On Thursday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, spoke of continuing to work with the Syrian government to help create favorable conditions for the return of Syrian refugees to their country, and acknowledged that there are reasons to be concerned about the possibility of return.

Grandi cited reasons for concern about the return of Syrian refugees to Syria, and spoke of tensions over military action, threats of further military action, and concerns about humanitarian conditions.

The United Nations warned, on Wednesday, in a new report, of the danger of the civil war in Syria erupting again and a return to large-scale battle levels after the outbreak of several fronts across the country in recent months.

“early recovery”

Grandi referred to a UN Security Council resolution talking about the so-called “early recovery,” and said that that recovery must be accomplished quickly, especially in some areas in matters of electricity and water, and expressed his hope that “there will be resources to help the Syrian people, who hardly have Water and electricity.”

Grandi stressed that there are difficulties, and said that the UN Security Council stressed the need to act, so UNHCR and other organizations will continue to work in this direction, according to the commissioner.

Security Council Resolution 2254 (2015) refers to compliance with international law and stresses the protection of civilians, unfettered humanitarian access, cessation of hostilities, cooperation to address terrorism, implementation of confidence-building measures, release of detainees and abductees and clarification of the fate of the missing.

The resolution addresses the establishment of a credible, inclusive governance that is not based on sectarianism, a timetable and a process for drafting a new constitution, and free and fair elections administered under the supervision of the United Nations in accordance with the highest international standards of transparency and accountability. The resolution also addresses the safe and voluntary return of refugees and post-conflict reconstruction issues. The resolution notes the close link between a nationwide ceasefire and a parallel political process. It charts the course of a Syrian-owned political process facilitated by the United Nations in Geneva.

Grandi said that UNHCR frequently asks Syrian refugees about their intentions to return, adding: “It was interesting that the majority told us that they wanted to return in the end, but they had many concerns, some related to security or some legal issues, and the lack of services and infrastructure. and economic opportunities.

The High Commissioner reiterated the importance of working on “early recovery”, saying that it is why “we continue in Syria to work with the Syrian government on matters of concern to help create conditions for return.”

“We must work together on a solution, not to push the refugees to return, but to give the refugees options, and if the choice is to return, then we need to return, and we need to continue working in Syria to create those conditions.”

According to a survey conducted by UNHCR in early 2022 and published in June on the intentions and perceptions of Syrian refugees regarding return, 36% of Syrian refugees in Jordan wish to return within 5 years, but 2.4% of Syrian refugees responding to the survey in Jordan have the intention to return to Syria within a year.

Safety and security concerns remain the most important concern for refugees, followed by concerns related to livelihood opportunities and inadequate basic services, according to the UNHCR, which says that it “does not facilitate or encourage the return to Syria.”

“Temporary Solutions”

After the Zaatari camp completed 10 years since it began receiving Syrian refugees, Grandi expressed his hope that there will be no memory of the 20 years of the Zaatari camp.

Grandi also expressed his hope that solutions will be found at an early date, and said that “solving the issues of displacement and asylum requires political progress to resolve the conflict.”

But the High Commissioner did not ignore the possibility that the conflict would not be resolved, and spoke of “the possibility of finding temporary solutions to move forward so that people do not suffer so much, but in the end we need to advance politically in order to find durable solutions… I hope it will be shorter than 10 years, but I don’t know.” .

“I am not a politician and do not represent any country… I am a humanitarian official at the United Nations, but when I watch the elderly and children suffer in devastated cities with very little food, clothes, shelter and medicine, I really feel sad for the Syrian people, and I think that reminding the world of the suffering of the Syrian people is important and necessary ‘, according to the High Commissioner.

Jordan has hosted more than 1.3 million Syrians since the beginning of the crisis in 2011, including 676,322 Syrian refugees registered with the UNHCR. The Commission says that 762.71 thousand refugees are registered with it of all nationalities except for Palestinian refugees who follow UNRWA, as of August 16 data.

(The kingdom)