Washington Warns: Syria Unsafe for Refugee Return Despite New Displacement Wave

Washington Warns: Syria Unsafe for Refugee Return Despite New Displacement Wave
International concerns about Syrian refugees' return reflect the Syrian regime's continued violations and lack of security guarantees for returnees
November 21, 2024, 11:08 pm

اللاجئون السوريون \ تعبيرية

Najat Rochdi, Deputy UN Special Envoy to Syria, highlighted the continuing state of war and division in the country, emphasizing the need for international cooperation to address the worsening Syrian crisis.

U.S. Deputy Representative Robert Wood warned of the Syrian regime's violations against returnees from Lebanon, rejecting claims that any part of Syria is safe for refugee return.

During her briefing to the Security Council, Rochdi stressed the urgent need for a ceasefire according to Resolution 2254, confirming the existence of more than 100,000 detainees and missing persons in Syria.

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The UN official expressed concern about ongoing violations of the disengagement agreement in the Golan, calling on the Syrian regime to ensure the safety of displaced people from Lebanon.

Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations at the Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, revealed that 13 million people suffer from food insecurity in Syria, including 1.4 million in the northwest requiring urgent assistance.

Wosornu explained that Israeli raids on border crossings between Syria and Lebanon hindered humanitarian aid delivery, while more than 450,000 people fled from Lebanon to Syria since late September.

She noted that one-third of the displaced are Syrians, half are children, and 7,000 are pregnant women, multiplying pressure on the already exhausted infrastructure.

Analysts view that the new displacement wave exacerbates Syria's humanitarian crisis, especially with escalating regional tension and Gaza war implications.

Estimates indicate that deteriorating conditions in Lebanon may push more displaced people toward Syria, despite international concerns about regime violations and lack of suitable conditions for safe return.

Experts confirm that the complexity of the Syrian scene requires a comprehensive approach addressing the crisis's political, humanitarian, and security dimensions, while ensuring protection of civilians and displaced people from various forms of violations.

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