Kayla Hatcher shares with P4R. What I’ve heard from friends is that Kurdish refugees in Iraq are generally hesitant to return due to the ongoing instability and the ever-changing political landscape. Some Syrians have made the decision to return, often driven by the hope of finding out if relatives imprisoned under Assad’s regime are still alive.
Following the regime’s collapse, streams of cars crossed into Syria, but it remains unclear whether these individuals intend to stay long-term. For many, their livelihoods in Iraq and neighboring countries have been the primary support for their families in Syria. With the long process of rebuilding Syria’s economy, many feel uneasy about abandoning their current income sources.
For Kurds in particular, the dwindling number of family members still residing in Syria adds to the complexity of their decision. The shifting political dynamics in countries like Germany, where thousands of Syrians and Kurds currently reside, as well as in Iraq, where changes in UN and US funding are rumored to coincide with the Iraqi government’s push for the repatriation of Syrian refugees, make the future uncertain. Despite these challenges, the general desire among many refugees is to return, rebuild their nation, and reunite with their families.
By Kayla Hatcher
Reference: Syrian and Kurdish regions, https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/kurdish-separatism-syria