- 18:30
Since January 2025, more than 238,000 Syrians have left Lebanon for their home country, according to updated figures from the General Security Directorate as of September 11. On that day alone, an estimated 280 to 300 refugees crossed into Syria through the Masnaa border crossing, traveling in a convoy of ten buses and ten trucks loaded with their belongings toward the provinces of Homs, Hama and Idlib. This return was part of the second convoy in the voluntary repatriation program, coordinated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with Lebanon’s General Security Directorate.
The convoys mark the start of a slow process: Lebanon is beginning to ease the burden of hosting Syrians who, since the outbreak of the war in 2011, have placed heavy demands on its resources and daily life. Still, despite this initiative, large-scale, long-term returns remain a distant prospect.
Demographic Strain
Although their presence has never been precisely quantified — statistics are scarce in a country where little is regulated — Lebanon’s General Security Directorate told This is Beirut that roughly 1,245,251 Syrian displaced persons were still registered with the UNHCR and present in Lebanon as of September 11, 2025.
But what about those not registered with the UN agency? On this point, neither General Security nor the UNHCR has offered a clear response.
The figures may have risen further following Ahmad al-Sharaa’s rise to power and clashes along the Syrian border in December 2024, with roughly 199,204 new Syrians entering Lebanon without UNHCR registration between December 8, 2024, and June 10, 2025.
The numbers are particularly high in certain regions. According to a General Security official, about 70,000 new arrivals have settled in the Beqaa Valley and Baalbeck-Hermel, compared with 45,000 in Akkar and northern Lebanon.
In these regions, local authorities are growing increasingly vocal about their frustrations: soaring rents, overcrowded schools, overburdened clinics and heightened competition in a labor market already crippled by the economic crisis. Tensions are reaching a breaking point, and the strain is also being felt within the Syrian community in Lebanon.
The numbers reflect this pressure. According to Theresa Fraiha, communications officer at the UNHCR, interviewed by This is Beirut, more than 114,000 registered displaced persons have already expressed interest in joining the voluntary return program. Their names are currently on a waiting list compiled for this purpose, though the timing and organization of the next convoys remain uncertain.
A General Security official told This is Beirut that “a schedule of upcoming convoys has been set up to support the voluntary return of displaced persons over the coming weeks, departing from various regions of Lebanon to several towns and villages in Syria.”
He added, “At this time, we cannot specify the exact number of remaining convoys, nor the final end date of the program. Everything depends on strict adherence to the measures outlined in the aforementioned schedule.”
Fraiha added that “to support those choosing to return, the UNHCR and IOM have stepped up their assistance to ensure the process is safe, dignified and sustainable. This includes cash support, legal guidance and help with transportation.”
The Voluntary Return Program Explained
On July 1, 2025, the UNHCR- and IOM-backed voluntary return program was launched to assist Syrians in Lebanon who choose to return home voluntarily and need transportation assistance. Under the program, each family member receives a one-time cash grant of $100 and support for travel through official border points, including Arida, Qaa and Masnaa.
The UNHCR provides guidance on exit procedures, essential documents and recommendations for preparing the journey. Meanwhile, the IOM handles the transportation process, including pre-departure coordination, medical screening when needed and the transfer of personal belongings.
Meanwhile, to support the return process, Lebanon’s General Security Directorate issued a circular on July 1, 2025, introducing several facilitative measures. These include the temporary waiver of fines for irregular stays and the lifting of re-entry bans, in effect from July 1 to September 30, 2025.
According to Fraiha, the program has two components. First, the “self-organized” voluntary return program supported by the UNHCR. In this case, displaced persons registered with the UNHCR who wish to return to Syria can contact the agency to receive information, services and financial assistance for their return.
Second, the “organized” voluntary return program supported by both the UNHCR and IOM. Registered displaced persons who choose to return to Syria can contact the UNHCR to receive information, services, financial assistance and transportation support.
“Refugees receive a cash grant from the UNHCR and can either arrange their own transportation to Syria or join the convoys organized by the IOM and UNHCR,” she explained, to highlight the difference between the two types of return.
Necessary Steps for Syrians Wishing to Return Home
In an interview with This is Beirut, a General Security official explained that the steps for registered displaced persons are available to all.
Each person must first express their interest in returning by contacting the UNHCR through a dedicated hotline. “Individual assessments are conducted by the UNHCR to identify refugees’ specific needs and guide them to the appropriate services,” Fraiha explained.
Displaced persons are then added to a pre-established list used to organize voluntary returns, and a departure date is set. On the designated day, they gather at a central point, such as Beirut. Teams from the UNHCR and IOM assess individual needs, provide essential information and guidance and distribute cash grants along with other forms of assistance. Each family member receives a one-time cash grant of $100 before departure, while additional support, up to $400, may be provided in Syria by the UNHCR to assist with reintegration. Once these steps are completed, displaced persons are moved in convoys of buses and trucks through a border crossing to their final destinations in Syria.
Yet despite these departures, Lebanon remains overcrowded and under pressure. More than one million displaced persons—counting only those registered with the UNHCR—continue to strain infrastructure, public services and the labor market, while upcoming convoys are expected to facilitate a gradual but partial return.
The voluntary return program provides some relief, but it also underscores the scale of the challenge: Lebanon, already stretched by more than a decade of crisis, continues to grapple with the impact of a massive population that has never been fully monitored or accounted for. Between official statistics and conditions on the ground, the question remains: How many Syrians will still be in the country tomorrow, and how long can Lebanon sustain this demographic pressure?
Comments