After thirteen years of war and suffering, the regime that ruled Syria with an iron fist for so long has fallen, an event that has given new hope to Syrian refugees scattered by years of war. However, a thorny question that has long plagued Syrians in the diaspora has resurfaced: is it now time to return home?
For the more than six million Syrian refugees living in neighboring countries or across continents, the fall of the regime marked a significant symbolic and psychological turning point. Continued war and division had been their main obstacle to returning home. Now, with the collapse of the regime, Syrians find themselves facing challenges as harsh as the years of displacement, starting with fear of the future and the prospect of a new life under al-Jolani or others, and ending with questions about how to rebuild a new life in a homeland devastated by war.
From the first moment of the regime’s collapse, Syrian refugees around the world have spoken of returning. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has called for safe and voluntary returns, but this approach often ignores the complex reality in which refugees live. Their ability to return is not just a personal decision, but a delicate balance between security, economic stability and the ability to adapt again to a completely changed environment.
Many Syrians who left their towns and villages years ago now have neither shelter nor work there. Homes are destroyed or occupied, infrastructure is dilapidated and the economy is collapsing. For some, returning would mean starting over, a very risky undertaking given the lack of security and social safeguards.
Many wonder: if we return, who can guarantee that we will not face an unknown fate amid the transitional chaos that fills the political and economic vacuum?