Jordan calls for creating conditions that would enable voluntary return of Syrians

AMMAN, Jordan

ordan on Thursday called for creating conditions that would enable Syrian refugees to return home voluntarily.

Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi discussed the issue with Filippo Grandi, the UN high commissioner for refugees, during a meeting in Amman, a Jordanian Foreign Ministry statement said.

The talks focused on the ongoing cooperation regarding Syrian refugees and the developments in Syria.

Safadi stressed the importance of ensuring conditions for a voluntary return, saying the key to resolving the refugee crisis lies in their safe and voluntary repatriation.

Millions of Syrians have taken refuge in Arab and Western countries, with Jordan hosting around 1.3 million. About half of them hold refugee status, while the rest entered before Syria’s 2011 civil war through family ties, trade, or marriage.

Jordan’s Interior Ministry reported that following the fall of the Bashar Assad regime, thousands of Syrians have returned to their country through the Nasib-Jaber border crossing.

Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups took control of Damascus on Dec. 8, ending the Baath Party’s regime, which had been in power since 1963.

The next day, a transitional government led by Mohammad al-Bashir took over, appointed by Ahmed al-Sharaa, then head of Syria’s new administration, who was appointed in as interim president on Wednesday.