Syrian refugees: Homecoming was painful

Ahmed al-Sheikh was among thousands of Syrians who eagerly returned to their homeland following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December. However, his optimism quickly turned to disillusionment as he faced the grim realities of life in a country devastated by 13 years of war. Sheikh, 35, is one of 35,000 Syrians who voluntarily left Turkey within the first three weeks after Assad was toppled on Dec. 8, forfeiting their right to return. "I was shocked by the catastrophic situation, which was beyond my expectations," he said from Aleppo, where water, electricity, and internet access are sporadic.

Rising Concerns Among Returnees

The Refugees Association in Turkey reports growing dissatisfaction among returnees, with many struggling due to a lack of education, healthcare, and economic stability.

• Kadri Gungorur, the association's social welfare director, noted that while many Syrians were initially excited about going back, their enthusiasm quickly faded as they confronted the country’s challenges.
• Some now regret their decision, realizing that Turkey offered more stability in terms of job opportunities, education, and living conditions.

Turkey’s New Approach to Voluntary Returns

Recognizing these challenges, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya introduced a new scheme in late 2024 aimed at better planning voluntary returns.

• Under the initiative, Syrian migrant family heads can visit Syria up to three times between January and June 2025 before making a final decision.
• Since Assad’s fall, 81,576 Syrians have returned, though the daily return rate has slowed from December to about 1,600 per day in January.

During a recent visit to Turkey, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi endorsed Turkey's approach, calling the "go-and-see visits" a best practice for assessing conditions before committing to a return.

"Perhaps in the Future"—Many Syrians Remain Hesitant

While some remain hopeful, others are hesitant. Jafer, a 27-year-old Syrian chemist, has lived in Turkey for 12 years and says he won’t return until conditions significantly improve. "My children are well-adjusted in Turkey. They’ve adapted to the language, education, and lifestyle, so we’re more likely to stay," he explained. For Ahmed al-Sheikh, however, returning to Turkey is no longer an option—he signed a voluntary return document, making his move permanent. Now, he faces an uncertain future in a country still struggling to recover.