Syrian Refugees and the Question of Post-Liberation

Introduction:

In 2025, the issue of Syrian refugees saw significant changes, particularly after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024. More than 1.5 million Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) have returned to their areas since the beginning of the year, including 300,000 refugees from Lebanon alone. Estimates indicate that up to 3.5 million refugees and IDPs may return during the year, highlighting the urgent need to support reconstruction and reintegration efforts.

Despite this mass return, challenges remain. Around 16.5 million people in Syria still need humanitarian assistance and protection, and ongoing hostilities in some areas continue to hinder aid access and affect the stability of those returning.

Meanwhile, the United States and the European Union have lifted economic sanctions on Syria, which could contribute to facilitating the recovery and development process.

In Lebanon, political calls for the deportation of Syrian refugees have intensified, with some officials considering their presence to be an economic and social burden. Nonetheless, UN surveys have shown that 35,500 Syrian refugees in Lebanon are willing to return within the next 12 months if they have the financial resources and necessary support.

Impacts of Return:

In 2025, the return of Syrian refugees became one of the most significant phenomena affecting the country’s social, economic, and political landscape, after years of forced displacement caused by the war. This mass return had wide-ranging impacts, prompting a reassessment of the structural and societal aspects tied to the process of stabilization and reconstruction.

1. Social Impacts:

The return of refugees contributed to restoring the social fabric after a long period of dispersion. In stable areas, there was a reunification of families and a strengthening of social bonds. However, this process has not been without complexities, as returnees faced challenges in adapting to economic and political changes, as well as dealing with the psychological aftermath of war. This created a need for community support programs to assist the most vulnerable groups, especially orphans and families who lost their breadwinners, along with initiatives to promote social cohesion given the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the returnees.

1. Economic Impacts:

The return of refugees has stimulated the local economy by increasing demand for housing, basic services, and job opportunities. Areas that have seen a high concentration of returnees have become more active in terms of local investment and reconstruction projects. Nevertheless, the pressure on resources and infrastructure has posed a significant challenge, with some cities suffering from shortages of housing, water, and electricity. This has compelled government and community actors to find sustainable solutions to absorb the influx of returnees.

Moreover, the countries that hosted refugees for many years have also been affected by this return, experiencing a decline in international support dedicated to them, which has pushed them to restructure their own economic and social policies.

1. Political Impacts:

On the political front, the return of refugees has been a crucial factor in reshaping the Syrian political scene, as many of them have become involved in reconstruction efforts and in shaping the country’s future. Returnees have become part of the new political dynamics, whether by participating in national reconciliation initiatives or by contributing to discussions about public institution reforms. However, challenges to security and stability have not entirely disappeared, with some areas still experiencing security-related unrest, which places constraints on the full reintegration of returnees.

Challenges:

In an internal discussion within the Research and Studies Department of the Syrian Future Movement, we tried to identify the challenges facing the return of Syrian refugees, based on the principle that understanding the problem is half the solution. Five main challenges emerged:

1. Social Challenges:

At the forefront is social reintegration, as returnees face difficulties adapting to the changes in local communities that occurred during years of displacement. This calls for psychological and social support programs.

In addition, there are tensions between returnees and local populations in some areas, where concerns about competition for resources and job opportunities may lead to social frictions.

Moreover, there is a need to address the needs of the most vulnerable groups, such as unaccompanied children and the elderly, who require special support to ensure their integration into society.

1. Economic Challenges:

Leading these is the shortage of job opportunities. Despite ongoing efforts, there is still a significant gap between the number of returnees and the available economic opportunities, potentially leading to high unemployment rates.

In addition, there is the challenge of rehabilitating infrastructure, as many areas to which refugees are returning have suffered extensive destruction of essential facilities such as water, electricity, and sanitation.

Also, there is the issue of rebuilding housing, as the urgent need for housing places pressure on government resources, with many returnees lacking suitable accommodation.

1. Legal and Administrative Challenges:

Foremost among these, and perhaps the most dangerous, is proving identity and reclaiming property, as many returnees face difficulties in reclaiming their property due to the loss of official documents or legal complexities.

There is also the issue of accessing government services, as some returnees lack the necessary documents to obtain basic services like healthcare and education.

Furthermore, there are the procedures for registering returnees, with a need for effective mechanisms to ensure their registration and the securing of their legal rights.

1. Security Challenges:

Despite improvements in the security situation, ongoing hostilities in some areas remain a barrier to the return of refugees, with pockets of instability hindering the process.

1. International Challenges:

Here, the lack of international funding stands out. Despite the lifting of some sanctions, there is still a need for international financial support to rebuild and provide essential services for returnees.

Additionally, there is a need for coordination with host countries, which are tied to several issues and present a significant challenge.

Conclusion:

The issue of Syrian refugees remains one of the most complex and impactful topics for Syria’s future, as the success of the return process depends on wise and sustainable management of the resources and challenges faced by the returnees. Addressing this file is not limited to humanitarian aspects alone, but also extends to political stability, economic recovery, and rebuilding the social fabric that was damaged by years of conflict.

Given these realities, achieving a safe and sustainable return for refugees requires integrated efforts at both local and international levels, with a focus on creating a supportive economic environment, ensuring security and stability, and strengthening social solidarity. The Syrian government must also invest in mechanisms to organize the return, incentivize reconstruction projects, and build a social system capable of integrating returnees in a way that achieves reconciliation and development.

The biggest challenge remains the ability to transform this return into an opportunity to rebuild the nation, not merely a response to a humanitarian need. Without effective policies and sustainable international partnerships, refugees will continue to face the same obstacles that initially forced them to flee. The success of this phase requires a strategic vision based on social justice and comprehensive development to ensure a more stable future for all Syrians.

Based on this, we in the Scientific Office of the Syrian Future Movement offer five urgent recommendations to the Syrian government to address the issue of Syrian refugees, as there is an immediate need for measures to ensure the stability of returnees and reduce the pressure on infrastructure and public services.

1. Improve Return Management and Organization: We suggest launching a fast registration program for returnees to ensure they obtain the necessary legal documents, including national IDs and property titles. Additionally, we propose establishing temporary reception centers equipped with basic services such as healthcare and food assistance to ensure a smooth transition for returnees, and developing a centralized database to track returnees and identify their needs to facilitate service planning.
2. Enhance Social Stability: By launching community awareness campaigns aimed at fostering understanding between returnees and local residents, reducing social tensions, and providing psychological and social support programs for returnees, especially children and women who have suffered war trauma. Furthermore, activating the role of civil society in delivering aid and organizing community initiatives to support returnees is crucial.
3. Address Economic Challenges: This includes launching temporary employment projects in areas such as reconstruction, agriculture, and small industries to help returnees achieve economic independence. It is also vital to provide incentives for local investment in areas receiving returnees, such as tax exemptions and financial support for small projects, along with expanding vocational training programs to ensure returnees are prepared for the local job market.
4. Improve Basic Services: This involves rehabilitating infrastructure in targeted return areas, including water, electricity, and sanitation networks, and enhancing the health system’s capacity to accommodate returnees by expanding health centers and providing essential medicines. Equally important is expanding school capacity to ensure that returning children have access to appropriate education.
5. Strengthen International Cooperation: This can be done by negotiating with host countries to ensure an organized and gradual return of refugees while providing financial and logistical support. Additionally, seeking financial and technical support from international organizations to contribute to reconstruction and basic services for returnees, and finally, launching diplomatic initiatives to strengthen international relations and ensure continued humanitarian support for Syria.

Scientific Office

Research Team

Research and Studies Department

Article

Syrian Future Movement