Every year on June 16th, the international community celebrates the International Day of Family Remittances, an official occasion established by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 72/281.
This day aims to recognize the significant financial contributions and sacrifices made by more than 200 million migrant workers and expatriates worldwide to support their families back home. These remittances directly contribute to the realization of human solidarity, combat extreme poverty, and improve education and healthcare, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that remittances from Syrian expatriates have been the lifeline and sole source of sustenance for the Syrian economy throughout the years of the Syrian revolution. They have protected millions of families from famine and complete collapse in the absence of the state, and, thanks to the generosity of Syrian expatriates, have transformed from a mere financial transaction into one of the greatest epics of social and national solidarity in modern history.
The Syrian Future Movement emphasizes the importance of data and reports issued by the World Bank and its partner UN organizations, which indicate that remittances to Syria during the years of conflict exceeded $2 billion to $2.5 billion annually. This surpassed all other international humanitarian aid combined, making remittances the primary source of support for the resilience of Syrian citizens inside the country.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that in this new phase following liberation and the beginning of the transitional period, the function of remittances has shifted from “emergency relief and survival” to “early economic recovery and sustainable development.” These funds now constitute the primary and safest source of national capital for rebuilding small businesses and supporting agricultural projects and emerging industrial workshops led by returnees and residents.
The Syrian Future Movement attaches great importance to the technical reports issued by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) for 2026, which warn that the cost of sending remittances to areas in transition remains high, consuming approximately 6% to 8% of their value due to the absence of official banking channels and international restrictions. This necessitates urgent regulatory intervention to facilitate the flow of these funds and ensure their full value is preserved for the benefit of Syrian families.
The Syrian Future Movement considers this day an opportune occasion to extend its highest regards and appreciation to the Syrian people in the diaspora and refugee camps, who have maintained their connection to their homeland and families despite the hardships of displacement and the challenges of integration. They have demonstrated that Syrian citizenship is a sense of belonging and unity that transcends geographical boundaries.
Based on the above, the Syrian Future Movement recommends the following:
- Institutionalizing financial channels: Expediting the reconstruction of the banking sector and finalizing all details of its integration with global transfer networks (such as SWIFT), in order to move remittances from informal channels (black market transfers) to legal, secure, and low-cost frameworks.
- Stimulating productive investment: Developing legislation and incentives that attract expatriates and encourage them to shift their funds from “daily household consumption” to “developmental investment,” through the launch of local investment funds for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with flexible legal guarantees.
- Facilitating cross-border partnerships: Encouraging the establishment of secure digital platforms that connect expatriate expertise and capital with genuine investment opportunities within Syria, to support the education, technology, and renewable energy sectors in the future of Syria.
