Feryal (a pseudonym), a Syrian mother and widow of four children, never expected that the road home would be filled with more legal and procedural obstacles than the hardships of displacement itself.
After spending eight years in Jordan, Feryal decided at the beginning of 2025 to return to Syria with her four children, hoping to find in her homeland the safety and stability she had long been missing.
She sold the few modest pieces of furniture she still owned, vacated her rented home in Amman, gathered her official papers and personal belongings, and hired a vehicle heading toward the Jaber–Nassib border crossing — full of longing for reunion with her relatives and a new beginning after a long journey of displacement.
But the shock was harsh: she was informed that a judicial travel ban had been issued in the name of her young daughter, preventing her from crossing the border. Feryal was forced to return with her children to Irbid after losing everything she had, beginning a new chapter of struggle in search of temporary shelter. After many attempts, she contacted the Legal Aid Department at the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD), which took on her case and coordinated with the relevant authorities.
It later turned out that the court order was due to a small, unpaid debt of 75 Jordanian Dinars, owed to a hospital where her late husband had failed to settle the bill for their third child’s birth. Thanks to ARDD’s legal team, the issue was resolved and the amount settled within just six days.
On the seventh day, Feryal successfully crossed into Syria, beginning a new chapter of her life after an experience that proved how legal awareness can mean the difference between returning home and only dreaming of it.
Feryal bid farewell, saying: “I learned that returning home is not just about bags and children, but about rights and documents. The law protected me, and legal aid gave me hope again.”
As of 18 October 2025, about 165,000 registered refugees had returned from Jordan to Syria since 8 December 2024, according to the UNHCR.
The demographic characteristics of returnees remained similar to previous weeks: women and girls made up around 49%, children 43%, and men aged 18–40 about 19% of all returnees. With only minor variations, these trends have stayed relatively stable throughout the year. At the beginning of 2025, women and girls constituted 45% of returnees, children 44%, and men aged 18–40 about 23%. Most returnees continue to come from host communities — mainly Amman and Irbid.
Feryal’s story is not unique. It mirrors the reality faced by many Syrian refugees struggling with legal challenges that may prevent their return to Syria, such as court restrictions related to unpaid debts, or the loss or damage of official documents like passports, birth certificates, and marriage certificates.
In Jordan, the law allows a creditor to request a travel ban on a debtor, under the Enforcement Law No. 25 of 2007, until the due amounts are paid and the legal file is closed.
In this context, ARDD, in cooperation with the UNHCR, continues to spread awareness messages to help Syrian refugees verify their legal status before departure and contact the Judicial Enforcement Department of Jordan to avoid similar situations.
For more important information about returning to Syria, you can visit the following UNHCR pages:
– “Voluntary Return to Syria” https://help.unhcr.org/jordan/voluntary-return-to-syria/
– “Cash Assistance for Voluntary Return to Syria – Phase Two” https://help.unhcr.org/jordan/cash-assistance-for-voluntary-return-to-syria-phase-two/
You can also contact ARDD for free legal advice via the 24/7 Emergency Hotline: 0777387221.
For information about available services inside Syria, visit “Syria is Home”.
Finally, ARDD emphasizes the importance of continuing legal advocacy efforts and appreciates the initial responsiveness of decision-makers to a set of recommendations aimed at enhancing the protection and legal rights of Syrian refugees.
First Recommendation: Establish a Payment Point at the Jaber Border Crossing
Establish an official payment point at the Jaber border crossing, dedicated to enabling Syrians wishing to return to pay any pending fines or debts related to unresolved legal cases. A similar mechanism was previously implemented successfully at Queen Alia International Airport, managed by the Judicial Enforcement Department. This measure would:
– Facilitate and speed up return procedures.
– Reduce cases of return denial at the border.
– Strengthen institutional coordination and ensure legal compliance.
The model used for overstay fine payment windows at Jordanian airports could serve as a successful example for border applications.
Second Recommendation: Amend the Mechanism for Issuing Financial Circulars from Public Hospitals
Adjust official procedures so that circulars related to unpaid debts in public hospitals are issued in the name of the responsible adult (guardian or head of household), rather than the child who received medical treatment. This proposed amendment aligns with the Jordanian Child Law, Jordan’s commitments under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and ensures children are protected from legal or administrative consequences beyond their responsibility
