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Are you considering returning to Syria? Do you need support with transportation?

UNHCR and IOM have launched the Organized Voluntary Return Programme. This programme offers transportation support arranged by UNHCR and IOM and a one-time return cash grant of USD 100 per family member returning to Syria.

• Next movement: Thursday, 11 September
• Departure point in Lebanon: Beirut, via Masna official crossing point
• Intended area of return in Syria: Idlib, Hama, and Homs

To reserve your spot:

• You must express interest by *26 August*. Call UNHCR at 04726111 for counselling and support
• You must be able to reach the departure point in Beirut *on your own*

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As of 1 September, UNHCR Reception Centers in North and Bekaa will be permanently closed. The Reception Center in Tyre remains closed.

If you are a refugee in Lebanon, all future in-person appointments scheduled with UNHCR will occur at the UNHCR Reception Center in Beirut.

Remember: You must have a pre-schedule appointment to access the Reception Center. When you schedule an appointment, UNHCR will share the address and instructions.

⚠️Do not approach any Reception Center without an appointment. UNHCR will not be able to assist you.

If you are based in Lebanon and are concerned about presenting yourself or your family at the Beirut Reception Center: express your concern to the UNHCR specialist scheduling your appointment or contact us for support: help.unhcr.org/lebanon/contact-us.

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The NCC is currently experiencing a higher volume of callers than usual. It may take several weeks for a UNHCR specialist to respond to non-emergency requests.

For information on available assistance and services in Lebanon, browse HELP.

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UNHCR and partners are aware of reports of people contacting refugees and falsely claiming to represent humanitarian organizations. They are asking for private photos in exchange for assistance.

Do not believe them and do not share any private pictures!

Remember:

• All humanitarian assistance is free of charge
• No one should ever ask you for money, private photos, any type of favor, or anything else in exchange for help
• You have the right to say NO to any request that makes you uncomfortable

If someone claiming to be from UNHCR or another local or international organization behaves inappropriately, report it immediately.

To report concerns safely and confidentially to UNHCR:

• Call: 04726111 (Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm)
• Write: Online Contact Form
• Report: UNHCR Inspector General Office:
• By confidential email: [email protected]
• By online complaint form
• By post: Rue de Montbrillant 94, Case postale 2500, 1211 Genève, Switzerland
• Reach out: to someone you trust in your community, such as Outreach Volunteers or partner NGOs

All reports are taken seriously and will be handled with confidentiality and care. Your safety, dignity, and rights matter.

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Be alert to scams through social media promising assistance, resettlement, or other services. These may involve individuals falsely claiming to work with or represent UNHCR, putting you at risk of fraud, exploitation, or even kidnapping for ransom.

Always remember that UNHCR does not ask for money for its services and only communicates through official channels.

Please do not share your personal information, including CVs, with any third parties claiming to offer help on behalf of UNHCR.

To learn how to protect yourself from fraud, how to report suspicious activity, and the consequences of fraud, visit Report Fraud.

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Are you considering returning to Syria?

The General Security Office (GSO) has announced administrative facilitation measures for Syrian refugees intending to return to Syria between 1 July and 30 September 2025. The details of this circular can be found here.

To complement these measures, UNHCR is officially launching its Self-Organized Voluntary Return Program, providing a one-time return cash grant to facilitate the voluntary return to Syria through official border crossing points.  

For more information:

👉 Visit the Voluntary Return to Syria page to help guide your decision.

Still have questions?

📞 Call UNHCR at 04726111 (Mon–Fri, 8 AM–5 PM)
📩 Or message us through the Online Contact Form

We will get back to you. We can provide advice on:

• Exit procedures
• Important documents
• Medical/vaccination info
• Education records
• Status of your UNHCR file in Lebanon

🔔 Reminder: All humanitarian assistance is free of charge.

If someone asks you for money in exchange for assistance or resettlement: pause, reflect, walk away, verify with UNHCR.

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Please note that the following message is a verified information notice from UNHCR Syria related to the one-time reintegration cash grant provided by UNHCR in Syria.

For more information on the reintegration cash grant in Syria and the return cash grant in Lebanon, please visit the Return to Syria > General Guidance page.

For trusted information on services and assistance available in Syria for refugees returning home, visit the Syria is Home website.

If you are in Lebanon and planning to return to Syria, call UNHCR’s National Call Center at 04726111 for individual counselling and more detailed advice and support.

Remember all services provided by UNHCR and its partners are always free of charge.  Keep your personal information and identification documents safe and confidential. Only share personal information with trusted aid agencies and authorities when asked.

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Please be informed that UNHCR’s National Call Center is closing at 12:00pm on Thursday, 5 June, and will be closed on Friday, 6 June for Eid el Adha. We wish you a peaceful holiday.

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Starting 1 December 2025, due to a global shortage in funding, UNHCR will no longer be able to provide hospitalization support for refugees residing in Lebanon. This includes maternity delivery services and acute emergency hospital admissions.

Additionally, as of this date, NextCare representatives will no longer be present in contracted hospitals, and there will be no agreements with hospitals for hospitalization of refugees known to UNHCR.

UNHCR is actively engaging with donors and health partners to advocate for and seek alternative support for refugee hospitalization where possible.

For updates, please visit: help.unhcr.org/lebanon/welcome/access-to-health-assistance

Between 4 March and 9 April 2025, UNHCR and partners* met with close to 600 women, men, youth, female-headed households, older persons and persons with disabilities covering all governorates in Lebanon. Outreach Volunteers, Disabled People Organizations and other community-based organizations were also consulted. The aim was to seek the community’s views on returns and “Go and See” visits in order to inform the design of progammes and activities. The community dialogue is one of the many ways UNHCR ensures that your feedback informs decision-making.

The report provides a summary of the feedback provided, especially around:

• Current return practices, trends and intentions
• Drivers influencing return decision-making
• Community reflections on “Go and See” visits
• Community capacities and initiatives supporting return
• Return information needs and preferred information channels

The report concludes with a set of recommendations that community dialogue participants suggested to UNHCR and partners.

*Al Hadatha, Al Ribat, Amel Association, Caritas Lebanon, Himaya, IOCC, INTERSOS, Makhzoumi Foundation, Nabad and SHEILD.