Assad Regime’s Fall Seemingly Holding Back More Syrians from Heading to Europe.
Numbers from the Greek Migration Ministry, reported by “Welt am Sonntag” show that arrivals have significantly decreased since December 6. Daily landings on Greek islands have dropped from the triple digits (192, 154, 105, 248 before December 6) to a few dozen (44, 61, 2, 29, 1 since December 6).
These data should be viewed as an initial indication, as the arrival records do not separate between Syrians, the most significant migrant group on the Eastern route through Greece, and other nationalities. And the arrivals often exhibit large fluctuations. Marian Wendt, the Athens-based director of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s foreign office, told “Welt am Sonntag”: “The number of arriving refugees has clearly decreased. Migrants who wanted to travel from Turkey to Northern Europe via Greece seem to be waiting for developments in Syria.”
No effects have been observed in Germany so far. The daily asylum applications in the country remain at a similar level to before the Assad Regime’s fall. In the current week, the daily average of 682 asylum applications is even higher than in the previous week (564). These asylum applications are processed faster than the asylum applications, as they are submitted directly at the border or shortly after.
Regarding the return promotion for Syrian refugees living in Germany, who claim to have fled the Assad Regime, the Federal Ministry of the Interior told “Welt am Sonntag” that a government-funded return to Syria is not currently foreseeable. However, a few dozen Syrians annually take advantage of the country’s return programs. In 2022, it was 64, in 2023, 75, and in 2024, at least 49 so far. This option remains available. The financial support includes “travel costs, travel assistance, a possible start-up grant, and, if necessary, medical costs” according to a spokesperson.