Syria’s civil war has prompted a widespread refugee crisis, with the UN estimating more than 14 million people have fled their homes. The UK has granted asylum to at least 30,000 Syrians from 2011 to 2021. In the year to 2024, the UK approved 99% of asylum claims from Syrians.
Asylum seekers in the UK are unable to work while they wait for their claims to be processed.
“While the risks facing people are changing, it should still be possible to decide every case on its merits in the weeks and months ahead. People must not be left stuck for months with no idea what’s going to happen to them. We know too well the long-term harm of leaving men, women and children in chronic asylum limbo, unable to move on with their lives while they wait for news of their fate,” said Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council.
“The reality is that no one knows what the future of Syria will be like: over 90% of the population are relying on humanitarian aid and UNHCR is warning that shelter, food, water and warmth are all urgently needed as winter approaches. It is therefore vital that the government doesn’t rush to declare that the country is safe and ensures all asylum claims are given careful consideration.”
More than 600,000 people have died in Syria since the outbreak of civil war in 2011, estimates the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, including almost 50,000 civilian deaths under torture.
President Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia after rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took capital Damascus. There is uncertainty over how HTS, formerly an al-Qaeda offshoot and designated as a terrorist group by the UK government, will rule Syria.
“There is currently no stability and decimated infrastructure in Syria, armed groups still control large parts of the country, and millions remain displaced internally,” said Asli Tatliadim, head of campaigns at Refugee Action.
“It’s vital the government observes international protection obligations and processes claims from people who have fled Syria, and works to develop a system where no refugee is left in limbo for long periods of time
Half of the 6.2 million registered refugees from Syria live in Turkey. After Germany welcomed refugees from Syria in 2015, around one million Syrians now live in the country.
Experts said political uncertainty in Syria could continue for some time – putting asylum seekers in potentially indefinite limbo.
Enny Choudhury, co-head of legal at the Joint Centre for the Welfare of Immigrants, said: “The Home Office has a history of rapidly declaring countries safe after a regime change and then subsequently backtracking. We can’t possibly know what is going to come next and it’s patently absurd for the government to be making major policy decisions at this stage.
“It’s also depressing to see that this appears to be a trend across Europe. With Austria going as far as to talk about deportations, it’s hard not to question Europe’s desire to live up to its duties under international law. “
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