The United Nations is not playing a significant or effective role in the Syrian refugee repatriation process, Syria's Minister of State for National Reconciliation Affairs Ali Haidar told Sputnik on Tuesday.
DAMASCUS (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 04th September, 2018) The United Nations is not playing a significant or effective role in the Syrian refugee repatriation process, Syria's Minister of State for National Reconciliation Affairs Ali Haidar told Sputnik on Tuesday.
In August, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said that the operations to return refugees to Syria, which are, in particular, being carried out with the help of Russia, were premature, claiming that the conditions in the country were too dangerous for mass repatriation.
"Now the UN does not play any effective, significant or clearly positive role in the return of refugees," Haidar said.
Syria is gradually recovering from a now seven-year conflict. Russia actively supports the voluntary return of refugees, and assists the Syrian government in rebuilding infrastructure and providing humanitarian aid. According to the Russian Defense Ministry's estimates, some 300,000 Syrians have returned to the country from abroad over the past 2.5 years, while more than 1.7 million Syrian refugees in nine countries have expressed their desire to repatriate.
In July, Russia set up a refugee center in Syria to receive, relocate and accommodate civilians who return to the country from neighboring states.
