Over 35,000 refugees have returned to Syria since October 2018 — UNHCR

AMMAN — More than 35,000 Syrian refugees have returned to Syria via the Jordanian-Syrian borders as of the beginning of December, according to Spokesperson for the UNHCR in Jordan Muhammad Hawari.

In a phone interview with The Jordan Times, Hawari said that more than 35,000 Syrian refugees in total have returned to their homes since the opening of the Jaber/Nasib Border in October 2018.

“Any refugee who has returned did so voluntarily. We stress that the refugees are the only decision makers in this regard, and that the return process happens without restrictions or obstacles that stand in the way of the refugee,” he added.

The UNHCR noted that its numbers match those of the Jordanian authorities.

According to the agency, Jordan hosts the second largest proportion of refugees in the world compared to its number of citizens, and one out of three of its population is a refugee. 

More than 80 per cent of refugees live outside the camps, and 20 per cent inside them, according to the agency.

Refugees have returned from both the camps and urban areas in the Kingdom, and the process has been described by Hawari as “smooth” since it began over a year ago.

“It should be noted that the return rates this time of year are below average, as it is the winter season and most refugees do not want to risk returning to an unstable housing situation in cold weather. Another reason is that some are still concerned about the security and safety situation in Syria,” concluded Hawari.