The displaced from Lebanon to Syria: A tragedy and an opportunity.

The stance of the Syrian regime and the opposition towards the return of displaced persons from Lebanon (both Syrians and Lebanese) is a complex issue influenced by many political, humanitarian, and security factors.

The Syrian regime claims to welcome the return of the displaced, presenting itself as their protector, despite numerous reports indicating arrests, torture, and forced bribes for displaced individuals returning to regime-controlled areas. The regime particularly welcomes Lebanese citizens, as many are supporters of its ally, Hezbollah. The regime also attempts to use the issue of displaced persons as a political tool to promote itself and rehabilitate its image, while exploiting the return of the displaced to strengthen its influence and alter the demographic makeup in certain areas.

On the other hand, the Syrian opposition is apprehensive about the return of displaced persons to regime-controlled areas before a comprehensive political solution to the Syrian crisis is achieved and the protection of civilians is ensured. The opposition fears that the regime might use the displaced as human shields and that their return could be exploited to alter the demographic balance in areas under opposition control.

All this is compounded by the unstable security situation in many Syrian regions, making the return of Syrian displaced persons particularly risky. The lack of basic services, such as water, electricity, sanitation, and the fear of arrest and torture, as well as international attitudes toward the Syrian crisis, significantly affect the decision of displaced persons to return.

The issue of Syrian displaced persons is primarily a humanitarian one and requires comprehensive political solutions that ensure a safe and dignified return for Syrian displaced persons to their homes and regions, and provide a temporary place for Lebanese displaced persons until the southern war ends. Therefore, it is essential to address displaced persons from Lebanon to Syria, whether they are Syrians returning to their country or Lebanese fleeing difficult conditions in theirs, as follows:

The Syrian regime must:

1. Ensure the safety of returnees and provide full protection for returning displaced persons, ensuring they are not subjected to arbitrary arrest or torture.
2. Offer necessary facilities, especially for Syrian displaced persons, to help them rebuild their lives.
3. Provide basic services for returning displaced persons, such as water, electricity, sanitation, healthcare, and education.
4. Abide by international humanitarian law and human rights, ensuring the dignity of the displaced.
5. Cooperate with international organizations working in humanitarian relief to provide assistance to the displaced.
6. Offer guarantees not to use Lebanese displaced persons as part of a demographic transfer project.

As for the Syrian opposition, it must:

1. Support the return of displaced persons to safe areas and provide them with necessary aid, while monitoring the regime’s actions and pushing for compliance.
2. Ensure that displaced persons are not exploited for negative political purposes and protect them from violations.
3. Cooperate with international organizations working in humanitarian relief to provide assistance to the displaced.

We encourage the adoption of these recommendations to achieve a comprehensive political solution based on building trust between the Syrian regime and the opposition, and among Syrians themselves. This would help reduce humanitarian suffering and improve the humanitarian situation in Syria.

Additionally, pushing towards a political solution and creating a more favorable environment for dialogue and negotiation would contribute to achieving a comprehensive political solution to the Syrian crisis. It would also enhance the international community’s role in increasing its support for reconstruction efforts in Syria and providing necessary assistance to returning displaced persons.

All these efforts aim to achieve a comprehensive and genuine political solution in Syria. Therefore, all concerned parties must prioritize the interests of the Syrian people above all else and work together to achieve peace and stability in the country.

The issue of Syrian displaced persons is primarily a humanitarian one and requires the concerted efforts of the international and regional communities to resolve it.

Thus, we in the Syrian Future Movement (SFM) call on all concerned parties to take responsibility and work together to achieve peace and stability in Syria, turning this ordeal into an opportunity and these challenges into a chance for all.