Displaced Syrians fear return, marking a demographic shift
8 years, 4 months ago

Displaced Syrians fear return, marking a demographic shift

Associated Press  

BEIRUT — Syria’s government says people who fled rebel zones that have since been retaken by the military are now welcome to return. “The main goal of the Syrian government is to return all displaced Syrians to their homes,” National Reconciliation Minister Ali Haidar told The Associated Press last month. In Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, government forces are besieging the rebel eastern districts, and the estimated 275,000 residents have refused calls to evacuate, in part because many are convinced they’ll never be allowed back. A 2014 report by Human Rights Watch identified seven opposition neighborhoods around the country razed by government authorities for “redevelopment.” It accused authorities of carrying out collective punishment.

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History of this topic

Opinion: After the Assad regime’s fall, will Syrian refugees return?
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Opinion: After the Assad regime’s fall, will Syrian refugees return?

LA Times  

Protesters in London call on the U.K. government to uphold humanitarian obligations and end the suspension of asylum applications for Syrians, which were paused after the Assad regime was overthrown in December. The sudden fall of Syria’s Assad regime in early December has raised an important question: Can the 6 million who became refugees during the 14-year civil war now …

First group of Syrians have returned to the country with the aid of the Dutch government
1 month, 4 weeks ago

First group of Syrians have returned to the country with the aid of the Dutch government

NL Times  

The first group of Syrian people returned to their homeland with the aid of the Dutch government last week. Asylum minister Marjolein Faber has said that 20 people returned to their country of origin. The service can also offer compensation to the people to help support them in their first days after returning. Although the safety situation in the country, …

Nearly 30% of Syrians want to return home, says UN refugee chief
2 months ago

Nearly 30% of Syrians want to return home, says UN refugee chief

Hindustan Times  

Almost 30% of the millions of Syrian refugees living in Middle Eastern countries want to return home in the next year, following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, up from almost none last year, the head of the U.N.'s refugee agency said. "We have seen the needle move, finally, after years of decline," Filippo Grandi told a small group of …

UN refugee chief calls for more help for Syria as refugees begin to return en masse
2 months ago

UN refugee chief calls for more help for Syria as refugees begin to return en masse

Associated Press  

DAMASCUS, Syria — The United Nations refugee chief said Saturday that some 200,000 refugees have returned to Syria from neighboring countries since the government of Bashar Assad was overthrown last month. However, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi cautioned during a visit to Damascus during which he met with Syria’s new de facto leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, that many of …

Syrians are ready to rebuild their country, but they need solidarity
2 months, 1 week ago

Syrians are ready to rebuild their country, but they need solidarity

Al Jazeera  

Syria is not ready to welcome back its refugees. It has been more than a month since Bashar al-Assad’s regime collapsed in Syria, marking the end of a 13-year-long revolution. Syria’s education system stands in a state of near collapse in many parts of the country as many schools are either destroyed or still used as shelters for the internally …

Most Syrian refugees in Turkey are watching the new leadership before returning home
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Most Syrian refugees in Turkey are watching the new leadership before returning home

NPR  

Most Syrian refugees in Turkey are watching the new leadership before returning home Hundreds of Syrian refugees in Turkey are making a return to Syria every day, according to the Turkish Interior Ministry. Turkey, Syria's neighbor to the north, has been hosting over 3 million Syrian refugees for over a decade. NPR's Fatma Tanis visited the Turkey-Syria border and joins …

More than 30,000 Syrians returned home since al-Assad’s fall, Turkiye says
3 months ago

More than 30,000 Syrians returned home since al-Assad’s fall, Turkiye says

Al Jazeera  

Many who fled the civil war hope to return, as Syrians hold day of remembrance for victims of al-Assad regime. Ankara would also open “a migration management office” in Aleppo, Syria’s second city, where most of the refugees living in Turkiye are from, he said without giving further details. ‘Interference’ Elsewhere on Friday, Iran’s top diplomat warned against “destructive interference” …

Uncertainty for Syrian refugees as Assad regime's fall brings optimism about heading home
3 months, 1 week ago

Uncertainty for Syrian refugees as Assad regime's fall brings optimism about heading home

ABC  

The fall of the brutal Assad regime in Syria is fuelling optimism among the millions of Syrian refugees scattered across the Middle East and around the world about returning home. Syrian refugee Sahar Mohamad Kamal lives in the Shatila refugee camp in Beirut, Lebanon and is waiting to see if it is safe to return home to Syria after the …

7,600 Syrians head home after Bashar al-Assad’s fall, Turkey reports
3 months, 2 weeks ago

7,600 Syrians head home after Bashar al-Assad’s fall, Turkey reports

Firstpost  

Anti-Syrian sentiment has been rising in Turkey, where pressure on the government to reduce the refugee population is high Syrians arrive to cross into Syria from Turkey at the Cilvegozu border gate, near the town of Antakya, southern Turkey, Monday, 9 December 2024. More than 7,600 Syrian migrants returned to their homeland through Turkey’s border in the five days following …

Syrians return to the homes they fled, only to find them levelled
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Syrians return to the homes they fled, only to find them levelled

Al Jazeera  

Damascus, Syria – Nizar al-Madani, 34, stood with tears in his eyes as he looked around Qaboun. “But today, there is no trace of these buildings… The regime has obliterated the neighbourhood’s features.” He was not the only one who came out to Qaboun to see what was left after the regime of Bashar al-Assad fell. “The fallen al-Assad regime …

Will 14 mn Syrian refugees return home now that Assad regime has fallen?
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Will 14 mn Syrian refugees return home now that Assad regime has fallen?

Firstpost  

With the collapse of Assad dynasty in Syria, it remains to be seen whether the country would see stability making way for the return of millions of refugees sheltering abroad or whether the country would fall into further chaos and trigger another wave of outward migration Syrians arrive to cross into Syria from Turkey at the Cilvegozu border gate, near …

A trickle of refugees are returning to Syria with hope in their hearts. But millions of migrants could yet be heading in the other direction, writes ALAN MENDOZA
3 months, 2 weeks ago

A trickle of refugees are returning to Syria with hope in their hearts. But millions of migrants could yet be heading in the other direction, writes ALAN MENDOZA

Daily Mail  

It is only human to rejoice at the scenes of unbridled celebration on the streets of Damascus and Aleppo over the past few days. Meanwhile, Syria descended into a civil war following Bashar al-Assad's clampdown on the 2011 Arab Spring rebellions against his regime, prompting millions of refugees to leave the country for the West, including Germany, where they were …

Europe asks: Is it time for Syria’s refugees to go home?
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Europe asks: Is it time for Syria’s refugees to go home?

Live Mint  

Days after Syria’s autocratic ruler fled the country, European politicians have reignited the debate over the region’s decade-old refugee crisis. “No country has received as many Syrians in the European Union as Germany… So far this year, the vast majority of those who got protection were Syrians," said Gerald Knaus, head of the European Stability Initiative, a Berlin-based think tank, …

Syrian refugees eagerly return home as Bashar al-Assad's regime falls
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Syrian refugees eagerly return home as Bashar al-Assad's regime falls

Hindustan Times  

Hundreds of Syrian refugees gathered at two border crossings in southern Turkey on Monday, eagerly anticipating their return home following the fall of Bashar Assad’s government. Thank God, the war is over.” Assad’s fall has sparked widespread joy among Turkey’s 3 million Syrian refugees, with many taking to the streets of Istanbul and other cities to celebrate. “As Syria gains …

Syria's endless struggle: Can refugees ever go home?
Trending News
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Syria's endless struggle: Can refugees ever go home?

India Today  

The civil war has left Syria devastated. By 2025, the UN predicts that 7.2 million people will be forced to flee their homes but remain inside Syria. Another 6.2 million Syrians are expected to live as refugees in nearby countries like Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and T¼rkiye. DISPLACEMENT HOTSPOTS From Aleppo’s shattered streets to Deir Ezzor’s arid plains, the human …

UN humanitarians assist displaced people in Lebanon to return home
3 months, 3 weeks ago

UN humanitarians assist displaced people in Lebanon to return home

China Daily  

Displaced people on their way home are pictured in southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, on Nov 27, 2024. UNITED NATIONS - UN humanitarians said on Monday that with the ceasefire in Lebanon, their colleagues and partners are aiding displaced people returning home and those remain displaced. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said challenges to those returning …

While Syrian refugees don’t want to return, officials in Lebanon and Syria see exodus as opportunity
4 months, 2 weeks ago

While Syrian refugees don’t want to return, officials in Lebanon and Syria see exodus as opportunity

Associated Press  

BEIRUT — Hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees have returned to their country since Israel launched a massive aerial bombardment on wide swathes of Lebanon in September. Lebanon’s caretaker Minister of Social Affairs Hector Hajjar told Russia’s Sputnik News last month that the war in Lebanon could yield “a positive benefit, an opportunity to return a large number of displaced …

Fear Rises as Israeli Airstrike Shatters Homes in Christian Village
5 months ago

Fear Rises as Israeli Airstrike Shatters Homes in Christian Village

New Indian Express  

An Israeli airstrike destroyed a residential building in the Christian village of Aito the day before, killing dozens of people. The strike was particularly unusual as it occurred in a traditionally safe area where many displaced families have fled. The attack has raised fears among local residents, who feel they have to choose between helping compatriots and protecting themselves. The …

7 EU members say conditions in Syria should be reassessed to allow voluntary refugee returns
10 months, 1 week ago

7 EU members say conditions in Syria should be reassessed to allow voluntary refugee returns

Associated Press  

NICOSIA, Cyprus — The governments of seven European Union member states said Friday the situation in Syria should be re-evaluated to allow for the voluntary return of Syrian refugees back to their homeland. The seven countries said the EU should further boost support for Lebanon to “mitigate the risk of even greater flows from Lebanon to the EU.” “Decisions as …

Hundreds of Syrians head home as anti-refugee sentiment surges in Lebanon
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Hundreds of Syrians head home as anti-refugee sentiment surges in Lebanon

LA Times  

A Syrian refugee carries her child as she prepares to return to Syria from the eastern Lebanese border town of Arsal on Tuesday. More than 300 Syrian refugees headed back home to Syria in a convoy on Tuesday, leaving two remote northeastern towns in crisis-stricken Lebanon where anti-refugee sentiment has been surging in recent months. A country of about 6 …

Scores of Syrians return home after years at camp housing people linked to the Islamic State group
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Scores of Syrians return home after years at camp housing people linked to the Islamic State group

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Scores of Syrian women …

As those who fled Israel’s border villages weigh whether to return, what hangs in the balance?
1 year ago

As those who fled Israel’s border villages weigh whether to return, what hangs in the balance?

Associated Press  

KIBBUTZ NAHAL OZ, Israel — Months after Hamas killed 1,200 people in an early-morning assault, Israeli communities ravaged in the attack remain mostly empty. Now the residents who fled these “kibbutzim” along the border with Gaza are wrestling with whether, how and when to return -- choices that have implications not just for their families, but also for the country. …

Caught between two wars: Syrians in Lebanon fear Israel-Hamas escalation
1 year, 5 months ago

Caught between two wars: Syrians in Lebanon fear Israel-Hamas escalation

Al Jazeera  

They escaped the war in Syria. Now another one’s looming, and Syrians in Lebanon fear it could force them to return home. “Returning to Syria is the last option for me,” Basil told Al Jazeera, in a barbershop in Lebanon’s capital Beirut. As the spectre of a regional war looms, many Syrians in Lebanon say that any major conflict could …

WORLD AFFAIRS | Syrian Refugees fear being forced back
1 year, 8 months ago

WORLD AFFAIRS | Syrian Refugees fear being forced back

The Hindu  

Published : Jul 20, 2023 14:37 IST - 6 MINS READ As Jordan hosted regional talks this spring aimed at ending Syria’s isolation after more than a decade of civil war, Syrian refugee Suzanne Dabdoob felt a deep pressure in her brain and in her ears, she said, a fear she had not felt since arriving to Jordan 10 years …

They fled Syria’s shattering civil war. Now, Syrian refugees in Jordan fear being forced to return
1 year, 8 months ago

They fled Syria’s shattering civil war. Now, Syrian refugees in Jordan fear being forced to return

Associated Press  

AMMAN, Jordan — As Jordan hosted regional talks this spring aimed at ending Syria’s isolation after more than a decade of civil war, Syrian refugee Suzanne Dabdoob felt a deep pressure in her brain and in her ears, she said, a fear she hadn’t felt since arriving to Jordan 10 years ago. Ahead of the meeting, Syrian President Bashar Assad …

They fled Syria's shattering civil war. Now, Syrian refugees in Jordan fear being forced to return
1 year, 8 months ago

They fled Syria's shattering civil war. Now, Syrian refugees in Jordan fear being forced to return

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy As Jordan hosted regional talks …

They fled Syria’s shattering civil war. Now, Syrian refugees in Jordan fear being forced to return
1 year, 8 months ago

They fled Syria’s shattering civil war. Now, Syrian refugees in Jordan fear being forced to return

LA Times  

As Jordan hosted regional talks this spring aimed at ending Syria’s isolation after more than a decade of civil war, Syrian refugee Suzanne Dabdoob felt a deep pressure in her brain and in her ears, she said, a fear she hadn’t felt since arriving to Jordan 10 years ago. Ahead of the meeting, Syrian President Bashar Assad agreed that 1,000 …

Heading home: Syrian refugees in Lebanon going back to Syria
2 years, 5 months ago

Heading home: Syrian refugees in Lebanon going back to Syria

Associated Press  

ARSAL, Lebanon — Hundreds of Syrian refugees boarded a convoy of trucks laden with mattresses, blankets, water and fuel tanks — and, in one case, a goat — in the remote Lebanese mountain town of Arsal on Wednesday, heading home to Syria. “The economic situation doesn’t allow us to provide for them.” Lebanon has given shelter to more than 1 …

Lebanon begins ‘voluntary’ repatriation of Syrian refugees
2 years, 5 months ago

Lebanon begins ‘voluntary’ repatriation of Syrian refugees

Al Jazeera  

Rights groups are concerned the scheme may contain elements of coercion and result in reprisals. Lebanese authorities say 751 Syrian refugees began returning to Syria on Wednesday under a voluntary programme coordinated by Lebanon’s General Security, the agency responsible for safeguarding the country’s borders. Lebanese President Michel Aoun had announced earlier this month that Beirut would soon begin sending Syrian …

Syrian refugees anxious over Lebanon's plans to deport them
2 years, 8 months ago

Syrian refugees anxious over Lebanon's plans to deport them

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. She managed to survive over the past decade, despite …

Syria marks 10 years since uprising began
4 years ago

Syria marks 10 years since uprising began

Al Jazeera  

Since the 2011 uprising turned into war, more than half a million people have been killed and millions more forced to flee their homes. Syrians are marking 10 years since peaceful protests against President Bashar al-Assad’s government erupted in March 2011, touching off a popular uprising that quickly turned into a full-blown war. Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr, reporting from the …

Influential countries are ‘turning their backs’ – economic destitution is driving Syria’s humanitarian crisis
4 years ago

Influential countries are ‘turning their backs’ – economic destitution is driving Syria’s humanitarian crisis

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. And so the NRC expects a …

Aid group: Syrians could be displaced for years to come
4 years ago

Aid group: Syrians could be displaced for years to come

Associated Press  

BEIRUT — Hundreds of thousands of Syrians face continued displacement each coming year that the conflict continues and economic conditions deteriorate, the Norwegian Refugee Council said Monday. The Syrian conflict, which marks 10 years later this month, has resulted in the largest displacement crisis since World War II, with an estimated 2.4 million people displaced in and outside Syria every …

Syrians should not be forced to return to an unsafe Syria
4 years, 7 months ago

Syrians should not be forced to return to an unsafe Syria

Al Jazeera  

Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons are facing increasingly difficult circumstances in camps inside Syria and a number of host countries. Amid this uncertainty, Lebanon’s Ministry of Social Affairs has put together a paper outlining plans to organise a mass return of Syrian refugees in close coordination with the Syrian regime and without any consideration for their basic right of …

Climate, not conflict, drove many Syrian refugees to Lebanon
5 years, 3 months ago

Climate, not conflict, drove many Syrian refugees to Lebanon

Salon  

People who fled Syria in recent years are often viewed as war refugees because of the violence that has engulfed much of the country since 2011. But those from the northern and northeastern parts of Syria may more accurately be viewed as climate refugees, fleeing not a worsening conflict but an increasingly severe drought. My recent interviews with Syrian refugees …

Turkey says 200 Syrian refugees returned home
5 years, 4 months ago

Turkey says 200 Syrian refugees returned home

Al Jazeera  

Defence ministry says number of returnees is expected to rise with the ‘re-establishment of peace and security’. Turkey‘s defence ministry announced about 200 Syrian refugees have returned home following Ankara’s offensive against Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria. “Close to 200 of our Syrian brothers who had fled the PKK/YPG … have voluntarily and safely returned to their homes and lands,” …

Turkey says 200 Syrian refugees returned home
5 years, 4 months ago

Turkey says 200 Syrian refugees returned home

Al Jazeera  

Defence ministry says number of returnees is expected to rise with the ‘re-establishment of peace and security’. Turkey‘s defence ministry announced about 200 Syrian refugees have returned home following Ankara’s offensive against Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria. “Close to 200 of our Syrian brothers who had fled the PKK/YPG … have voluntarily and safely returned to their homes and lands,” …

Syrians return home after years as unwelcome refugees, but there's little cause for celebration
6 years, 5 months ago

Syrians return home after years as unwelcome refugees, but there's little cause for celebration

ABC  

Mohammad Al Arabi's borrowed ute arrives before dawn at Beirut's Burg Hammoud sports stadium. Key points: About 5,000 Syrian refugees have returned from Lebanon this year Refugees wishing to return are vetted for links with rebels The UN does not support the refugees' return to Syria His wife and three boys sit in the low-slung tray of the white Toyota, …

First displaced Syrians along Jordan border return home
6 years, 8 months ago

First displaced Syrians along Jordan border return home

Al Jazeera  

Sources say a few families have began journey back after ceasefire deal reached between rebels and Russian negotiators. Jaber crossing, Jordan – Hours after a ceasefire deal ended more than two weeks of fierce fighting in southern Syria, the first of the thousands of families who sought shelter along the border with Jordan have started heading back to the areas …

'I Hope To God We Will Be Safe': Refugees In Lebanon Start Returning To Syria
6 years, 8 months ago

'I Hope To God We Will Be Safe': Refugees In Lebanon Start Returning To Syria

NPR  

'I Hope To God We Will Be Safe': Refugees In Lebanon Start Returning To Syria Enlarge this image toggle caption Bilal Hussein/AP Bilal Hussein/AP Hala hugged her 10-month-old baby close as she sat in the front seat of the pickup truck piled with the family's few possessions — thin mattresses, blankets, a small suitcase — as she waited to cross …

Syrian refugees 'to frightened' to return home: UN
7 years ago

Syrian refugees 'to frightened' to return home: UN

The Quint  

Beirut, March 10 Ongoing warfare in Syria has made millions of impoverished Syrians living in exile too fearful to fulfil their dream of going home, the UN refugee agency's chief Filippo Grandi said on Friday. "With fighting in parts of Syria as fierce as at any point during the conflict, refugees are understandably still too frightened to return," Grandi said.UNHCR …

Syrian refugees ‘at risk of being pushed to return’
7 years, 1 month ago

Syrian refugees ‘at risk of being pushed to return’

Al Jazeera  

Aid agencies warn hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees may be forced to go back to a still volatile country in 2018. The warning was issued by six humanitarian agencies amid what they called a “global anti-refugee backlash”, harsher conditions in regional countries who have taken in Syrians and a “misleading rhetoric” suggesting the country is safe for refugees to …

Will 2018 be the year of return to Syria?
7 years, 1 month ago

Will 2018 be the year of return to Syria?

Al Jazeera  

While many displaced Syrians will likely return to their homes this year, safety and stability is still a long way off. Today, in government buildings across Europe and the Middle East, officials debate policies that would return millions of Syrian refugees to their war-ravaged land. While many Syrians did return home last year, a far greater number fled. Some 66,000 …

‘People We Fled Were There in Germany’: Syrian Refugees Head Home
7 years, 1 month ago

‘People We Fled Were There in Germany’: Syrian Refugees Head Home

The Quint  

A small but growing number of refugees are returning to Syria, including some who made a dangerous sea journey to Europe to flee the war. Since Syria's war began in March 2011, some five million Syrian have poured across the border, mostly to Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey. But with a lack of job opportunities, harsh weather conditions and language barriers, …

In Lebanon, Syrian Refugees Met With Harassment And Hostility
7 years, 6 months ago

In Lebanon, Syrian Refugees Met With Harassment And Hostility

NPR  

In Lebanon, Syrian Refugees Met With Harassment And Hostility Enlarge this image toggle caption Hassan Ammar/AP Hassan Ammar/AP A neat row of potted plants, all in bloom, greets visitors at the entrance of the Jassem family home in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. Sponsor Message World Thousands Of Syrian Refugees To Return From Lebanon Thousands Of Syrian Refugees To Return From Lebanon …

Syrian refugees in Lebanon live in fear after Arsal
7 years, 7 months ago

Syrian refugees in Lebanon live in fear after Arsal

Al Jazeera  

Thousands of refugees living near Arsal were sent back to Syria under a deal aimed at quelling border violence. “It took me 15 days to build this one,” Abu Ahmad told Al Jazeera, sitting on a thin red mat inside the family’s most recent hand-built structure. “Imagine – as soon as I finished building the last one, the army came …

Departure of Syrian rebels and refugees from Lebanon raises specter of forced returns
7 years, 7 months ago

Departure of Syrian rebels and refugees from Lebanon raises specter of forced returns

LA Times  

Syrian civilians and fighters who were evacuated from northeastern Lebanon gather near buses after crossing into the rebel-held area of Al-Saan in Syria on Aug. 3. The transfer was part of an agreement negotiated between Hezbollah — the Iranian-backed Lebanese political party and militia — and the group Saraya Ahl al-Sham, which is affiliated with the Free Syrian Army rebel …

Nearly half a million displaced Syrians return home: UN
7 years, 8 months ago

Nearly half a million displaced Syrians return home: UN

Al Jazeera  

About 440,000 people displaced within the country returned to their homes since January, UN refugee agency says. Nearly half a million displaced Syrians have returned to their homes since the beginning of the year, mainly to find family members and check on property, the UN refugee agency said. He said the main factors prompting the displaced to return home were …

Syria conflict: Nearly half a million displaced Syrians return home, says UN report
7 years, 8 months ago

Syria conflict: Nearly half a million displaced Syrians return home, says UN report

Firstpost  

The agency said it had seen “a notable trend of spontaneous returns to and within Syria in 2017.” Geneva: Nearly half a million displaced Syrians have returned to their homes since the beginning of the year, mainly to find family members and check on property, the UN refugee agency said Friday. The agency said it had seen “a notable trend …

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