Syrian refugees who built lives in Jordan are packing up and starting over, as rising costs of living and aid cuts push them to return home—despite the hardships waiting on the other side of the border.
Southern Idlib’s years-long water crisis is deepening as thousands of displaced residents return and increased demand strains what local infrastructure remains.
In the ruins of what was once widely regarded as the capital of the Palestinian diaspora, returnees to Syria’s Yarmouk camp are doing what they can to rebuild their lives with little outside support.
Hundreds of former public sector employees in Idlib, arbitrarily dismissed from their positions by the Assad regime, are still waiting for progress towards reinstatement.
Syria’s worst drought in decades has wiped out rain-fed crops and diminished yields across the country, devastating farmers and raising the risk of food shortages.
Iron salvage is a common form of survival work in northern Syria, a way of eking life out of destroyed buildings—an all-too-plentiful resource. It is also a largely unregulated and hazardous sector, posing risks to workers and consumers alike.
As displaced people return to destroyed communities in southern Idlib, local initiatives are emerging as stopgap solutions for basic repairs and services, stepping into some roles that are the responsibility of Syria’s new administration.
As Syrians return home, Turkey is losing cheap labor and small businesses, sparking apprehension about the future of the country’s labor market.
Following an initial burst of activity when the regime fell and displaced people returned, markets in Reef Dimashq are faltering and facing new challenges.
As some services decline and prices rise in Idlib, residents fear shifting priorities could see the province return to its pre-2011 marginalization.
