Shabia Mantu, spokeswoman for the UN refugee agency – UNHCR, said in Geneva on Tuesday that people forced to flee the country due to the 13-year civil war are now considering returning to Syria. But they are also faced with the question of how safe their return will be and to what extent their rights will be respected.
The spokesperson said that people who decide to return should be given the opportunity to decide without any pressure. He stressed that all refugees have a fundamental right to return to their country of origin at a time of their choice, and any change must be voluntary, respectful and safe. Protection of asylum seekersAccording to UNHCR, the Syrian civil war erupted in 2011 when the repression of popular anti-government protests led to an armed conflict. The civil war has been brutal and prolonged, with millions killed, seven million Syrians displaced within the country, and more than five million seeking refuge in neighboring countries. Many Syrian refugees have also reached other countries. This number is almost half of the country’s total population of approximately 23 million before the civil war began. Some European countries, following the fall of the government of President Bashar al-Assad There have also been reports of policies suspending decisions on asylum or asylum claims by Syrians. In response to questions about this, Shabia Mantu reiterated that “any Syrian person or person seeking international protection should be able to access asylum procedures and their application should be fully and individually examined on their merits.” Challenges Since a coalition of opposition forces led by the “armed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group launched an offensive from its stronghold of Idlib on November 28, Idlib, Aleppo, More than a million people, mostly women and children, have been displaced in Hama and Homs. Opposition forces had captured dozens of neighborhoods and strategic cities, including Aleppo, Hama and Homs, before reaching the capital, Damascus. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), some of the displaced have been reported to have returned to their homes in Syria in recent days. Agency spokesman Jens Lark also said that humanitarian aid operations have resumed in affected areas, including Homs, Hama and the capital, Damascus. “Starting yesterday, all humanitarian aid organizations in Idlib and northern Aleppo have resumed work,” the spokesman said. “Increasing humanitarian assistance” UN Deputy Special Envoy for Syria Najat Roshdi convened a meeting of the Humanitarian Task Force in Geneva, calling on all parties to prioritize the protection of civilians and support international Called for respect for the rule of law. He called on Member States to step up pressure to ensure safe passage for civilians fleeing conflict and war. He called for preserving essential infrastructure, including schools and health facilities. and routes should be left open for civilians to escape violence and return home safely. Najat Roshdi expressed her resolve to maintain contact with the Syrian people in all areas, and Underscored the responsibility of the international community to prevent further instability. He stressed that it is necessary to provide uninterrupted humanitarian assistance to the people. Despite ever-increasing needs, humanitarian aid faces serious funding shortages. Less than a third of the $4.1 billion needed for 2024 has been secured.Hospitals are overburdenedUN agencies and partner organizations are providing basic assistance in northwestern Syria, and among the beneficiaries are newly displaced People are also involved. OCHA spokesman Jens Lark said food, health and nutrition services have been provided to people, as well as clean Assistance has also been provided to increase people’s access to water, but there are reports of health facilities being overburdened, with major hospitals operating at limited capacity due to lack of staff, medicines and supplies.