Fatima Hazzouri's return to her hometown of Homs, Syria, marked a moment of emotional homecoming after 13 years of displacement due to the civil war. The conflict, which began in 2011 between the government of former President Bashar al-Assad and rebel forces, displaced over seven million Syrians within the country and forced another six million to flee abroad. Although the war ended with a rebel victory in December 2024, the challenge remains to bring displaced Syrians back to their homes, many of which no longer exist. Fatima arrived in Homs as part of a convoy of buses and trucks filled with women and children returning from the north of Syria, where they had been living in makeshift shelters. The returnees were greeted with music and dance in a central square, a symbolic welcome after years of hardship. Despite the joy of returning, Fatima and her fellow returnees face significant challenges in rebuilding their lives. Homs, Syria's third-largest city, witnessed some of the most intense fighting during the war, leaving entire districts in ruins. Fatima's house was largely destroyed by government-fired rockets in 2012. The convoy was organized by Waqf al-Farah, a Dubai-based charity that provided food and clothing to the returnees. Fatima's family, like many others, will live in a rented flat until they can repair their old home. Her son-in-law, Abdulrazaq, who had been a teacher, is uncertain about finding work in Homs to support his family. The lack of jobs is a major issue for returnees, as highlighted by Khalifa al-Hakmi, who helped organize the convoy. Syria's new rulers, the former Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), face the enormous task of rebuilding the country. With three million homes destroyed and essential services like electricity still lacking, the challenges are immense. The lifting of U.S. sanctions by President Donald Trump has sparked hope for Syria's economic revival and reintegration into the international banking system, yet no comprehensive resettlement plan has been proposed. For now, returnees must rely on their own resources. Yasir al-Nagdali and his mother Siham, who returned to Homs three years ago, have managed to make their home livable again despite its initial state as a shell. Yasir, a trained carpenter, rebuilt their flat, and the family has slowly returned to a semblance of normal life, though memories of the war linger. Not everyone in Homs has been as fortunate. Artist Samira Madwar finds her former home beyond repair, destroyed by shelling, fire, and looting. Her return to the site evokes tears as she sifts through the rubble, finding remnants of her past, including family photographs and a disintegrated book she authored. Despite staying in Syria throughout the war, Samira feels the weight of loss, having watched many friends leave the country. One such friend, Ammar Azzouz, trained as an architect in Homs and now works at the University of Oxford. His return to the city is filled with emotion as he walks its streets for the first time since 2011. Although he has built a new life abroad, Ammar contemplates dividing his time between Syria and the UK, recognizing the potential to bring new skills and opportunities to his homeland. The rebuilding of Syria will require significant financial investment and the collaborative effort of Syrians both inside and outside the country. The United Nations reports that 90 percent of Syrians now live below the poverty line, underscoring the harsh realities that remain. Fatima, after unloading her family's belongings at their temporary residence, visits her old house, where only two rooms are habitable. The cost of necessary repairs is daunting, but for now, she focuses on the joy of being back in Homs after more than a decade away. The journey home for Fatima and many others is just beginning. Despite the challenges, the sense of hope and the possibility of rebuilding their lives and country drive their determination to move forward. The story of Fatima and her fellow returnees illustrates both the resilience and the daunting tasks that lie ahead in the reconstruction of Syria.