Summary
December 8 marks one year since Syria's al-Assad family lost power after a lengthy conflict. Since then, over 782,000 Syrian refugees have returned home, with many coming back to cities like Aleppo, Homs, and Damascus. Even though many Syrians are returning, challenges like high living costs and job shortages remain, and some European countries have paused asylum applications from Syrians.
Key Facts
- The al-Assad dynasty in Syria ended a year ago, after 54 years in power, due to a rebel offensive.
- The Syrian conflict caused around 6.8 million Syrians to flee, creating a large migration crisis.
- Approximately 782,000 Syrians have returned from other countries in the past year.
- The cities of Aleppo, Homs, and rural Damascus are the main destinations for returning Syrians.
- Many returnees face challenges such as high living costs and limited job opportunities.
- Housing remains a problem, with many families living in damaged homes or expensive rentals.
- New EU asylum policies have led to a 23% drop in asylum applications, particularly affecting Syrian refugees.
