Return to the ruins: Syria's displaced struggles for survival

Return to the ruins: Syria's displaced struggles for survival

al-Hawash, Syrien - More and more Syrians take the step back to their homeland, despite the devastating conditions that they find there. The return movement intensified, especially after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. According to a report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), almost 750,000 displaced people have been visited their place of origin since November 2024, with a total of 1.87 million returnees have been registered since the regime has fallen. This number illustrates the huge desire of the refugees to return to a Syria at least partially destroyed.

An example of this return is AREF Shamtan, 73, who has returned to the badly damaged community of Al-Hawash in the central province of Hama. After years in a display-person camp, together with his family, he chose a life in the destruction. He built a tent near his damaged house and tried to secure his livelihood with the cultivation of wheat. However, his return also shows the challenges: in the absence of fundamental services such as water, electricity and medical care, the local population lives under precarious conditions.

challenges in everyday life

for Shamtan and others who have returned, economic uncertainty is one of the greatest hurdles. According to IOM, 90% of returnees suffer from poverty. Local officials like Abdel Ghafour al-Khatib confirm that many people want a return, but the financial means for the trip are missing. In addition, many live under extremely difficult conditions, so that 28% of the returnees live in damaged or unfinished buildings.

The principle of voluntary, safe and informed return required by UNHCR is difficult by the current humanitarian crisis. Over six million Syrian refugees think about a return, but they often weigh the political and security policy conditions. The IOM has found that the majority of the returnees live in increasingly uncertain conditions, with 750,000 displaced people have returned since November 2024 and more than six million have continued to be sold within Syria.

help and support from the IOM

In the course of the return movement, IOM reactivated its data collection measures in Damascus to improve coordination with UN partners and local communities. The IOM plans to achieve more than 1.1 million people with urgently needed help in the first half of 2025. Amy Pope, the IOM General Director, emphasizes that the humanitarian crisis in Syria is enormous and the need for support is still of great importance.

The returnees, like Alhassan, who successfully returned with friends and relatives, often have no choice than living in damaged houses. The desire for a fresh start and reunification with the family outweigh the challenges of everyday life for many returnees. Nevertheless, the situation remains tense and many people have to prepare for the difficulties that a return brings. The UNHCR ensures that this return takes place under the best conditions and provides support for everyone involved.

The current return movements clearly show that despite all destruction and challenges, the desire to return home has been unbroken. Apart from the immediate humanitarian aid, it remains crucial to find sustainable solutions for people in Syria and to improve the basic living conditions.