Jordan seeks southern Syria guarantees
Assurances sought over the safety of Syrian refugees returning home
Jordan hopes a ceasefire it helped negotiate in neighbouring southern Syria will eventually lead to a secure border, the reopening of a vital trade crossing and a gradual return home for Syrian war refugees who sought asylum in the kingdom.
Fighting has decreased significantly in southern Syria -a patchwork of areas under government or rebel control — since the truce was negotiated by Russia, the United States and Jordan in July.
But Jordan still seeks guarantees from Syrian President Bashar Al Assad and his backers, Russia and Iran, that moderate opposition fighters and civilians will not be harmed as government forces continue to advance in the southeast, despite the truce.
It also wants to see Iranianbacked forces kept away from Jordan’s border, and is concerned about a potential resurgence of extremist opposition groups.
Jordan has received “mixed messages” about Al Assad’s intentions, one official said on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
He said Jordan fears destabilisation and renewed refugee flows if Al Assad opts for retaliation against the region.
Despite a slight rise in returns, Syrian refugees in Jordan also seem to be hedging their bets. The UN refugee agency said 1,830 refugees returned voluntarily to Syria in July and August, compared to 1,700 between January and June.
Separately, aid officials have said Jordan has deported Syrian refugees — about 400 a month since the beginning of 2017, according to a report yesterday by the group Human Rights Watch.
The government said in a statement yesterday that the return of refugees is voluntary and that Jordan complies with international law.
Abdul Rahman 32, went back to Al his Ahmad, opposition-held hometown of Busra Al Sham in Syria’s southern Daraa province, worn out by five years in exile.
It’s a one-way ticket for most, since Jordan generally bars re-entry of those who left.
With his house destroyed, Al Ahmad now lives with displaced people in another building. Residents have one hour of electricity per day and buy water from private wells at exorbitant prices, he said.
Jobs are scarce and medical care largely unavailable.
“The regime killed my cousin, my brother, my relatives,” he said.
He said he would fight if government forces retake his hometown.