Syria's reconstruction draws home more than 1.5 million returnees

More than 1.5 million Syrians have returned to their homeland since the country's political transition, as growing numbers of refugees seek to help rebuild a nation devastated by more than a decade of civil war.

An article published by Al Jazeera highlights the experience of one family that decided to return after spending several years in Canada.

“We saw a country that needs everything, and we felt like any addition will make a huge difference,” one family member told the outlet.

The conflict, which began in 2011, forced millions of Syrians to flee their homes and undertake often dangerous journeys in search of safety. Many found refuge in neighbouring countries such as Lebanon and Türkiye, while others settled across the European Union, the United States and Canada.

Since the removal of former President Bashar al-Assad's government in 2024, Syria has seen a steady return of displaced citizens despite ongoing economic hardship, high energy costs and widespread destruction. Returnees are joining the country's efforts to rebuild its institutions, infrastructure and communities.

Many of those returning express optimism about rebuilding their homes and contributing to Syria's recovery, although the scale of the challenge remains immense,  as the World Bank estimates that reconstructing Syria will require at least $216 billion.

The country's new government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, has sought to accelerate the recovery by improving relations with the international community and successfully lobbying for the removal of sanctions that had weighed heavily on the Syrian economy.

Despite renewed optimism, humanitarian needs remain severe. According to Al Jazeera, around 15.6 million Syrians, or roughly two-thirds of the country's population, currently require humanitarian assistance.

During the war, millions of Syrians sought refuge abroad in neighbouring countries, Europe, North America and the Gulf, while many others were displaced internally after losing their homes to conflict or being forced to relocate for political reasons.

The outlet points out, however, that not all of the returned Syrians have come with plans to stay permanently. It notes that some have sought refuge in Syria from the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Lebanon, with estimates shared with Al Jazeera pointing to 400,000 such refugees.

As Syria works to rebuild not only its physical infrastructure but also its social fabric, thousands of returnees are making their way back to communities they left years ago, each bringing different experiences shaped by years of displacement.

Experts told Al Jazeera that maintaining long-term stability will depend on ensuring returns take place gradually rather than in large waves, as Syria currently lacks the capacity to accommodate a rapid influx of returning refugees.

They argue that alongside reconstructing cities, roads and public institutions, the country must also rebuild trust, social cohesion and the foundations of a stable society.

By Nazrin Sadigova