The Question of Syrian Refugee Return

The fall of the Assad regime has brought back to the fore questions around Syrian refugee return, including in neighboring countries, where refugees have long faced discrimination and restrictive legal and regulatory frameworks. Yet conditions in Syria remain dire. Destruction of cities is widespread, access to basic services, housing, and property remains limited, and questions about the transitional government’s ability to maintain stability persist. Indeed, most refugees in neighboring host countries have opted to “wait and see,” as the situation in Syria continues to unfold.

Furthermore, international support for Syria’s reconstruction remains unclear, especially with US and EU sanctions still in place. Meanwhile, aid to host countries continues to decrease, increasing pressure on host countries to manage the refugee crisis.

Against this backdrop, the Middle East Council on Global Affairs (ME Council) and the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy & International Affairs (IFI), within the framework of the Arab Think Tank Network’s activities, hosted a webinar to explore the legal, political, and practical challenges that are shaping return—and what is needed to facilitate a safe, dignified, and voluntary return for Syrian refugees. The webinar addressed the following questions: What are the challenges and obstacles that act as push factors for return in respective host countries, and what factors are likely to influence Syrian refugees’ decision to return to Syria? What challenges and obstacles persist inside Syria that hinder a safe, dignified, and voluntary return, and how can they be addressed? What should the transitional Syrian government and international and regional actors do to facilitate a safe, dignified, and voluntary return?