Chapter 3 Per cent of the population Figure 11 | Refugee returns as a proportion of the overall refugee population | 1992-2018 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% ‘92 ‘94 ‘96 ‘98 ‘00 ‘02 ‘04 returned through organized voluntary repatriation, through self-organized returns or in conditions not conducive for sustainable return in safety and dignity. Thus the reported statistics refer to returns of all types and not necessarily to voluntary repatriation, and the data have not necessarily been verified by UNHCR in all cases. Returns to Syria constituted the largest such number in 2018, with 210,900 refugees returning, mostly reported from Turkey (177,300). 34 Much smaller numbers were reported from Lebanon (14,500), Iraq (10,800), Jordan (8,100) and Egypt (300). UNHCR’s position vis-à-vis returns to Syria throughout 2018 and up to present has been that there are not sufficient guarantees or conditions in place to facilitate large-scale repatriation in safety and dignity. Significant risks remain for civilians across the country and premature return could have a negative impact on refugees and, if significant in scale, could further destabilize the region. UNHCR neither promoted nor facilitated refugee returns to Syria in 2018. However, many selforganized returns or returns organized by host countries or other actors occurred and returnees were assisted through ongoing humanitarian programmes. 35 A Return Perception and Intentions Survey conducted among Syrian refugees in 2018 unhcr > Global trends 2018 ‘06 ‘08 ‘10 ‘12 ‘14 ‘16 ‘18 found that 76 per cent of Syrian refugees hoped to return to Syria one day, a significant increase from the 51 per cent reported in 2017. Although most surveyed refugees aspired to go home, only a few saw return as a near-term possibility within a 12-month period. Indeed, 85 per cent of respondents stated they did not have intentions to return to Syria in the next 12 months, while 11 per cent were undecided, and 4 per cent intended to return. 36 The second largest number of refugee returns in 2018 was reported by South Sudan, with 136,200. The largest number returned from Uganda (83,600), followed by Ethiopia (40,200), Sudan (5,200), Kenya (4,600), CAR (2,100) and DRC (400). As in the case of Syria, UNHCR did not facilitate or promote refugee returns to South Sudan in 2018. For those refugees who returned in circumstances that were challenging or not conducive to a safe and dignified return, UNHCR sought to monitor and assist the situations of returned refugees and IDPs within the country. 37 34 While the Government of Turkey reported the total number of return departures of Syrians from Turkey, UNHCR verified 22,410 returns in 2018 from Turkey. See: data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/ syria_durable_solutions 35 See: https://data2.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/63223 36 See: data2.unhcr.org/fr/documents/download/66198 37 See: reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/UNHCR%20 South%20SUdanSpontaneous%20Returnees%2031%20 January%202019.pdf 29