Over 825,000 Displaced Syrians Return Home Amid Ongoing Crisis

The United Nations reported that over 825,000 displaced individuals in Syria have returned to their homes since December, leaving nearly 2 million still homeless, Xinhua reported. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) noted that most displaced people are concentrated in the northwest, particularly in Idlib and Aleppo, where many live in overcrowded shelters and frail tents.

Following the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad government late last year, Syria has faced significant instability, leading to the establishment of transitional leadership. OCHA stated that humanitarian assistance is being provided as conditions allow, including winter aid to those in northern Syria facing harsh weather.

Recent efforts include emergency repairs to roads and sewage systems, rehabilitation of nine markets near displacement camps, and distribution of winter kits to over 260,000 children. However, OCHA highlighted a funding shortfall, receiving less than 10% of the required $1.2 billion to assist 6.7 million Syrians through March.