Hundreds of thousands return to Syria, formerly governed by Assad, from Turkey

The Syrian civil war, which began in 2011, has displaced millions of people, many of whom have sought refuge in neighbouring countries. However, recent developments have seen a significant number of Syrians returning to their homeland.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is offering support to returnees, providing small-scale housing repairs, cash assistance, and core relief items. Despite this, the agency admits that it is unable to determine whether Syria as a whole is safe to return to, as parts of the country are safe while others remain less secure.

A notable return wave has been observed this year, with over 200,000 Syrian refugees returning from Lebanon. However, the rise in returns is not evident in Germany, with only 1,867 Syrians leaving with federal assistance by the end of August.

The Baathist regime in Syria fell last December, and since then, Turkey has eased restrictions on its border crossings with Syria. This has led to an increase in daily crossings, with 2,500 people crossing daily after June 2024. As of December 8, 2024, 474,018 Syrian nationals have returned from Turkey.

Since 2016, more than 1.2 million Syrian nationals have voluntarily returned to Syria from Turkey. In some former opposition strongholds, practically all houses are destroyed, with residual munitions making staying in these areas dangerous. This, coupled with the still difficult security situation in some regions, often leaves families struggling with the decision to return.

Janine Lietmeyer, a board member of World Vision Germany, highlighted this issue, stating that the decision to return is a complex one for many Syrian families.

The UNHCR's 2025 plan only reached a fifth of its needed funds, and support for returns is not limited to federal programs. State-level programs in Germany also contribute to the efforts, while others depart without official aid.

It's worth noting that many refugees who arrived in Germany in 2015 or 2016 now meet the criteria for naturalization. However, since the change in the German government, applications from Syrian nationals are generally not being decided upon, except for a few exceptions and cases where it is clarified whether another European country is responsible for the procedure.

One in three Syrian families needs housing support, and about 80% of Syrian housing was damaged during the civil war. Despite financial incentives and support programs aimed at encouraging return, the number of Syrians returning from Germany remains relatively low.

The majority of Syrians who fled to Lebanon remain there, with needs remaining high as humanitarian aid decreases. This underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Syrian refugees, whether they choose to return home or continue their lives in exile.