World Refugee Day Reflections: Return, Rights, and Responsibility

Marking World Refugee Day, this week’s focus turns to the lived realities of displaced Syrians across the region and Palestinians in Gaza. In her latest Policy Note, Maysa Baroud examines the slow return of Syrian refugees from Lebanon, driven by rising hostility there and fragile conditions in Syria. Despite the risks, legal uncertainty, economic hardship, and limited aid are pushing some to return, reaffirming the relevance of non-refoulement. Baroud emphasizes that returns must be safe, voluntary, and rights-based, and points to “go-and-see” visits as a key step for refugees to assess conditions before committing to repatriation. 

In Algeria, Dr. Dalia Ghanem follows the journey of Syrians who have shifted from transient migrants to long-term residents. Though they benefit from social tolerance and access to services, their legal status remains insecure. Ghanem urges Algerian policymakers to move beyond temporary solutions and adopt integration strategies that reflect this permanence, offering rights while also strengthening the formal economy. Meanwhile, writing for Afkar, Djaouida S. denounces the U.S.-Israel "humanitarian coordination" in Gaza as a militarized tool of forced displacement. She argues that aid manipulation and border expulsions qualify as war crimes under international law. Siaci warns that American complicity signals a deeper moral failure, not just a political one.

From Exile to Uncertainty: Syrian Refugees in Lebanon Consider Returning Home | Policy Note

The fall of the Assad regime after almost 14 years of war has brought hope to many Syrian refugees that a long-awaited return home is possible. The shift also comes as welcome news for the governments of host countries—not least Syria’s neighbor Lebanon, where politicians have long claimed that the presence of hundreds of thousands of refugees places a heavy burden on scarce resources.

By Maysa Baroud

From Aleppo to Algiers: Enterprising Syrians Bring Opportunity to Algeria | Issue Brief

This issue brief explores the experiences of Syrian migrants in Algeria, highlighting their transition from initial transit to long-term settlement. It argues that Algerian policymakers must shift from temporary legal frameworks to comprehensive integration strategies that acknowledge the permanence of this population and maximize its potential contributions. You can access the full policy note here.

By Dr. Dalia Ghanem

Watch on YouTube: The Question of Syrian Refugee Return Post-Assad

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Policy Note: Syria’s Unruly Guns: Building a Unified Army in a Fractured State

This policy note examines the fragile process of military unification in post-Assad Syria. You can access the full policy note here.

By Dr Haid Haid ( حايد)

|| Afkār

Syria’s Opening with the West Poses Russia Dilemma for Damascus 

Russia is watching the West’s warming to Damascus with apprehension, but the Kremlin still has cards to play. 

Click here to read the full article.

By Giorgio Cafiero

As Israel Imposes Starvation and Displacement on Palestinians, U.S. Action is Demanded  

The lives of Gazans hang in the balance as an Israeli-American militarized aid scheme plunges the population deeper into famine and lays the groundwork for its forced displacement.

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By Djaouida S.

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Israel-Iran Escalating Confrontation: What is at Stake in the region?