On Tuesday, 25th February, the CBRL hosted a roundtable led by Dr. Shaddin Almasri titled ‘“Return” in Lieu of Durable Solutions for Syrian Refugees in Jordan? Impacts, Realities, and Unconsidered Consequences.’
This interdisciplinary roundtable offered an opportunity to bridge academic and humanitarian perspectives on the current realities faced by refugees in Jordan in light of the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. Participants explored solutions already been implemented for refugees in Jordan, current realities for those in limbo – particularly Palestinian and minority refugees – and discussions on research and policy implications; given the recent shift in dialogue and politics on facilitation of Syrian return as the ultimate and key form of durable solutions in the state.
This discussion was held at a critical juncture. On 8 December 2024, following nearly 14 years since the outbreak of the Syrian revolution, the Assad-led government was toppled. These events followed after a decade of heated political and economic debate concerning the hosting of Syrian refugees, both in neighbouring countries and in European host states. Less than one week after the capture of Damascus by anti-Assad armed groups, eight European states announced the suspension of Syrian asylum applications, with Austria announcing the immediate commencement of deportations with financial incentives. This followed an increase in the rejection of international protection applications for Syrians across Europe, within which eight states co-signed a letter calling for the designation of Syria as a safe country of origin earlier in 2024.
Attended by a range of academics from university institutes including the Department for Migration and Globalization at Danube University Krems, the Refugee Law Initiative at the School of Advanced Studies, the Institute for Migration Studies at the Lebanese American University, the Centre for Syrian Studies at the University of Saint Andrews, and Birzeit University. Participants also included representatives from international organizations including the Jordan INGO Forum, Norwegian Refugee Council, Danish Refugee Council and the International Refugee Assistance Project amongst others.
This roundtable asked three key questions:
1. What conclusions can be drawn about the viability of three official durable solutions in cases of protracted displacement?
2. How are Syrian refugees in Jordan realistically managing local integration and return? How has this been impacted by the recent political shift?
3. How are minority refugees impacted by the reliance on return as an official durable solution, particularly in contexts reliant on donor support?
Discussions emphasized the importance of understanding links between global and international politics regarding Syrian refugee reception, integration and return. Observing a worldwide ‘race to the bottom,’ participants warned of declining observance of human rights frameworks in facilitating solutions for refugees. In an environment where humanitarian assistance is also rapidly declining due to the sudden cut of US funding, it is all the more critical to ensure that refugee needs are met and views are represented in decisions that concern them.
Participants ultimately concluded that solutions to displacement are complex and that the use of ‘solutions’ as a framework may be too simplistic to address the multifaceted nature of refuge. Recognizing this, participants called for balanced, well-rounded consideration of the reality and feasibility of Syrian return while also respecting the wishes of Syrian refugees.
