In its comprehensive assessment of the Syrian situation, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reported numerous violations suffered by Syrian refugees upon returning to areas controlled by the Assad regime.
The report underscores the worsening economic conditions over time, coupled with the most severe humanitarian circumstances since the onset of the Syrian Revolution in 2011. It highlights that nearly 90% of Syrians now live below the poverty line, with more than 15.3 million requiring humanitarian aid.
The report reveals that returnees to Assad regime-controlled regions have encountered a series of grave violations, encompassing arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, and torture.
Interestingly, the report points out the contradictory stance of the Assad regime towards returnees. Despite promoting return and coordinating security settlements, instances of returnees facing the same regime-inflicted violations even after security agreements have been observed.
In response, the Syrian Opposition Coalition has emphatically asserted that the presence of the Assad regime and its allies precludes a secure Syria. It advocates that any voluntary and dignified return of refugees must be preceded by a political transition as per UN Resolution 2254. This transition should encompass the prosecution of the Assad regime and its allies, fulfilling the aspirations of the Syrian populace for a secure nation underpinned by the values of freedom, justice, and peace.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
