Syrians weigh returns as hundreds of thousands leave Turkey

Snapshot

More than half a million Syrians have left Turkey since the December 2024 ousting of Bashar al-Assad, reversing a decade-long migration that once saw Turkey host about 3.5 million Syrians. Many feel a strong pull to return: some, like 18-year-old Ahmed, who barely remembers pre-war Syria, are eager to go back and are saving money; others, such as 32-year-old Aya, talk constantly about return plans but worry about destroyed cities, homes occupied by others, and children born in Turkey who don’t speak Arabic.

While Ankara insists returns are voluntary, many Syrians say they are being nudged out by changing policies and a cooling welcome. Temporary protection rules limit movement and work prospects, free medical care for Syrians has been cut, and new hiring regulations make employment more costly. Refugee advocates and researchers warn that political pressure could rise ahead of elections, and xenophobic sentiment, though quieter now, remains a concern.

Decisions to go home are shaped by stark realities inside Syria: widespread destruction, unsafe security conditions, and doubts about the capacity and leadership of the interim government. Some families are already planning moves back and speak of rebuilding, while others — including aid workers — say they will remain in Turkey because of instability and poor services in Syria. The result is a deeply mixed picture of return, relocation and continuing uncertainty, as reported by BBC