Rebuilding Home: Salih’s Path Back to Syria
Rebuilding Home: Salih’s Path Back to Syria
Salih, a 45-year-old father of five, fled the Syrian civil war in 2017. Living in Aleppo, his family endured the constant threat of violence until a bombing near their home made it impossible to stay. Seeking safety, they made the difficult decision to leave Syria, arriving in Ankara, Türkiye.
For the last eight years, Salih and his family have called Ankara home, even though their hearts remained with their country. Now, as the country enters a new chapter, Salih is preparing for his most important journey yet—a return to rebuild the life they left behind.
The first years in Türkiye were challenging. Salih struggled to find work due to the language barrier, and his family relied on the support of Syrian relatives already in Türkiye. Despite the hardships, they built a life—his children enrolled in school, and he found employment in construction. But Syria was never far from his thoughts.
“When I first heard the news that Assad left, I was very happy.”
Salih closely followed developments in Syria, and with the recent changes in leadership, he felt it was time to go back. “When I first heard the news that Assad left, I was very happy. My family and children were also very happy,” he said.
But returning is not a simple decision. After years away, Salih does not know if his house still stands. “In 2017, I knew that my house was still in Syria. But now I don't know if it is still there,” he emphasizes. His family will wait in Ankara while he takes a critical first step—a “go-and-see” visit. Türkiye’s policy of authorizing “go-and-see” visits allows refugees to assess conditions in their home country before making a final decision about returning and can pave the way for sustainable returns to Syria.
“I will even build my own house.”
Salih will travel alone to Syria to see if their home is still there. If it has been destroyed, he plans to rebuild before bringing his family back within the next few months. “I will even build my own house,” he says with determination.
Like Salih, many Syrian refugees are contemplating return. He says his friends are also preparing to leave Türkiye, closing their small businesses and making plans to go back home. However, returning refugees face significant challenges: destroyed and damaged homes, shattered infrastructure, and widespread poverty.
“My children were all in school here, but now, my daughter has stopped going because we are leaving soon. When we return to Syria, we will get equivalency documents from Türkiye and ensure they can continue their education,” Salih explained.
SGDD-ASAM, one of UNHCR’s partners, gave counselling to Salih regarding his decision to return and about the documents he will need to receive from the Turkish authorities. Salih hopes that governments and international organizations will continue to support returnees, especially in securing the necessary documents and financial aid for rebuilding. “I hope the Turkish government will make things easier for those who want to return—providing school documents for children and financial support for rebuilding our lives,” he says.
Despite the uncertainties, Salih remains optimistic. He looks forward to reuniting with his relatives and introducing his youngest child to Syria for the first time. “I miss my relatives and friends the most, and I want to visit places I have never seen before.”
“Thank you to Türkiye and the Turkish people.”
Salih is deeply grateful for the kindness and generosity of the Turkish people, who opened their hearts and homes to him and his family at a time when they had nowhere else to turn. “Thank you to Türkiye and the Turkish people; we are forever grateful.”