Syrian refugees: Return only safe and voluntary, demands UN boss

Syrian refugees: Return only safe and voluntary, demands UN boss

UN demands patience: Return of Syrian refugees must be safe!

The world looks spellbound on Syria! After the dramatic fall of President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday, which ended for more than half a century to rule the Al Assad family, the situation in the country is anything but stable. Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, warns: The return of Syrian refugees must be "voluntarily" and "safe"!

"Patience and vigilance are now required," said Grandi in a statement on Monday. The situation in Syria remains "uncertain" and the refugees will only return if the conditions allow it. "We hope that developments on site will be positive so that the return for the refugees is possible," he added.

asylum decisions exposed in Europe!

The reactions in Europe were not long in coming! Just one day after the fall of al-Assad, Germany, France, Austria, Belgium and other countries announced their asylum decisions for Syrian citizens. The uncertainty about the future political situation in Syria forces the governments to act carefully.

"The likelihood of return depends on whether the new Syrian leaders prioritize law and order," emphasized Grandi. A transition that respects the rights and living conditions of all Syrians is crucial so that people can feel safe.

political tensions and demands for return

The Syrian opposition called after the fall of al-Assad to return to Syrians abroad and help the country rebuild. "Syria awaits you," it said in a first explanation. But not everyone is enthusiastic about this idea. There are different opinions in Germany, where the largest Syrian community lives outside the Middle East.

The right-wing populist politician Alice Weidel from the alternative for Germany reacted with contempt to the cheering masses that celebrated the fall of al-Assad. "Anyone who celebrates 'Free Syria' in Germany obviously has no reason to flee," she wrote on X. "You should return to Syria immediately."

But the Federal Foreign Office in Germany warned: "The fact that the Assad regime has ended is unfortunately not a guarantee of peaceful developments in the future." Amnesty International criticized the suspension of asylum decisions and emphasized that the human rights situation in Syria was "completely unclear".

The situation remains tense and the international community is closely observing the developments in the war -plagued country. The return of the refugees could turn out to be a complex process that depends on many factors.