Reconstructing Syria: Resettling Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Abstract

This report examines the key issues impacting the resettlement of Syrian refugees and IDPs. Many indicators point to the civil war in Syria reaching an end with Bashar al-Assad’s regime still in power. As of December 2018, 11 million Syrians are displaced, 5.6 of whom have fled the country and become refugees. The other 6.2 million still reside within the country (Mercy Corps, 2018). Although the eight years of violence and war is coming to an end, many regions of Syria are unsuitable for resettlement. Prior to 2011, various ethnic and religious groups peacefully coexisted within Syria. With the rise of Assad leading up to the civil war, these groups began fracturing and the sectarian divisions positioned groups against one another. Resettling displaced Syrians in their places of origin poses challenges because of these divisions. Alawites and Druze are now extremely vulnerable to persecution due to their minority status. The Kurds are at odds with Turkey as they continue to desire an autonomous state. The Assad regime has empowered the Alawites who were historically persecuted due to their faith. As the war is winding down, ISIS has lost substantial territory and Assad is positioned to claim victory.