Bashar Al-Assad’s regime has finally collapsed. This historic moment ends decades of oppressive intelligence systems operating under the slogan « With our soul and blood, we sacrifice for you forever. »
Following Assad’s removal last weekend, thousands of Syrian refugees began returning to their homeland. According to the UNHCR, over 6.2 million Syrians live in exile, representing about one-third of the country’s population. In Morocco alone, there are 5,575 Syrian refugees, making them the largest refugee group in the kingdom.
The first to return were those who had sought refuge in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, and Iraq. Thousands gathered at the borders of these countries in the early hours after the regime’s collapse, eager to return home after years of displacement.
In Morocco, Syrian refugees celebrated the fall of Assad with great enthusiasm, expressing their longing to return. However, integration in Morocco has been challenging: while some have opened Syrian food shops or taken up trades such as blacksmithing, others have struggled to find work, resorting to begging as a means of survival.
UNHCR Commissioner Filippo Grandi called for caution as millions of refugees assess their options for returning to Syria. « There is a significant opportunity for Syria to move toward peace and for its people to begin returning home, » Grandi stated, while emphasizing the need for patience given the uncertain circumstances.
