Ahmad Baccora, Coordinator of the Syrian Opposition Coalition’s (SOC) Refugee and Displaced Persons Working Group, has voiced deep concern over international reports highlighting the plight of Syrians affected by the escalating conflict between Israeli occupation and Hezbollah terrorist militia in Lebanon and Syria. He emphasized that Syrian civilians fleeing the violence face severe risks and displacement, exacerbating the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Baccora referenced a statement from the UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/57/L.11) that underscored Syria’s unsuitability for refugee returns due to persistent violations, including arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, and torture.
He also cited a recent Human Rights Watch report, which documented that Syrians fleeing from Lebanon face risks of repression and persecution by the Assad regime, including enforced disappearance and torture. The organization documented four cases of detention in recent months, which, according to Baccora, underscore the lack of any safe environment for returnees and the life-threatening risks involved.
Additionally, Baccora referenced a report by the Syrian Network for Human Rights, documenting the detention of 26 individuals, including one woman, who returned from Lebanon between September 23 and October 25, 2024. One detainee died from torture in regime detention centers.
Baccora stressed that these incidents clearly illustrate the severe dangers facing returnees and that the regime’s assurances of safety lack credibility. He added that a recent report from the Access Center for Human Rights confirmed that Syrians fleeing Lebanon endure harsh living conditions, including lack of basic services and discrimination, prompting many to consider returning to Syria despite the risks.
Baccora also criticized recent remarks by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, describing them as reckless, hasty, and misleading. He argued that Grandi’s confidence in the regime’s ability to guarantee the safety of returnees lacks a factual basis and ignores the real risks faced by refugees.
All international human rights organizations, Baccora noted, disagree with Grandi’s stance and rely on clear evidence of the dangers in Syria. He urged the High Commissioner to correct his position and acknowledge that Syria is not a safe environment for returning refugees, warning that such statements jeopardize refugees’ lives and directly threaten human rights.
Baccora emphasized the UNHCR’s responsibility to uphold refugee rights and to ensure their safety if they return. He also stressed the importance of cooperation with international partners committed to human rights and the implementation of relevant UN resolutions, including Resolutions 2118 and 2254, as essential to achieving comprehensive peace that safeguards Syrian rights and ensures voluntary, safe returns.
In closing, Baccora called on the international community to intensify efforts to support Syrians fleeing from Lebanon and Syria, ensure their protection, and provide dignified living conditions. He reaffirmed that sustainable solutions require a commitment to human rights and international collaboration to stabilize Syria.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
