Ahmad Alhamada greeted Euronews in his residence located in Ghent, Belgium. When we arrived, we were offered a hot pot of tea, cut watermelon, and cashew nuts, all arranged on a coffee table in the living room of his apartment.
Born in Idlib, located in northwestern Syria, Ahmad left the country in 2012 due to the government's suppression of demonstrations against the regime, which was led by President Bashar al-Assad.
The sudden collapse of al-Assad on 8 December 2024, caused by an unexpected uprising led by Ahmed al-Sharaa's armed faction - Hayat Tahrir al Sham - has transformed previously considered far-fetched ideas into immediate realities.
A 30-year-old man, who left his homeland at the age of 18 without realizing his exile would extend for over ten years, is now set to go back to Syria soon to assist in the reconstruction of his nation.
Several others have already undertaken comparable experiences. As per the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), almost 720,000 Syrians returned between 8 December 2024 and 24 July 2025.
Out of these, 40% came back from Lebanon, 37% from Turkey, 15% from Jordan, and 5% from Iraq. However, the desire to return is much lower among those in Europe.
81% of Syrian refugees and asylum seekers in the region, who were interviewed by the UNHCR in May, stated they have no plans to go back to Syria in the next 12 months.
159 Syrians have chosen to go back to their homeland from Belgium since 1 January 2025, as reported by the Belgian Federal Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (Fedasil).
The organization oversees optional return initiatives from Belgium to migrants' home countries, including those seeking asylum, individuals whose asylum applications were denied, and people who do not have a valid residency permit.
These initiatives cover transportation fees and travel support. For certain migrants, they might also involve a departure allowance and help with reintegration in their home country, which can be utilized to start a small enterprise, aid with rental payments and house improvements, or pay for healthcare costs.
Although such reintegration initiatives are not yet available for Syrians, Fedasil is currently striving to provide these grants to Syrians who wish to return to their homeland, which has been liberated after 14 years of harsh civil conflict.
Rebuilding the country
Ahmad intends to go back to Syria in two or three years to assist in restoring his homeland, provided the circumstances allow.
"There are numerous tasks to accomplish. The nation has various requirements. I lead a comfortable life here, but I believe the country genuinely requires assistance," he states.
From his perspective, the main focus is to disband the militias and bring the nation together. After these requirements are fulfilled, Ahmad is of the opinion that most Syrians will be "capable of returning" and restore their cherished homeland to the global stage.
Even though his initiative has not been realized yet, he aims to advance democracy in Syria via his organization, the Democratic Centre for Human Rights (DCHR). He further mentions that Syrians residing in Europe also have a crucial part to play in the rebuilding of their homeland: "We can assist European businesses in identifying prospects in Syria. Additionally, we can aid the Syrian government in drawing companies to invest there," he states.
Ahmad was pursuing his studies to become an engineer at Damascus University when the anti-government protests started in 2011. He established a progressive student group and participated in rallies opposing al-Assad, whom he openly criticizes as a "dictator".
"The nation was akin to a jail, where expressing thoughts or holding views was forbidden, and those who did faced execution," he described.
Removed from the university, he was detained and subsequently sent to jail for three months in the infamous Sednayah prison, located north of the capital Damascus, where he endured simulated executions and was tortured with electric shocks.
He was eventually cleared by a court and set free, with his release reportedly intended "to create space for other inmates," as he stated.
With his newfound independence, Ahmed chose to leave Syria along with his parents and siblings, deciding to live in Lebanon so he could stay near his homeland.
Ahmad and his family lived in Lebanon for three years, during which he established a small business using a Lebanese name and participated in a project aimed at setting up schools for Syrian children.
Lebanon has the largest number of refugees relative to its population globally. The Lebanese authorities estimate that approximately 1.4 million Syrians are displaced within Lebanon, with more than 700,000 of them officially recognized as refugees by the UNHCR.
Confronted by worsening living conditions, worsened by a severe economic crisis that Beirut has struggled with for years, along with dangers posed by Hezbollah, Ahmad chose to leave Lebanon.
"Syrians who opposed Assad, Iran, and Hezbollah in the region found Lebanon to be increasingly perilous. As a result, we too became targets for Hezbollah, as did my family," says Ahmad.
He took a boat in Turkey, traveled across the Mediterranean to Greece, and eventually arrived in Germany, passing through North Macedonia, Serbia, Hungary, and Austria.
A taxi driver, who transported him and his two friends across the border from Serbia to Hungary, allegedly threatened them with a knife in a forest, trying to steal €2,000, according to his statement.
Following a two-week trip, he eventually arrived in Belgium, reaching Brussels North Station in 2016.
Ahmad is currently employed in the IT department of a government agency and holds dual Belgian and Syrian nationality. He also established a small organization called the Democratic Centre for Human Rights (DCHR) and was chosen as the president of a group that represents the Syrian community in Belgium.
On 8 December 2024, as he awoke, a drowsy Ahmad realized upon checking his phone that Bashar al-Assad had left during the night before.
"He remembers it as a wonderful day," he says. He spent the entire day celebrating in the streets of Brussels alongside the Syrian community, and three days later, he took a flight to Amman, the capital of Jordan.
From that point, he hired a taxi to reach the Syrian border and then crossed it on foot. The images of the al-Assad family, typically shown at the Syrian border, were no longer there.
"Just the Syrian flag was present, and that's more than sufficient," proudly states Ahmad.
The checkpoint is currently staffed by troops from the Free Syrian Army, a group consisting of various independent Syrian rebel factions, who are now striving to restore and uphold law and order within the nation. He remembers falling into their embrace and weeping with them, stating, "it was a deeply emotional moment."
Overwhelmed by feelings and uncertain about his next steps or destination during his first return to his homeland after 13 years, Ahmad decided to visit his university in Damascus first.
"I was expelled and have returned, with Bashar al-Assad no longer in power. For me, this feels like a form of justice and karma," he said joyfully.
His tour of reunion also included significant visits to Homs, Hama, Aleppo, and his native city of Idlib.
"I needed to immerse myself in every town and stroll through the streets, engaging with the locals," he mentions.
Although his homecoming was filled with happiness, Ahmad mentions it was also a bold reminder of the suffering that continues to exist after years of tyranny and crimes.
He mentions that numerous towns he has visited were left in devastation, with women holding photographs of their missing loved ones. He reunited with family members in Idlib, where he found his home, like the rest of the city, had been destroyed. He now intends to restore it.
Staying in Europe
Aisha Abbas, who is 27 years old, has been residing in the city of Antwerp, Belgium, since 2017. She hails from Darkoush, a small town located close to Idlib, near the border between Turkey and Syria.
She was stunned when she heard about Assad's downfall, "I couldn't believe it. It seemed like a dream," says Aisha, adding that she stayed awake for two days after learning the news.
She feels sorry that her father, who "lived his entire life for this moment," died before having the opportunity to witness it. Her initial thought is that she will finally be able to visit the country where she was born.
"I desire to observe the streets, to witness the expressions on people's faces, and to understand their way of living," she mentioned.
Aisha has, however, excluded any long-term return to her homeland, mainly because of the ongoing instability.
What do you expect from a place that has been in conflict for 14 years to be secure for its residents? It's a war zone," she stated. "The collapse of the government won't resolve everything as if by magic.
First of all, she has no idea where to head.
"I don't own a house. I'm uncertain if I'll be able to work or lead a normal life. I wouldn't have any friends. Half of my family has passed away. I'm afraid even to think about going back to Syria and seeing the place, but there's no one left," she explained.
Recommencing from scratch for the third time, following the loss of everything, is also discouraging her from coming back. She is committed to building a life for herself in Belgium, whether in a place "quite international" such as Antwerp, or in a spot "very quiet" like Ghent.
In 2011, Aisha's father joined demonstrations opposing the Assad government, which were harshly suppressed by the former president's troops and supporters.
Aisha explains, 'We weren't safe because he was a significant figure in the revolution.' In June of that year, 13-year-old Aisha, along with her three younger brothers and her mother, left Syria and sought shelter with her aunt on the opposite side of the Orontes River in Antioch, Turkey.
"I didn't even bring a suitcase," she remembered, "I expected to return in September for the start of the school term." Eventually, she resumed her studies at a "school" established by the Syrian community in an apartment.
Aisha said, 'I was extremely down for a year until I realized that we had a life here and that we needed to work and create a new community to form new friendships.'
Her mother established a small workshop where women could create and sell their designs, including dresses, crocheted items, and handicrafts. The family remained in Turkey for seven years.
Aisha's father eventually made it to Europe, traveling by boat across the Mediterranean from Mersin in southeastern Turkey to Greece, and then proceeding to Antwerp where her family joined her by air through the EU's family reunification process.
The student says life in Turkey was extremely tough for them and it wasn't improving. It was becoming increasingly worse." "He believed that Europe could offer better opportunities for education and employment.
A family of six resided in a studio apartment until they were able to lease a house in the rural area.
"In Belgium, it was quite different because I felt out of place in terms of my clothing and the way I spoke. I didn't speak Dutch; I always used English. I felt like an outsider, and that was really challenging," says Aisha.
Currently trilingual, having mastered Arabic, Turkish, and English, she swiftly picked up Dutch and earned a degree in marketing and communications. To support her education, she worked at a zero-waste organic store and conducted ceramic classes.
This fall, she will begin a bachelor's degree in communication and aspires to work in marketing or media. Since she has not received refugee status, she needs to renew her residency permit annually and is working towards obtaining Belgian citizenship.
Over 6 million Syrians were documented as refugees or asylum seekers by the end of 2024, with the majority located in Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan. The European Union hosts approximately 1.3 million Syrian refugees or individuals seeking asylum, primarily spread across Germany, Sweden, and Austria.
The following day, after Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia, several European nations, such as Germany, Denmark, and Austria, declared their plan to halt the evaluation of additional asylum requests from Syrians.
This year, there has been a decrease in the number of asylum applications submitted by Syrians in European Union nations, as indicated by data from a report released by the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) on September 8.
Syrians are no longer the top nationality among refugees in the 27-nation group, with this position now held by Venezuelans and Afghans. However, the EUAA cautions that specific groups of Syrians remain vulnerable to persecution.