UNHCR urges reconstruction in northeast Syria to spur refugee returns from Iraq

According to UNHCR’s Iraq representative Toby Harward, reconstruction efforts in Syria need to extend into the Kurdish-controlled northeast if displaced Syrians are to return from Iraq. He points to ongoing memorandums of understanding and investment plans, but says they must reach these areas to address the lack of jobs and security that refugees cite as primary obstacles. Iraq currently hosts over 300,000 Syrian refugees, the majority residing in the autonomous Kurdistan Region, where they benefit from relatively progressive policies.

Nevertheless, Harward warns that lingering Arab-Kurdish tensions and occasional unrest, such as recent demonstrations in Hasakah, undermine confidence in a sustainable return. He also highlights the need for social integration measures, especially for families returning from camps like Al Hol, and calls for broader solutions for internally displaced Iraqis, including Yazidis still living in camps near Duhok and Zakho.