From Exile to Return: Rebuilding Lives and States after Conflict

Even as the war in Ukraine continues and the security situation in Syria remains unstable, some high-income countries hosting displaced Ukrainians and Syrians have begun planning for the “day after.” Key questions include how to handle the transition of displaced individuals’ protection status, support reconstruction in Ukraine and Syria, and, when conditions allow, facilitate return migration.

This is proving to be a balancing act. Many governments face hospitality fatigue and declining public support for immigration. But promoting overly hasty returns could destabilize fragile origin-country conditions while also alienating now longstanding, often well-integrated members of the host society. Syrians have become a vital part of Germany’s health-care system and Turkey’s textiles industry, for example, and Ukrainians have powered growth in eastern Europe’s manufacturing sectors.

This report maps the options available to migration policymakers as they consider phasing out protection statuses and offers guidance on weighing the trade-offs inherent in managing returns to a country affected by conflict. It focuses in particular on the cases of Syria and Ukraine, while also drawing examples from prior post-conflict situations. Among other issues, the study examines the intersection of reconstruction and mobility as well as the potential role of diaspora engagement.