The flight departed from Tripoli on Wednesday evening, October 8, following a request by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, and targeted families who had been living in Libya for over a decade.

Osman Belbeisi, IOM’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said the organization is expanding its operations and services in Syria with the main goal of supporting the country’s recovery after years of conflict and ensuring the dignified and sustainable return of Syrians, whether internally displaced or returning from abroad.

Before departure in Tripoli, the IOM provided preparatory assistance, while upon arrival in Damascus, the returnees received reception support and transportation to their final destinations, mainly in Aleppo, Hama, and Homs.

In the coming months, the organization will offer individual “reintegration assistance” to help these families rebuild their lives.

The operation was made possible through the EU-funded “Migration Protection and Reintegration Program in North Africa (MPRR-NA).”

Eleonora Servino, IOM’s Acting Chief of Mission in Syria, said, “This flight contributes to stability and development in the region, and most importantly, it allows the most vulnerable people_ those unable to return by their own means_ to go back to their homeland, where they wish to live and build their future.”

The IOM is currently intensifying its efforts in Syria to promote sustainable reintegration through a multi-sectoral, area-based approach.

With support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the organization plans to launch a two-year project in return areas of Aleppo province to provide shelter through rehabilitation and rental assistance, improve access to housing, land, and property rights, offer legal aid, as well as psychosocial support and social cohesion initiatives through community-based projects.

In July, the IOM received official approval from the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates to re-establish its presence in Damascus and expand humanitarian operations across the country.

Since 2014, the IOM has been providing life-saving humanitarian assistance in northwestern Syria, targeting vulnerable communities with basic aid. In addition to emergency relief, the organization continues to operate programs in Syria that include displacement tracking through its Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), protection services, psychosocial support, shelter, and distribution of essential relief items.

850,000 Refugees Return

Kelly Clements, Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, said the number of Syrians who have returned from abroad has reached around 850,000, in addition to 1.7 million others who have returned from other parts of Syria over the past ten months.

Speaking to the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on September 1, Clements said that the main challenges facing returnees include the need for safe shelter, healthcare, and education, as well as legal documentation, since many returnees lack the necessary papers.

She noted that current funding covers only 22% of the UNHCR’s 2025 appeal, explaining that the agency alone cannot provide the cash assistance and basic services required by vulnerable families, stressing the urgent need for sustainable international financial support.

Clements revealed that an operational response plan was launched to support returning communities in coordination with Syrian authorities. The UNHCR has provided assistance for home repairs and cash support to the most vulnerable families in more than 69 community centers across Syria.

During her visit to Syria, Clements inaugurated a civil registry center in Maarat al-Numan (in Idlib province) and reviewed the needs and experiences of many returnees in Syrian areas, emphasizing that legal documentation is a cornerstone for rebuilding lives, as it enables people to reclaim property and reintegrate into community life.

The United Nations has also contributed to the rehabilitation of several health facilities, such as primary healthcare clinics, in cooperation with humanitarian agencies, to improve health services for returnees and local communities. It views this cooperation with Syrian authorities as key to enhancing the quality of services provided to local populations.