UN Calls for Lifting Sanctions as Syrians Begin Returning Post-Assad

The fall of Bashar al-Assad has prompted the return of hundreds of thousands of refugees, but sanctions and poor living conditions remain significant barriers.

• Over 200,000 Syrian refugees have returned home since Bashar al-Assad was ousted last month, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
• An estimated 30% of Syrian refugees now express a desire to return, a sharp increase from nearly zero last year.
• UN officials, including Filippo Grandi, have urged Western nations to lift sanctions, describing them as a major obstacle to refugee repatriation and rebuilding efforts.
• Syria's new interim leadership has committed to an inclusive transition and aims to facilitate the return of millions of refugees and internally displaced citizens.
• The US and EU are considering easing sanctions, with the US already granting a six-month exemption for certain sectors, while broader aid and reconstruction efforts are deemed essential.

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