Syrian refugee returns set to slow

More than 3 million Syrians have returned home since the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's rule a year ago but a decline in global funding could deter others.



The U.N. refugee agency said on Monday some 1.2 million refugees in addition to 1.9 million internally displaced people have gone back home following the civil war that ended with Assad's overthrow, but millions more are yet to return.



The agency said much more support was needed to ensure the trend continues.



Over 5 million refugees remain outside Syria's borders, mostly in neighbouring countries like Jordan and Lebanon.



According to a report to donors in Geneva last week that there was a risk that those Syrians who are returning might even reverse their course and come back to host states.



Overall, Syria's $3.19 billion humanitarian response is 29% funded this year, according to U.N. data, at a time when donors like the United States and others are making major cuts to foreign aid across the board.



The World Health Organization sees a gap emerging as aid money drops off before national systems can take over.