Lebanon has announced a plan to repatriate 400,000 Syrian refugees, offering $100 per person. Cyprus offers over €1,000 per family. But for many, these incentives aren’t enough.
Why? Because rents in Damascus can exceed $400 per month in average neighborhoods. The World Food Programme estimates a family of five needs $200 monthly for food alone. Add insecurity, destroyed homes, and joblessness, and the reality becomes clear.
Since December, over 37,000 Syrians have made the opposite journey, fleeing into Lebanon—many escaping sectarian violence. The pull factors in Syria remain weak, while push factors persist, leaving refugees between a rock and a hard place.
Our article explores why cash isn’t enough, and why return requires more than a ticket home.