Syria: Refugees

(asked on 25th April 2022) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to monitor and reduce the number of forced deportations of Syrian refugees from (a) Lebanon, (b) Turkey and (c) other neighbouring countries.


Answered by
Amanda Milling Portrait
Amanda Milling
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
This question was answered on 28th April 2022

Syrians have a right to return to their homes voluntarily, in safety and dignity, in line with International Refugee, Human rights and Humanitarian Law. Any Syrian refugees volunteering to return to Syria must be doing so of their own free will as verified by UNHCR. Involuntary or forced returns (refoulement) are a violation of International Refugee, Human rights and Humanitarian Law.

The UK recognises the generosity of Turkey, Lebanon and other neighbouring counties in hosting millions of refugees from Syria and elsewhere. Our strong bilateral relationship and dialogue with Turkey on humanitarian and development issues ensure we remain engaged on the issue of refugees.

Likewise with Lebanon and other neighbouring countries where we have made it clear it is important they abide by the international commitments they have made on refugees and continue to uphold the principles of non-refoulement to enable refugee registration by UNHCR to resume.

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