Syrian Displacement and the Prospects of Return

On Dec. 8, 2024, the world watched as Bashar al-Assad’s regime fell following the takeover of Syria by the opposition group led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham. The 2011 uprising and subsequent 13-year civil war devastated the country, forcing more than 6 million Syrians to flee abroad, mostly to neighboring countries and Europe, and displacing another 7 million internally. As Syria enters a new phase under a transitional government, refugees now face the difficult decision of whether to return home.

This event will feature a panel of experts who will explore the following questions:

• How has Syrian displacement affected regional politics, societal shifts, and global refugee protection policies?
• What choices do Syrian refugees displaced both abroad and internally face today?
• How has more than a decade of war impacted the humanitarian conditions in Syria and the prospects for refugee return?

This discussion will provide valuable insights into the long-term consequences of the Syrian conflict, the challenges of global displacement, and the future of refugee reintegration. This event will be co-hosted by the Baker Institute Edward P. Djerejian Center for the Middle East and Every Shelter, a Houston-based humanitarian design firm focused on solutions for generational displacement. It is free and open to the public.

More information can be found on the event webpage.