Following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government, the UNHCR reported that over 850,000 Syrian refugees have returned to Syria from neighboring countries. The agency suggests that the number of returnees could reach one million in the coming weeks. Furthermore, about 1.7 million internally displaced Syrians have returned to their homes as the central government reasserts its authority over large swathes of the country. Kelly T. Clements, the UNHCR’s Deputy High Commissioner, stated that the situation is very active. She emphasized that this is a significant opportunity to address a large-scale displacement crisis. The Syrian conflict began in March 2011, claiming approximately 500,000 lives. The conflict displaced half of the pre-war population of 23 million, with over 5 million Syrians seeking refuge in other countries.
