spotlight 1 Momentum for returns The events of 8 December significantly shifted the dynamics surrounding refugee returns to Syria, with an upsurge in the number of refugees in neighbouring countries expressing a positive intention to return home. The first months of 2025 saw rising numbers of Syrians returning and, despite a fragile security and socio-economic situation in parts of the country, returns have generally continued. As of mid-May 2025, more than 500,000 Syrians are estimated to have crossed back into Syria since the fall of the Assad government, overwhelmingly from neighbouring countries. 62 This positive trend is equally observed in the return of internally displaced people within Syria. An estimated 1.2 million IDPs have returned to their areas of origin since the end of November 2024. 63 Figure 4 | Number of returns to Syria and IDP returns | Dec. 2024 – May 2025 1.2M IDP returns since 27 Nov. 2024 1.0M Number of returns 800K 600K Returns to Syria since 08 Dec. 2024 400K 200K 0 Dec. 2024 Jan. 2025 Feb. 2025 Mar. 2025 Whether these returns are sustainable will depend on many factors, including the overall development of the security situation within Syria, as well as the availability of housing, public services, infrastructure Apr. 2025 May 2025 Jun. 2025 and the revitalisation of the economy. However, it is estimated that up to 1.5 million Syrians from abroad and 2 million internally displaced people may return by the end of 2025 (see table 1).64 62 These return estimates are derived by UNHCR from the triangulation of sources both inside and outside Syria, including UNHCR offices and Government sources in Türkiye, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt. See: Syria governorates of return overview as of 15 May 2025, UNHCR. 63 See: Syria governorates IDPs and IDP returnee’s overview 8 May 2025, UNHCR. 64 See UNHCR Operational Framework: Voluntary Return of Syrian Refugees and IDPs (2025), UNHCR. UNHCR > GLOBAL TRENDS 2024 15