2.9.7. Conflict-induced displacement and return

Table of contents

IOM’s population movements assessments in Syria, which started as of February 2025, show that there was a decrease in Deir Ez-Zor’s IDP population between February 2025 (around 68 500 out of a total population of approximately 1.37 million, 5 %)1005 and April 2026 (around 28 000 out of a total population of approximately 1.4 million, 2 %).1006 In March 2026, Médecins du Monde Türkiye conducted a multisectoral needs assessment in Deir Ez-Zor governorate covering 200 households, including 12 IDP households. The main barriers for return cited by the IDP respondents included destruction of homes and security concerns.1007 UNHCR estimated that, as of 21 May 2026, 239 752 individuals had returned to locations in Deir Ez-Zor governorate from internal displacement since December 20241008 and 44 636 had returned to the governorate from abroad within the same period.1009

  • 1005

    IOM, Syrian Arab Republic – Community Baseline Assessment – Round 1 – February 2025, 6 March 2025, url, p. 8

  • 1006

    IOM, Syrian Arab Republic – Population Mobility and Baseline Assessment – Round 15 – April 2026, 18 May 2026, url, p. 7

  • 1007

    Médecins du Monde Türkiye, Multisectoral Needs Assessment Report - Deir Ezzor Governorate, Northeast Syria (March 2026), 14 April 2026, url, p. 2

  • 1008

    UNHCR, Syrian Arab Republic: Comprehensive Overview of IDPs and IDP Returns Dashboard [Map], 21 May 2026, url

  • 1009

    UNHCR, Syrian Arab Republic: Comprehensive Overview of Refugee Returns Dashboard [Map], 21 May 2026, url