Syrian Arab Republic — Communities of Return Index — Round 5 (5 April - 10 May 2026)

Syrian Arab Republic Source: International Organization for Migration Please refer to the attached file. Introduction Approximately 2.04 million IDPs have returned to their areas of origin in the Syrian Arab Republic (hereafter referred to as Syria) since the shift in power on 8 December 2024. The political, humanitarian, and mobility landscape continues to develop alongside persisting return intentions. The regional escalation in hostilities that began on 28 February 2026 disrupted essential services, triggered displacement, generated cross-border movements from Lebanon, and temporarily restricted access along key routes. Although conditions have since stabilised following the ceasefire announced on 17 April 2026, movements from Lebanon continue, adding pressure to an already complex return environment characterized by sustained return flows, emerging vulnerabilities, and evolving operational challenges. Within this dynamic landscape, the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) is releasing the fifth round of the Communities of Return Index (CoRI). This series monitors conditions in areas already witnessing or anticipating return movements, as well as communities hosting mixed populations of returnees and residents, and potential locations of return, such as urban areas and highly populated communities. The assessment evaluates whether these locations offer an environment conducive to safe, dignified, and sustainable reintegration. As of April 2026, the population of Syria is estimated at 27.90 million. Of this total, approximately 5.87 million individuals remain internally displaced, while 2.04 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) have returned to their areas of origin since December 2024. In addition, an estimated 1.34 million individuals have arrived from abroad and are currently residing across the country’s 14 governorates.1 For this report, the term “returnees” encompasses both IDPs who have returned and indi