Washington Warns: Syria Unsafe for Refugee Return Despite New Displacement Wave
International concerns about Syrian refugees' return reflect the Syrian regime's continued violations and lack of security guarantees for returnees
November 21, 2024, 11:08 pm

Washington Warns: Syria Unsafe for Refugee Return Despite New Displacement Wave

اللاجئون السوريون \ تعبيرية

Najat Rochdi, Deputy UN Special Envoy to Syria, highlighted the continuing state of war and division in the country, emphasizing the need for international cooperation to address the worsening Syrian crisis.

U.S. Deputy Representative Robert Wood warned of the Syrian regime's violations against returnees from Lebanon, rejecting claims that any part of Syria is safe for refugee return.

During her briefing to the Security Council, Rochdi stressed the urgent need for a ceasefire according to Resolution 2254, confirming the existence of more than 100,000 detainees and missing persons in Syria.

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The UN official expressed concern about ongoing violations of the disengagement agreement in the Golan, calling on the Syrian regime to ensure the safety of displaced people from Lebanon.

Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations at the Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, revealed that 13 million people suffer from food insecurity in Syria, including 1.4 million in the northwest requiring urgent assistance.

Wosornu explained that Israeli raids on border crossings between Syria and Lebanon hindered humanitarian aid delivery, while more than 450,000 people fled from Lebanon to Syria since late September.

She noted that one-third of the displaced are Syrians, half are children, and 7,000 are pregnant women, multiplying pressure on the already exhausted infrastructure.

Analysts view that the new displacement wave exacerbates Syria's humanitarian crisis, especially with escalating regional tension and Gaza war implications.

Estimates indicate that deteriorating conditions in Lebanon may push more displaced people toward Syria, despite international concerns about regime violations and lack of suitable conditions for safe return.

Experts confirm that the complexity of the Syrian scene requires a comprehensive approach addressing the crisis's political, humanitarian, and security dimensions, while ensuring protection of civilians and displaced people from various forms of violations.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”