Six months after Assad’s fall, less than 10% of Syrian refugees have returned. The war may be over, but the conditions for return are still missing.
Housing is scarce. Over 328,000 homes were destroyed, and many neighborhoods remain unlivable. Prices are overwhelming: a modest apartment in Damascus now costs over $400/month, while many salaries stay below $50.
UNHCR data shows that 80% of refugees want to return, but only 27% plan to do so within a year. Many fear losing refugee status, others don’t trust the new authorities, especially minorities and the displaced.
Ironically, displacement is still ongoing: over 106,000 people fled Syria since December, driven by violence in coastal regions and despair at home.
Our article explores what really stands in the way of return, and why the end of the regime was only the beginning.