Syria: the thorny issue of the return of refugees
Syrian refugees in the Ondergazi district in the Turkish capital Ankara, 2017 ADEM ALTAN / AFP
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3 min
More than five million Syrians have left their country since the start of the war, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
What future for these populations mainly established in neighboring countries: Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan?
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With the support of Russia, the regime of Bashar al-Assad, is organizing a conference on Wednesday on the theme of “the return of refugees”.
But how to guarantee their security when they are mainly opposed to the power of Damascus?
And are they even willing to return home?
Ahmed will soon be celebrating his 29th birthday and five years in exile.
Originally from Aleppo, the young Syrian lives in Gazientep in southern Turkey.
Like many of his compatriots opposed to the regime, he fled the war but also the forces of
Bashar al-Assad
who were looking for him.
“
It's too risky for me to go back to Syria.
It is even impossible ... We cannot trust the Syrian regime.
What guarantees do we have?
Who told me that I wouldn't be arrested as soon as I set foot in Syria?
And even if they didn't arrest me, they could very well force me to do my military service
”.
Since leaving Syria, Ahmed has not seen his parents who still live in Aleppo.
“
I would love to be able to come home, but as long as this regime is still in place it will not be possible.
At least here in Turkey we live in peace.
I can guarantee you that all young Syrians who have taken refuge here in Turkey would dream of being able to return, but they are afraid of what awaits them there.
"
The return of refugees is a “
priority
”, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad pleaded this week.
And even
if the fighting
has decreased in intensity, the NGOs consider that the conditions are not conducive to a massive return of the exiled populations.
Syria is currently experiencing one of the worst economic and social crises in its history.
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Syria
Bashar al-Assad
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