Following the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime in December 2024, a significant number of Syrian refugees have returned to the country, seeking to rebuild their lives amid widespread devastation. Between December 2024 and May 2026, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that approximately 1.67 million Syrians returned from neighboring countries, with the largest group—around 667,000—coming from Turkiye. More than 196,000 registered refugees returned from Jordan during this period.

The decision to return has been driven by a combination of factors, including changing political conditions in Syria and the challenges faced in host countries. For many, such as Syrian journalist and humanitarian activist Jihan Hamad Al-Khalaf, the fall of the regime signaled the end of conflict and the start of a hopeful return. Yet, realities on the ground have presented significant obstacles.

The returnees have encountered damaged housing, inadequate services, and limited employment opportunities. An International Rescue Committee (IRC) report surveying 425 returnees between July 2025 and early 2026 found that 91 percent of respondents indicated a lack of essential services, 71 percent lived in damaged homes, and only 15 percent reported receiving adequate support. For families like Al-Khalaf’s, the contrast between the emotional draw of home and the material scarcity was immediate. Some homes were reduced to shells or heavily damaged by conflict; many lacked basic infrastructure such as electricity, windows, and doors.

Humanitarian aid remains insufficient to meet the scale of needs. The UNHCR reported that between January and May 2026, just under 19,000 returnee families received a one-time reintegration grant of $600, while fewer than 300 damaged homes were repaired. Funding for Syria’s humanitarian response stood at only 30 percent of the $1.3 billion appeal by mid-2026. Estimates by the World Bank place the cost of rebuilding Syria’s damaged physical infrastructure at approximately $216 billion—nearly ten times the nation’s projected 2025 GDP.

Basic utilities and services pose ongoing challenges. In Damascus, families have paid high prices for contaminated water due to damaged purification systems, and rural regions such as Deir Ezzor face even greater difficulties accessing safe water. Health issues have been common, especially among children unaccustomed to local conditions. Documentation is another major concern; many returnees, particularly children born abroad, lack official papers recognized by Syrian authorities, complicating access to education and other services.

Economic reintegration is uneven. Some returnees have resumed public-sector occupations, but many remain unemployed or reliant on remittances from relatives abroad. Al-Khalaf herself, formerly employed with Deraa’s education authority, has not secured work since returning and depends on financial support from family members in Europe.

Internal displacement adds complexity to recovery efforts. Nearly two million internally displaced Syrians have returned to their areas of origin, often facing the same infrastructural damage and economic hardship as cross-border returnees. Suleiman Jafer, who returned to Afrin city in northern Syria in April 2026 after nearly six years of displacement, described extensive destruction to homes and agricultural land. Although security conditions had stabilized, he voiced concerns about the loss of economic livelihoods.

Experts stress the importance of addressing infrastructure and social cohesion simultaneously. Nadia Okasha, director of the Tastakel Center in Damascus, emphasized that reintegration involves more than repairing physical damage; it requires rebuilding community trust and ensuring inclusive participation in recovery efforts. The IRC has also called on donors and authorities to invest in essential services such as water, healthcare, education, and livelihood programs to prevent competition over scarce resources and strengthen social stability.

Despite the difficulties, many returnees express determination to rebuild their lives in Syria. Al-Khalaf stated that, although the return has involved hardship and continued reliance on external support, her family is committed to staying and adapting. “This is our country. This is our real place,” she said, underscoring the complex but enduring ties that drive returnees to seek a future in Syria.