The abrupt fall of the Assad regime on December 8 has ushered Syria and its citizens toward both relief and uncertainty. With the opposition forces seizing control of Damascus, this moment marks not only the end of 53 years of Assad family rule but also hinting at the dawn of new economic possibilities for the war-torn nation.
Under the regime, Syria experienced stringent currency exchange restrictions and an economy marred by corruption, where public sector salaries could barely provide for families. Now, following the regime's collapse, reports indicate a remarkable economic turnaround. According to Wisam Bakdash, the manager of the famed Bakdash Ice Cream shop, “From Dec. 8, everything changed 180 degrees.” This seismic shift has encouraged citizens to move about without the previous oppressive atmosphere, where fear greatly limited daily activities.
With the regime removed, banks have reopened, lifting restrictions on currency trading which had previously led to imprisonment. The public sector has witnessed salary increases reportedly as high as 300%. Essential goods are beginning to see price reductions—a significant shift from the recent past where soldiers had enforced mafia-like rules, extorting the populace for their own gain. “People shop when they are happy, but fear kept them from buying. Now, the economy, people’s safety, and even their faces have changed. Once somber, people now smile,” Bakdash noted, highlighting the renewed optimism surrounding public sentiment.
The Al-Hamidiyah Souq, built during the Ottoman era, adds additional evidence to the revival theme with money-changing stalls freely advertising services. Previously unlawful, carrying foreign currency is now common. The streets buzz with excitement as the local populace adapts to the changing economic policies and lively interactions are again evident under the newly lifted constraints.
Simultaneously, thousands of Syrian refugees, eager to return home after years of displacement, have been making their way back from neighboring countries. According to state-run Al-Mamlaka TV, the Jordanian government has facilitated the return of 12,800 individuals, including 1,309 registered refugees since the regime's downfall. "Jordan supports the voluntary return of Syrians to their country," stated an unnamed Jordanian Interior Ministry official, emphasizing their proactive stance.
Yet, the situation remains inconsistent. For every individual expressing hope of reuniting with their homeland, there exists others expressing sorrow upon their return. Ziyad Akca, now returning to his village of Kulcuk after 13 years of displacement, poignantly recounted his devastation upon finding his home destroyed. “I returned to my father’s house; it’s destroyed. The house I built is gone. My uncle’s house is also in ruins,” he revealed after his long absence, underscoring the challenges many face reestablishing themselves amid ruin.
While the collapse of the Assad regime indicates potential normalization for many, the ground realities highlight the precariousness of this situation. Humanitarian aid remains critically low as the region continues to reel from the conflict’s impacts, with over 17 million people still needing assistance. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees remarked, “The situation in Syria is fluid and far from stable,” emphasizing the myriad of challenges still present.
Many displaced Syrians currently navigate uncertain futures. An alarming percentage of refugees continue to live vulnerable lives, with reported struggles to meet basic needs—87% of Syrian refugees surveyed by UNHCR across several countries noted insufficient income to cover living expenses. Mervat Alhaffar, a Syrian public health researcher, stated frankly, “You cannot treat refugees and asylum seekers as a homogeneous group,” highlighting the diverse experiences throughout the refugee community.
Importantly, the manner and conditions under which returns occur vary vastly. Jesse Marks, senior advocate for the Middle East at Refugees International, noted, “Voluntary, safe, and dignified” are the three pillars for assessing refugee returns, conditions which, he asserted, Syria currently does not meet. With countless returning refugees possibly facing the perils of displacement once again, the dynamics are challenging, reinforcing the reality of their plight.
Despite the gradual return, realities differ markedly for many returnees. Some individuals are faced with repressed conditions under authoritarian groups, like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), now governing parts of the country and exhibiting questionable governance practices. Without clarity on future governance and structural stability, many returning to witness the remnants of battle-scarred homes echo the same fears of instability they once fled.
Merely pressing people to return risks deepening the already fraught humanitarian crisis and potentially reigniting conflicts. Care must be taken to assess whether such returns are truly voluntarily, as many fear returning could strip them of hard-won safety and comfort built abroad. If the current economy’s newfound vibrancy can create sustainable living conditions for returnees remains to be seen, but the stark realities of displacement and destruction echo loudly.
Returning to Syria, many find themselves reconciling with unbearable losses, lost homes, and the grief of lost family members amid devastating statistics. “We’ve been through this for the past 14 years,” lamented Kholoud Helmi, human rights activist, speaking on the toll of the crisis. Amid the uncertainty, reflecting on immediate futures illuminates broader historic travesties within Syria’s socio-political realities.
Despite the tensions and trials, the plight of returning Syrians and their acceptance back home will paint the next chapters of the country's convoluted narrative. Among these threads of resilience lies the enduring hope for restoration—an aspiration for many who yearn to see their homeland thrive again.
