High Commissioner’s statement at the Brussels Syria Conference

Thank you, Chair.

Year after year I have stood in this very forum to advocate on behalf of the Syrian people – especially the millions of Syrians who, over 14 years, were forced to flee their homes: 13 million of them remain displaced, including five million refugees outside Syria.

Year after year I have also called for strong support to those countries – Lebanon, Jordan, Türkiye and others – that have hosted Syrian refugees despite dwindling international resources, living up to their commitments to provide refugees with protection and assistance under the so-called 3RP programme until such time they could safely, voluntarily return home.

And on 8 December, going home became a possibility.

Over one million Syrians have already returned since then – 350,000 from neighbouring countries and many more internally displaced. With spring around the corner, the end of Ramadan and then of the school year soon upon us, we expect many more to join them. Our most recent surveys show that 80% of refugees hope to return one day, with 27% expressing the intention to do so within the next year. This last percentage has shot up in recent weeks.

In the operational framework on returns that UNHCR issued in February – now subsumed in a broader UN plan of action – we estimated that up to 3.5 million Syrians, both internally displaced and refugees, could return in the coming months.

Let me be clear: UNHCR is not promoting returns. In fact, it is important that all countries hosting Syrian refugees maintain a measured approach. It is too early to remove protection safeguards, and I welcome the current thinking of many EU Member States and of the European Commission along those lines.

Rather, let Syrian refugees go and visit their homes without fear of losing legal status, access to rights and support in countries of asylum. That will help them make informed decisions about permanent return.

But the fact is that many Syrians are already choosing to return. And we must support them with information, documentation, transport, small grants.

However, the bigger and more urgent challenge is how to make these returns sustainable.

How to ensure that once people return to their communities, they have enough of the basics: shelter, electricity, water, sanitation, education, work – in a word: opportunity – to imagine a future for themselves and their families in their country.

How to ensure that they are safe, that their rights are respected – because without security, there will be no opportunity.

But if we fail to help them stay in Syria, make no mistakes: the impact will be disastrous. Not only returns will stop, but those who did return (and probably many others) will move again.

And they will not stay in the region.

The announcements of large EU and other pledges that we have already heard, and hopefully we’ll hear more of them, is very, very important. But at the same time, there is much discussion these days in European countries and elsewhere about prioritizing security over aid.

Of course, security is important. But too often, it is portrayed as coming at the expense of international aid. This is not just morally wrong; it is also a huge strategic mistake: because aid contributes to stability – for Syria, for its neighbours, for Europe and beyond, and no issue proves this point more than population movements.

So, when you cut aid, and many of you are doing so, please be aware of the consequences of your decisions. Stability in Europe is bound with the security of the Syrian people: 2015 was not such a long time ago.

Today, with a better future finally available to the people of Syria, we are all at a crossroads.

On one side, more of the comfortable same. Timidity. Half measures. Strong statements but little action. And that constant refrain: there aren’t enough resources.

On the other side, a more complex path that requires taking smart risks. Investing much more in early recovery. Further lifting sanctions to spur investment and growth. And yes, substantive humanitarian aid. In the current context, I realize what all that means. But if we are serious about finding solutions for Syrian refugees – and for Syria – and not having to spend much more money later, that’s the path.

One last word, in closing, to add my voice to many who have spoken before me and say respectfully to the interim Syrian Government: as you know, the safety of Syrians starts with you. We will support your important statements that you want to build a nation where everyone can have a voice in deciding on a common future.

Thank you.