The Syrian transitional government’s foreign minister, Asaad al-Schaibani, has expressed the view that a swift return of Syrian refugees from Germany to their homeland is not necessary. Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting with German Development Minister Svenja Schulze, he stated, “They are safe there.” He also noted that the living conditions of Syrian refugees and displaced persons in Germany are better than in other regions.
The transitional government, backed by the Islamist HTS, has been in charge of Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad on December 8 of last year.
Germany has taken in nearly a million Syrian refugees, with approximately 975,000 Syrian nationals currently residing in the country. The majority of these individuals fled Syria in the aftermath of the regime change attempt and the subsequent civil war. Following Russia’s military intervention in Syria, beginning in the fall of 2015, many rebels fled to neighboring countries such as Turkey or, with the help of human smugglers, made their way to Europe.
This week, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser proposed allowing Syrian refugees to make a one-time trip back to their homeland without losing their protected status in Germany. This would enable refugees to assess the situation on the ground, check on remaining family members, and inspect their former homes and properties.
However, the power shift in Syria has not yet led to an improvement in living conditions. In the capital city of Damascus, for instance, there is currently only two hours of electricity per day, and many residents are forced to rely on generators and solar panels for power. The healthcare and education systems are in a precarious state, with some components having collapsed. The return of refugees from Europe is likely to further complicate the problems facing the transitional government.