The fall of Bashar al-Assad is undeniably a moment to celebrate, and that's what today should be about, but, big but, as someone who works in/studies displacements there are things which need to be addressed quickly. 1/
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We are already seeing Syrian refugees attempting to return home. That's not surprising. Despite what certain politicians and pundits claim, the vast majority of refugees want to return home as quickly as possible, hence why most remain in regions of origin. 2/
That return home is not without issue though. Many will find their homes gone, a lack of support, financial issues etc. This tends to cause tensions, which can create conflicts within communities, leading to some, maybe those still in Syria, having to seek safety elsewhere. 3/
Yes I get why they want to go home right away but there is not capacity yet for many of them yet and without that capacity could cause a lot of chaos, and there still could be a second civil war with mr ex Al Qaeda & his Islamists in charge, his deeds may not match his words.
Revolutions also rarely end with the leader being removed. There is a power vacuum which needs filling. That means old grudges and disparate ideas come to play. That can lead to increased displacement from certain groups coming into play. 4/
Then you have the matter of those Syrians who do not want to return. For some it can be too hard and too scary, after fleeing for your life it is understandable to be wary about returning no matter what the situation. There will also be those who have built lives now, and want to keep them. 5/
There is another aspect of displacement from Syria which comes into play here, the families of those who have rebuilt lives in other countries wanting to join them now they are more able to. That inevitably means we will see more Syrians seeking asylum despite the overthrow of Assad. 6/
I would argue that the last thing which is needed now is Western, or any other country 's interference in how Syrians create a system of governance which works for them. What Western nations do need to do though is ensure that they continue to provide asylum for those seeking it. 7/
It's not simple. Families who are settled here may not want to uproot again, taking their children out of school to go to a strange place again. I will be blocking anyone who says "they" can all go back now. It will be chaos for a while in any case. What just happened is huge.
If I were Syrian woman I would begin by asserting my rights. Begin with a women's coalition of tribes, faiths and non faiths. Rule one: do not be ruled by men. Learn from Afghanistan.
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