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20 December 2024 —  This week ̽����ѡ (̽����ѡ) Senior Vice President for Crisis, Response, Recovery and Development, Ciarán Donnelly, visited Lebanon including the Masnaa Border Crossing and met with ̽����ѡ teams who have mobilized to respond to the mounting humanitarian needs of Lebanese communities and Syrian refugees. Following more than a year of conflict at least 175,000 people remain displaced across the country, while those who have returned to their areas of origin are confronted with destroyed homes, devastated infrastructure, and disrupted essential services. Across the region, Syrian refugees are also now grappling with the end of the Assad-led government in Syria as they confront tough choices for their families as to what their futures hold. 

Ciarán said, “Although the ceasefire in Lebanon is less than one month old, yet the impacts of the conflict will be generational. Speaking to ̽����ѡ’s teams who are supporting those affected, it is clear that the widespread destruction of civilian homes and infrastructure will leave many displaced families unable to return to a sense of normalcy for years to come. As affected communities look to rebuild their lives it is vital that the international community now invests in Lebanon’s recovery. These efforts are not only about rebuilding infrastructure but are also critical to restoring dignity and hope to families who are still largely reliant on humanitarian assistance to survive day to day.”

“Across the border in Syria, civilians affected by more than 13 years of conflict are also experiencing a watershed moment – the end of the Assad-led Government of Syria. This moment offers the possibility of a more hopeful chapter to more than 16 million people in need of humanitarian assistance inside the country and 5.5 million refugees currently hosted in neighbouring countries, including Lebanon.

“Both nations rank among the ten most likely countries to face a worsening humanitarian crisis as recently published in ̽����ѡ’s 2025 Emergency Watchlist. What comes next in Syria and Lebanon is dependent on international support to ensure both sustained peace and that affected communities are finally able to recover from the destruction left behind from devastating conflicts. For Syrian refugees in Lebanon the evolving situation offers tentative hope for the eventual return to their areas of origin. However, with Syria still suffering the effects of a large-scale humanitarian crisis as well as widespread destruction and damage to homes and critical infrastructure the conditions for large-scale safe, voluntary and dignified returns remain elusive.

“Some of the Syrian refugees I met with expressed hope to be able to go home one day, but also uncertainty as to what the future holds.  They want peace. They want stability. They want to be able to provide for their families on their own. But they don't know whether or when these conditions will be in place for them in Syria to be able to make the long awaited journey home. 

“I spoke to them about their hopes and fears for being able to return home. Many told me that their homes have been destroyed, that they aren’t sure if they will have access to essential services and livelihoods upon return, but most of all that they remain concerned about the future of Syria and whether it is even safe to go back yet.

“From speaking with Syrian refugees this week I’m struck that every individual situation, is unique. Each family has their own considerations, their own sets of fears and hopes and opportunities, and they're going to have to think about and navigate these in the months ahead. 

“Given all of the anxiety, our job in large part is to give them as much information as we can so they can make informed decisions, and to support them through the choices they make for themselves and their families. As these choices play out, it’s vital that all hosting nations, and the international community more broadly, also reflect this by ensuring the principle of a safe, voluntary, and dignified return is respected.” 

“The ̽����ѡ has been working in Lebanon and Syria since 2012, with hundreds of staff and  dozens of local partners providing critical humanitarian support and specialized services to millions of displaced and conflict affected communities, and our commitment is to stay and accompany these communities on the journey to recovery through the years ahead.”

ENDS 

The ̽����ѡ in Lebanon 

Since 2012, the ̽����ѡ has been working in Lebanon providing life-changing support to both Lebanese citizens and refugees. We offer a combination of emergency aid and long-term programs to help people cope with the consequences of the humanitarian crisis and the acute economic crisis facing the country, while helping them rebuild their lives. Our programs cover protection, women’s empowerment, education, legal aid, healthcare—including mental sexual and reproductive health—and economic support. 

The ̽����ѡ in Syria

The ̽����ѡ has been working in Syria since 2012 and is currently responding to needs in northern Syria, directly and in partnership with local organizations. We provide lifesaving health care, including support for health facilities and mobile health teams offering critical trauma care, as well as primary, reproductive, and mental health services. The ̽����ѡ also delivers counseling and protection services for women and children, particularly survivors of violence, along with cash assistance, early recovery and early childhood development support. In Turkiye, we are supporting partners in delivering health care, protection, and emergency cash assistance to those affected by the 2023 earthquakes. We also support Syrian refugees in neighboring countries. Learn more about the ̽����ѡ’s Syria response.