorities and in coordination with international organizations.
According to An-Nahar, 77 refugees had initially registered for the return convoy, however, two left independently and four changed their minds, opting to remain in Lebanon.
The operation, carried out from the Beqaa Valley, is part of a broader plan by the Lebanese government, supported by the United Nations, donor countries and several humanitarian agencies. Under the program, returnees are entitled to a financial assistance package: $100 per person while still in Lebanon and $400 per eligible family upon arrival in Syria. Participants also receive free legal aid, help with documentation and are exempt from overstay and exit fees, as arranged by Lebanon’s General Security Directorate.
The issuance of the official “return form” triggers the preparation of financial assistance and results in the closure of the applicant’s case with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), ending their eligibility for further UNHCR support.
In this context, UNHCR spokesperson in Syria, Celine Schmitt, confirmed the organization’s involvement in facilitating the return in coordination with Lebanese authorities, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Lebanese Red Cross and other humanitarian partners. “Today, we are operating the first voluntary return convoy from Lebanon to Syria,” Schmitt said. “More than 17,000 Syrian refugees in Lebanon have registered their interest in returning under this program and have been counseled on the process and its implications.”
According to UNHCR estimates, approximately 719,801 Syrian refugees have returned to Syria from neighboring countries since December 8, 2024, including over 205,000 from Lebanon.
At the Jdeidet Yabous border crossing, Syrian official Abdul Razzaq al-Masri confirmed that full coordination with Lebanese authorities had ensured a smooth process for the returning group. “All procedures were facilitated, fees waived and services provided to the returning families,” he said.
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