WORLD · VERIFIED DEVELOPMENT
Refugee Returns to Syria Increase Amid Ongoing Conflict
WHY IT MATTERS
The increase in refugee returns to Syria highlights the ongoing need for diversified and flexible funding to support refugee protection, inclusion, and access to solutions, including voluntary return and resettlement.
What happened
According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, 723,000 refugees have voluntarily returned to Syria from Türkiye by August 2026. This increase in returns is attributed to developments in Syria following December 2024.
The UNHCR supports national asylum procedures and works with government institutions, local authorities, and civil society to advance refugee protection and inclusion. Responsibility-sharing for social services and diversified funding for the refugee response remain crucial.
The UNHCR also promotes solutions such as resettlement and complementary pathways. The refugee population in Türkiye is one of the largest globally, and the UNHCR continues to work with stakeholders to address the needs of these refugees.
PRIMARY SOURCES
Republic of Türkiye Fact-sheet September 2026
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