In December 2024, an era of fragile new hope emerged in Syria with the overthrow of the Assad regime and the end of a brutal civil war that displaced millions. In the last year, more than one million Syrian refugees returned to the country, and millions more displaced inside the country returned to their hometowns and cities. 

Today, Syrian refugees in the region continue to face one question that does not necessarily have a simple answer: The war is over. Will you go back home?

While hope is growing in Syria, refugees living in countries like Türkiye, Lebanon and Jordan are carefully weighing their options and considering the many challenges they will face if they return. Is there access to health care? Do their children have a school to go to? Is there a family home to return to? 

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, continues to support refugees as they navigate these difficult decisions and remains committed to ensuring that any return, when it happens, is voluntary and takes place in conditions of safety and dignity.

Meet Alia, Ahmad and Nemat: three refugees USA for UNHCR recently met in Jordan. Learn more about their decisions to remain there and why they continue to need our support.