PAX criticizes Dutch plan to pay Syrians for return amid instability
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Dutch government’s proposal to offer a €5,000 “departure bonus” to Syrians who voluntarily return home is drawing sharp criticism from the peace organization PAX, which says the plan ignores the continued risks and instability in Syria nearly a year after the fall of the Assad regime.
Dutch officials argue that returning Syrians could help “rebuild the country,” but PAX says such expectations are unrealistic given Syria’s dire political, economic, and security conditions.
After 15 years of conflict, the organization notes, the country remains devastated, with entire regions in ruins and no large-scale international reconstruction effort underway.
Despite the new incentive, only about 700 Syrians in the Netherlands have returned this year. Under the policy, Syrians must halt their asylum claims and give up their acquired residency rights to qualify for the bonus—a requirement PAX says places refugees in an impossible position.
The organization also highlights ongoing violence and instability inside Syria. Recent mass killings in coastal Alawite communities, continued siege conditions around Suwayda, and the absence of accountability for wartime atrocities all contribute to a climate of fear.
Large parts of the country remain outside the control of the new government, with Turkish and Israeli forces still active on Syrian territory. Economic collapse and regional tensions further undermine conditions for safe return.
PAX argues that instead of financial incentives, the Netherlands should revive the previously proposed “go & see” scheme, allowing Syrians to visit their home regions without jeopardizing their Dutch residency. Such a measure, it says, would help individuals make informed decisions about return.
The Netherlands hosts more than 150,000 Syrians. Rights groups warn that premature return schemes risk destabilizing Syria and violating principles of voluntary, safe, and dignified return.
PAX says meaningful reconstruction requires long-term international engagement and genuine involvement of Syrian communities abroad.