Berlin: The German government is determined to reach a deal with Damascus to accelerate the repatriation of Syrian war refugees, despite concerns about the humanitarian situation in a country where violence continues and the economy and infrastructure have been devastated.
According to Deutsche Welle, Germany's Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt expressed his intention in late September to "reach an agreement with Syria this year and then initially deport criminals and later people without residence permits." However, this plan faces significant challenges, both legal and humanitarian. Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, director of the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Syria, highlighted the dire situation, stating that Syria's capacity to absorb more returnees is already stretched. He emphasized that sending more Syrians back would only exacerbate the crisis, as the country struggles to provide even the most basic necessities.
The infrastructure in Syria remains in desperate need of reconstruction, with 16.7 million Syrians dependent on humanitarian aid, according to United Nations calculations. Alaows, a source quoted by Deutsche Welle, described the grim living conditions in Damascus, where multiple families are forced to share single apartments due to unaffordable rents. The security situation also remains volatile, with widespread circulation of small arms posing a constant threat of violence.
In response to these concerns, the German government confirmed its ongoing negotiations with the Syrian government, now led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former rebel commander. The Interior Ministry stressed the necessity of deporting individuals who have committed criminal offenses in Germany and lack the right of residence. However, even if a repatriation agreement is reached, each case would still require a thorough assessment to determine if deportation is feasible, taking into account the humanitarian conditions in Syria.
Valentin Feneberg, a research assistant at Leuphana University, explained that German law prohibits the deportation of individuals at risk of severe human rights abuses in their home country. This legal framework ensures that decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, considering the potential threats deportees might face upon return.
Daniel Thym, professor of public, European, and international law at the University of Konstanz, noted that fewer Syrians are likely to be granted protected status in Germany now that the Syrian war has ended. Nevertheless, the prioritization of deportations remains a political decision, with a focus on individuals with criminal records, separate from the legal assessments required by German courts.
The plan has faced criticism on moral and economic grounds. Jan van Aken, leader of Germany's Left Party, argued that deporting individuals to Syria under current conditions is both morally indefensible and economically unwise, especially as many Syrians have found employment in Germany and contribute to the country's social insurance system.
Interior Ministry data reveals that over 225,000 people in Germany are legally obliged to leave, including around 9,600 Syrians with "tolerated" status, meaning they are not deported due to various legal or humanitarian reasons. Feneberg pointed out that assessments by international bodies such as UNHCR could play a crucial role in determining the outcomes of deportation cases, particularly when the humanitarian situation in the country of origin is life-threatening.
