Independent UN expert: Syria faces a historic opportunity to transform displacement into a path to recovery

This came in a statement issued by Paula Gaviria Bettencourt, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, today, Thursday, following an official visit to Syria, where she said: “Syria has the capacity to move from managing displacement to finding durable solutions. One of the most important indicators of success will be enabling displaced people to enjoy their rights and rebuild their lives in safety and dignity.”

Syria is gradually recovering from one of the largest and most persistent displacement crises in the world. Since 2011, an estimated 14 million people have been displaced, and since December 2024, nearly 2 million internally displaced persons and 1.7 million refugees have returned.

However, about 5.5 million people remain displaced within the country, reconstruction needs are estimated at $216 billion, and 15.6 million people still need humanitarian assistance.

Durable solutions for displaced people

The Special Rapporteur acknowledged the enormity of the task facing Syria, noting that the country is simultaneously working to rebuild its economy, institutions, public services, legal and policy frameworks, infrastructure, and social fabric, while responding to one of the largest displacement crises in the world.

Gaviria Bettencourt said: “The challenges facing Syria are enormous and cannot be addressed overnight, so efforts to secure durable solutions for displaced people must be accompanied by broader measures to restore livelihoods, strengthen the rule of law, and support a comprehensive recovery that benefits all Syrians.”

The Special Rapporteur added that the scale of return reflects the resilience and aspirations of the Syrian people, and also imposes a great responsibility in the areas of humanitarian work, development, protection and human rights, which is to ensure that return is not only possible, but truly voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable for all.

She said: “In all the governorates I visited, I heard the same message: internally displaced people do not want displacement to continue to define them. Despite years of suffering, repeated displacement, the loss of loved ones, and the destruction of their homes and livelihoods, they continue to show exceptional resilience and resolve. They look forward to rebuilding their lives, providing for their families with independence and dignity, and actively contributing to Syria’s recovery.”

“Syria without camps”

The Special Rapporteur welcomed the government’s initiative known as: “Syria Without Camps” as an important commitment to ending protracted displacement in camps, and stressed that closures must be the result of durable solutions based on human rights and not a substitute for them. She said: “The sustainability of camp closures will depend on IDPs having access to viable and sustainable durable solutions.”

The expert stressed that return represents an important element in a broader process to find permanent solutions. In many areas, returnees are faced with the reality of destroyed homes, limited public services, and scarcity of livelihoods. They also face challenges related to housing, land and property, as well as pollution caused by mines and explosive remnants of war. She said: “Sustaining returns requires continued investment in recovery and reintegration support.”

Continue international support

The expert called on the international community to continue providing humanitarian assistance to those in need, while expanding support for recovery and development by providing multi-year and predictable funding for return and reintegration programmes. It also encouraged the involvement of the private sector in supporting local economies and livelihoods.

She continued, saying: “Internally displaced people are among the groups most affected by what Syria has witnessed in the past, and they are also among the groups most able to contribute effectively to its future. Supporting their human rights, capacities, and participation represents an investment in Syria’s social fabric, its economic recovery, and its long-term peace.”

The Special Rapporteur will submit her report to the Human Rights Council in June 2027.

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*It is noteworthy that special rapporteurs and independent experts are appointed by the Human Rights Council in Geneva, which is an international body responsible for promoting and protecting human rights around the world. Rapporteurs and experts are tasked with studying human rights situations and submitting reports on them to the Council. The experts perform their duties in a personal capacity and completely independent of any government or organization, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and United Nations agencies. Any opinions or positions they express are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the United Nations or the Office of the High Commissioner.