The spokesman for the General Authority of Land Crossings and Seaports, Mazen Alush, explained to the press that the return of displaced persons was recorded at border crossings as part of the voluntary return process, particularly from Turkey, from where more than 250,000 people returned.

Alush explained that the entry of tens of thousands of expatriates from Europe, the Arabian Gulf, and several other countries was also recorded, either for visits or to permanently return to their places of origin.

Since the reopening of the Arida border crossing with Lebanon almost a week ago, more than 20,000 people have crossed both arriving or departing routes, with smooth and expeditious procedures.

Household goods and personal belongings of Syrians returning to the country are exempt from fees and taxes as part of the program to encourage return, and the government is working to improve facilities at the crossings and facilitate their safe arrival at their final destinations, the official stated.

The Director of Operations for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Edem Wousorno, previously stated that there is encouraging data on the return of Syrian refugees after years of displacement. “I have seen hope in the Syrian people after years of suffering and hardship,” the official said at a press conference, noting that an encouraging trend in the return of refugees and displaced persons has been observed since December 2024.

Wousorno revealed that at least one million internally displaced persons (IDPs) have returned to their places of origin, while more than half a million refugees have returned from neighboring countries.

jrr/llp/lam/fm