Jordan says 18,000 Syrians returned home since Assad’s fall

Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya announced that approximately 18,000 Syrians have returned to their country from Jordan since the fall of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime on December 8.

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During a visit to the Ramtha Border Crossing with Syria’s Daraa province on Thursday, accompanied by Minister of Public Works and Housing Maher Abu Al-Samen, Al-Faraya inspected the facilities and noted an increase in passenger and truck traffic at the Jaber Border Crossing since November 8 – according to the Jordan News Agency (Petra).

Al-Faraya highlighted that 2,000 trucks, both incoming and outgoing, crossed through Jaber since November 6.

Additionally, 18,000 Syrians returned to Syrian territory during this period. This number includes Syrian refugees, residents, and transit passengers arriving from other countries via Jordan. Of this total, 2,800 are refugees who were living in camps or various regions across the Kingdom.

The minister also emphasized the inspection of the border center’s infrastructure, focusing on improving passenger movement and customs operations. He noted that three customs centers are now operational to expedite customs declarations.

Minister of Public Works and Housing Maher Abu Al-Samen revealed plans for a comprehensive upgrade of the Jaber and Karameh border centers. He stated that detailed designs for these centers would be finalized by the end of the first quarter next year, with Jaber prioritized for initial development in coordination with the Interior Ministry.

Abu Al-Samen added that most border facilities require either partial or complete renovation. He pointed out that the Karameh Border Crossing faces significant challenges, including water issues and flooding, necessitating a full-scale reconstruction of the site.