On November 22, 2024, the United Nations expressed alarm regarding the dire living conditions in Syria, leading some Lebanese refugees to consider returning to Lebanon amidst ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Syria, stated that "Lebanese families are making an extremely difficult decision that could jeopardize their lives by returning to Lebanon." He shared these remarks during a video conference from the Syrian-Lebanese border.
Since late September, approximately 560,000 individuals have fled to Syria from neighboring Lebanon, coinciding with an escalation in border shelling and fighting. Lebanese authorities estimate the number at over 610,000.
Vargas Llosa noted that around 65% of those crossing into Syria are Syrian nationals who had previously sought refuge in Lebanon due to a 13-year civil war. Since 2017, roughly 400,000 Syrians have returned home from Lebanon.
He acknowledged the "ideal" and "exceptional" hospitality shown by Syrian communities to newcomers, despite the destruction of infrastructure and economy in Syria. However, he cautioned that due to the "catastrophic economic situation in Syria" and severe funding shortages for humanitarian responses, the sustainability of this generosity is uncertain.
Signs of concern are already emerging, with small numbers of people opting to return to Lebanon despite the risks. Vargas Llosa reported that "the numbers we observe at the border are very small, perhaps around 50 families daily," indicating that they feel conditions in Syria are horrific and believe they may fare better in Lebanon.
He mentioned that returning individuals could find better support systems, easier access to services, and even the potential to earn a small income. While current numbers remain low, Vargas Llosa warned that without genuine international funding support, the number of Lebanese choosing to return under these dire circumstances may increase in the coming weeks and months, which would be very concerning.
He also noted that some Syrians have chosen to return to Lebanon, primarily due to the extremely poor economic conditions in Syria. Concurrently, there has been a significant decrease in the number of refugees arriving in Syria recently, dropping from a peak of 10,000 to 15,000 daily to an average of around 2,000.
This decline is likely linked to ongoing Israeli bombardments of border crossings, with Vargas Llosa urging the Israeli military to "immediately cease these unacceptable attacks."