'Determinants for Return Migration to Syria'

“Syria has become the great tragedy of this century – a disgraceful humanitarian calamity with suffering and displacement unparallel in recent history” – said António Guterres back in 2013, when he served as the UN’s High Commissioner responsible for refugees.

Seven years later, the Syrian civil war is still raging. More than 5.5 million refugees have fled the country. While the war continues, the future of the Syrian refugees is heavily debated. Meanwhile, the voices of Syrian refugees have seldom been heard.

Dr Natascha Wagner and Nawras Al Husein interviewed 577 Syrian refugees in Germany and Turkey to find out whether they intend to return and under what circumstances. The research highlights the needs and aspirations of these refugees.

Based on their findings, the researchers recommend that the voices of Syrian refugees enter the debate on return migration in order to inform resettlement policies and reconstruction support.

Download the paper - 'Determinants of Intended Return Migration among Refugees: A Comparison of Syrian Refugees staying in Germany and Turkey'Opens external

Additional outputs

Highlights of the research findings can also be found in the following outputs:

• Infographic - Return Migration to Syria: Voices of Refugees in Germany and TurkeyOpens external
• ISS Blog - 'I will not return unless the regime of Assad fallsOpens external' 

About the researchers

Natascha Wagner is Associate Professor of Development Economics at ISS. Her research interests lie in international economics, development, health and education. She is a member of the Young Erasmus Academy of Erasmus University Rotterdam.

Nawras Al Husein is a humanitarian and development practitioner who has been managing complex emergency responses in Syria and Turkey for the last 8 years, as well as early recovery and development projects in Syria and Yemen.