Ahmad Baccora, the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) ‘s Refugee and Displaced Persons Working Group coordinator, presented the group’s activity report to the SOC’s General Assembly during its regular meeting.
Baccora provided an overview of the situation of Syrian refugees in various host countries, focusing particularly on conditions in Lebanon and Türkiye. He highlighted the difficult circumstances Syrian refugees in Lebanon are currently facing, aggravated by the intensifying bombardment by the Israeli occupation against Lebanon. Refugees are left with limited options, including returning to regime-held areas, while also facing discriminatory practices by the Lebanese authorities. These authorities, he noted, have obstructed both international and local organizations from providing essential shelter, food, and medicine to the refugees.
Baccora pointed out that thousands of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, many of whom are wanted by the Assad regime, have been forced to return to regime-controlled areas with their families in recent days. He warned that the fate of those returning is fraught with danger, citing documented cases of refugees killed in the regime’s detention centers.
Baccora touched on the confidence expressed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, in the Assad regime’s ability to ensure the safety of returning Syrians. He emphasized that this confidence completely contradicts the documented realities on the ground. He stressed that involvement in facilitating the return of Syrian refugees without genuine guarantees or presenting a misleading picture of the security situation in Syria, exposes the High Commissioner to legal consequences, as this constitutes a violation of refugee rights and puts them at real risk.
The report also outlined the efforts of the Refugee and Displaced Persons Working Group to address the needs of Syrian refugees. These efforts include meetings with Turkish officials and virtual discussions with Lebanese authorities, as well as coordination with international and local organizations.
Baccora emphasized that the challenges driving Syrians to seek refuge and displacement remain unresolved, with ongoing attacks by the Assad regime and its allies targeting IDP camps. He stressed that these continuous assaults worsen the humanitarian, security, and economic conditions, further forcing more Syrians to seek refuge beyond the country’s borders.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
