Lebanon minister says 380,000 Syrian refugees have returned home under safe return plan

Lebanon’s Minister of Social Affairs, Haneen Sayed, said 380,000 Syrian refugees have returned to Syria so far under the government’s return plan, launched by the ministerial committee in July 2025.

In a post on X, Sayed said the update was presented during a meeting of the Lebanon Response Plan (LRP) committee, attended by Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri. 

She noted that those who returned have been permanently removed from the U.N. refugee agency’s database, while an additional 74,000 Syrians have expressed their intention to return before the end of the year.

Sayed said the progress reflects the government’s firm commitment to ensuring a sustainable return of displaced Syrians to their country and underscores the effectiveness of cooperation with national and international partners.

She also addressed humanitarian aid spending, saying that in 2024, cash-based assistance in Lebanon totalled $434.4 million, accounting for 42% of the LRP budget. The aid was delivered through 67 partners with support from 27 donors.

However, Sayed pointed to a recent study showing that delivery costs through some organizations can reach up to 41% of total budgets, meaning that distributing $1 in cash assistance can cost as much as $0.68. 

As a result, she said the government has decided that all cash assistance to Lebanese beneficiaries will be channeled through the national “Aman” program by the end of 2025 to enhance transparency and reduce waste.