London – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced on Friday that large numbers of Syrians, who had fled the war in their country, have started to return home.

It announced that some 603,000 people have returned to their cities and villages, in what that IOM said was the largest wave of returning refugees.

The refugees making their way back came from various regions insides Syria and outside the country, such as Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan or Iraq.

The IOM explained that Syrians decided to head back to their country out of the need to protect their homes and property. It also said that an improved security and economic situation in the country was another motivator.

Problems of integration in the host country was another factor in their desire to return.

Some 800,000 people remain internally displaced in Syria, added the IOM.

The Syrian war, which has entered its seventh year, has left hundreds of thousands of dead and displaced nearly half of the population of 22 million.