An article by Bayram Balci and Solène Poyraz

Summary

The violent crackdown on the Syrian revolution by Bashar al-Assad’s barbaric regime has triggered one of the most serious humanitarian crises since the Second World War. Neighbouring countries—Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey—have taken in the largest numbers. However, the regime’s unexpected collapse in December 2024 has opened up new prospects for returning home. According to official figures, over a million Syrians have returned home since then. For the new Syrian government, the challenge is to demonstrate that living conditions are safe and dignified in order to encourage these returns, which are essential for the country’s reconstruction. Meanwhile, authorities in the region’s host countries are growing impatient at the prospect of shedding what they regard as a burden, with Syrian refugees in these countries often serving as scapegoats for economic and social difficulties. In this context, what are the real prospects for these people to return to Syria? By examining the cases of Jordan, Lebanon and, more specifically, Turkey, this article shows that the return process, far from being straightforward and inevitable, faces complex constraints and realities.