HOMS, Syria (North Press) – Syrian refugees originally from the city of Homs questioned the incentives offered by the Syrian government for the return of refugees, after the holding of a conference under this title.
They describe their return to Syria as an impossible step because of the suffocating crises in the areas under the control of the Syrian government, in addition to the lack of job opportunities, the rise in prices, the low standard of living, and destruction of the infrastructure.
Ibrahim Aidoun, a Syrian refugee living in Germany, said that just thinking of returning to Syria is impossible. “I could not think of going back, even if they pave the way for me with flowers,” he told North Press.
On November 11, an international conference on the return of Syrian refugees was held in Damascus, with the participation of delegates from a number of countries, with the aim of discussing the suffering of refugees and facilitating their return.
Ismail Hamada (a pseudonym) the father of a young refugee in the Netherlands, said that he would not ask his son to return to Syria under any circumstances.
“No hope that things will improve here. I am assured of my son’s future abroad. That is better than for him to come back here and taste the bitterness of daily life with us,” he added.
Residents in the areas under the control of the Syrian government have been facing a worsening of living conditions for months, made obvious by an acute shortage of bread and fuel and skyrocketing prices of various materials due to the depreciation of the Syrian pound against the US dollar.
Syrian refugees are also afraid of being arrested by security services when they return.
“The Syrian government is ready not only to return its citizens to the homeland, but also to continue all efforts to provide decent living conditions for them,” according to the closing statement of the conference.
The conference did not mention any mechanism for return, or anything related to the development of a clear road map to restore infrastructure, secure alternative housing, or provide any means of living.
Syrians in several areas in Syria addressed the holding of the refugee conference with great irony and sarcasm, and called for holding a conference “to get the remaining Syrians out of Syria.”
Mirna Jamoul, a resident of Homs, said that she tried to emigrate, but was unable.
“In fact, you laugh at the title of the conference itself. Were they really convinced of this strange conference?” she wondered.
Media sites circulated a video clip from inside the conference hall accompanied by voices of people speaking sarcastically about the conference and saying that the majority of Syrians remaining in the country would emigrate if they had the opportunity.