A third research cycle into the situation Syrian refugees face upon return finds a clear absence of secure living conditions and push factors as main reason for their return. For this research cycle, 119 refugee returnee respondents who live across Rural Damascus, Douma, Homs Governorate and Damascus city were individually interviewed in March 2021.
Main conclusions:
1. Conditions are currently not in place for a safe, voluntary, informed and dignified return.
2. Interviewees cite forced military conscription, economic insecurity and harassment by security forces as main concerns.
3. Push factors in Lebanon, such as deteriorating living conditions, are the main reason for return, preventing a truly voluntary return decision.
4. Livelihood opportunities and the overall economic situation inside Syria deteriorated drastically in the past year.
