Syrian Refugees in Turkey Consider Return Home After Assad's Fall

Following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, over half a million Syrian refugees in Turkey are contemplating returning to their homeland, despite the challenges of rebuilding and low wages, according to BBC World. These refugees had sought refuge in Turkey since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011.

Turkey, once a haven for millions of Syrians, is now seeing a shift in the political landscape and rising xenophobia, factors influencing the potential repatriation. The pull of home remains strong for many, even for those who barely remember Syria.

Ahmed, 18, who fled Syria with his family at the age of five, told BBC World that he is planning to return in a year or two. "I am impatient to get there," he said, emerging from a mosque in Gaziantep, Turkey, wearing a "Syria" T-shirt. He is currently saving money, acknowledging that "wages in Syria are low," but remains optimistic about the future, believing that "Syria will be rebuilt."

According to BBC World, the return to Syria presents numerous challenges for the refugees. While Turkey provided a safe haven for many years, the changing political climate has made some Syrians feel less welcome. The prospect of rebuilding their lives in a war-torn country with limited economic opportunities is a daunting one.