The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Wednesday facilitated the voluntary return of 152 Syrians in vulnerable situations from Libya to Damascus, marking the first Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) flight to Syria organized by IOM since the beginning of 2025.
The flight, departing from Tripoli, was organized at the request of the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and supported families who had been living in Libya for over a decade.
"IOM is expanding its operations and services in Syria with the primary objective of supporting the country's recovery after years of conflict and ensuring dignified and sustainable returns of Syrians, whether displaced internally or returning from abroad," said Othman Belbeisi, Director of IOM's Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa. "This is our commitment to the people of Syria, and we will continue to deliver on it in line with Government priorities and in coordination with UN partners.
IOM provided pre-departure assistance in Tripoli and upon arrival in Damascus, returnees received reception assistance and onward transportation to their final destinations, primarily in Aleppo, Hama and Homs.
Over the coming months, IOM will provide individual reintegration assistance to help these families rebuild their lives.
This VHR operation was made possible through the support of the EU-funded Migrant Protection, Return, and Reintegration in North Africa (MPRR-NA) programme.
According to IOM's Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), 581,000 Syrians have returned to Syria from abroad since December 2024, mainly from Türkiye and Lebanon.
Since 2015, IOM Libya has assisted over 105,000 migrants to return safely to their countries of origin.
"This flight is a testament to IOM's ongoing commitment to voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable returns for the most vulnerable Syrian migrants," said Eleonora Servino, IOM's Acting Chief of Mission in Syria.
"It is a contribution to stability and development across the region, and most importantly it brings vulnerable people, who cannot return by their own means back home where they want to live and build their futures," she added.
IOM is now scaling up efforts in Syria to promote sustainable reintegration through multisectoral, area-based approaches. With support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), IOM is planning to launch a two-year project in return areas in Aleppo Governorate to provide shelter through rehabilitation and rental assistance, strengthen access to housing, land, and property rights, deliver legal assistance, as well as mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), and promote social cohesion through community projects in return areas.
In July, IOM received formal approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates to re-establish its presence in Damascus and expand humanitarian operations across the country.
IOM has been delivering life-saving assistance in northwest Syria since 2014, reaching vulnerable communities with essential humanitarian aid. Beyond emergency relief, IOM continues to implement programs in Syria, including displacement data collection through its Displacement Tracking Matrix, protection services, MHPSS, shelter, and provision of core relief items.
