Regional Operational Framework For Refugee Return To Syria - Regional Durable Solutions

The Syria crisis has displaced nearly 5.7 million Syrian refugees into Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt, and over six million people within the Syrian Arab Republic (Syria). During 2018, the situation inside Syria evolved, leading to the cessation of large-scale fighting in much of the country. Nevertheless, refugees2 continue to require international protection and humanitarian support. Given the protracted crisis, opportunities for durable solutions are urgently needed so refugees can look to the future with hope and dignity. The comprehensive protection and solutions approach seeks to: i) support host country resilience; ii) ensure refugee protection, including access to basic social services, well-being and enable their self-reliance; iii) expand access to resettlement and other safe pathways (complementary pathways) to a third country, and; iv) plan for and support voluntary, safe, and dignified return of refugees to Syria. This document focuses on the fourth of these pillars, providing the regional interagency direction for protection, operations and planning related to refugee return.

The Regional Operational Framework for refugee return presented herein consolidates the common elements of those preparedness plans covering protection, operations and planning. While each country has specific plans and interventions relevant to its context, the framework provides an overview of these plans including specific sectoral objectives, activities, and existing standards and policies as related to refugee return. Though the country plans have elements that support the sustainability of returns, they do not encompass activities for reintegration support and early recovery in Syria.