The Head of the UN migration agency has stated that large-scale returns of Syrians to their homeland at this stage would “overwhelm” the country.
Amy Pope, the Director-General of the International Organization for Migration, said, “This is not the moment to talk about large-scale returns.”
Pope said that communities “are just not ready to absorb the people who are displaced and would come back.”
She argued that if “overwhelming numbers” of people return, “it will overwhelm the country and it could risk more disruptive impact on a very fragile peace process.”
She called for support from donors to help stabilise and rebuild the country.
Syria’s civil war caused millions to seek refuge in foreign countries since 2011.
The defeat of Bashar al-Assad’s government at the beginning of December has led to calls for refugees to return to their homes.
The U.N. refugee agency has estimated that 1 million people will return to Syria in the first six months of 2025.
Some European countries have already frozen asylum applications for Syrians.
Speaking at a Geneva press briefing after a trip to Syria, the Director-General of the International Organization for Migration, noted, “We believe that millions of people returning would create conflict within an already fragile society.”
Pope said that she was urging governments to “slow down on any plans to sent people back.”
She said some communities could yet flee because of uncertainties about life under the new authorities, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group which once had ties to al-Qaeda.
“We heard from communities, for example, the Christian community, who hasn’t yet left, but are very much worried about the next several months and want to make sure that they don’t become the targets of attack.”
Amy Pope
Syrian rebels seized control of Damascus on December 8, 2024, forcing Assad to flee after more than 13 years of civil war and ending his family’s decades-long rule.
The United States, other Western powers and many Syrians welcomed Assad’s fall, but it is not clear whether HTS will impose strict Islamic rule or show flexibility.
There is widespread apprehension among Syrians that the new administration will gravitate towards hardline religious rule, marginalising minority communities and excluding women from public life.
Meanwhile, top U.S. diplomats were expected to hold Washington’s first in-person official meetings with Syria’s new de facto rulers led by HTS in Damascus on Friday, hoping to gauge how the former al Qaeda affiliate plans to run the country.
President Of Turkey Says Time To Destroy Terrorist Groups Threatening Syria
Separately, Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that it was time to destroy “terrorist” groups that threaten Syria, including the Islamic State group jihadists and Kurdish fighters. “Daesh, the PKK and their affiliates – which threaten the survival of Syria – must be eradicated,” he told journalists after attending a Cairo summit.
He asserted that it’s time to “neutralize” the existing terrorist organisations in Syria.
Erdogan said that his government was taking “preventive measures” against groups that posed a threat to Turkey.
“It is impossible for us to accept such a risk,” he said, expressing hope Syria’s new leaders would not opt to work with them. We do not think any power will continue to work with terrorist organisations in the upcoming period.”
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
He warned that the Heads of terrorist organisations “such as IS and PKK-YPG … will be crushed in the shortest time possible.”
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