The United Nations has begun to provide Syrian refugees in Lebanon with financial incentives to return home. The plan is endorsed by the Lebanese government months after a change in leadership in Damascus.

Beirut

Lebanon's government, in coordination with the United Nations and humanitarian organizations, has implemented a plan to encourage Syrian refugees to return to Syria. The measures include waiving fines for residency violations and providing financial incentives and transportation support for families who choose to go back. Authorities estimate that up to 400,000 refugees could return by the end of the year, with over 100,000 having already left in recent months.

Despite these efforts, many refugees remain hesitant due to ongoing security concerns, lack of housing, and limited livelihood opportunities in Syria. While the UN now considers conditions adequate for voluntary returns, it acknowledges that significant humanitarian needs persist, with 90% of Syria's population requiring assistance. The return process continues, but many refugees are cautious about the prospects for recovery in their homeland.

UN offers incentives for Syrian refugees in Lebanon to return home

The road back home is now open for Syrian refugees. Lebanon's government has waived fines related to violations of rules on entry and residency. It's an attempt to encourage Syrians to return and part of a plan to resolve a crisis of displacement that's lasted more than a decade. But this is a comprehensive plan where the humanitarian community comes together with the authorities and we have agreed on a number of very important practical measures to facilitate return. An estimated one and a half million Syrians live in Lebanon. That's one in four residents. Authorities have long said they're a burden in a country deep in economic crisis. But for the first time, there's a way to change that. And those involved believe projections of up to 400,000 returnees by the end of the year are realistic based on the numbers of people now going back. It was 16 a couple of days ago. 17,000 is the latest, is probably the number as of today. And I believe once the actual going back starts, it would be kind of a roller, you know, an effect that will snowball. As incentives, families are given a few hundred dollars and their transportation costs are covered. But many say that's not enough. And there's also concern about recurring outbreaks of violence. I can't return because we have no home to return to. There's also the issue of security and I will need a livelihood. During the war, the UN warned people against returning to Syria in large numbers, fearing they could face prosecution by the Assad regime. Now that there are new authorities in Syria and the situation is continuously evolving, the UN believes the conditions are adequate for them to support those who want to return home. But there are still front lines and no unified army. Many areas in Syria look like this. 90% of the population needs help. And while there have been gradual improvements, the UN says more is needed. In the funding situation of the humanitarian community, because also in Syria, a lot of humanitarian organizations are getting smaller. Despite this, authorities are hopeful with more than 100,000 people spontaneously leaving for Syria in recent months. The return has started. It started certainly after the fall of the regime. And then week after week, we're seeing more returns taking place. It may be a new start for some. But others are reluctant to go home, believing Syria's road to recovery has yet to begin. Zainal Khadir al-Jazeera, Bekaa.

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