The voluntary return program for Syrian refugees in Dresden has seen an abysmal uptake, raising questions about the effectiveness of such schemes. Despite offering financial incentives — €1,000 per adult and €4,000 per family — only four out of 7,433 Syrians in the city have applied since the program’s launch at the start of the year.
Dresden’s authorities had promoted the initiative as a way for Syrians to return home following the end of the civil war. “Syrians who want to return to Syria permanently after the fall of the dictator Assad can receive financial and organizational support,” the city government stated.
However, the 0.5 percent participation rate suggests that few are willing to take up the offer.
“A total of four applications from Syrians have been submitted and processed,” city spokesperson Alexander Buchmann told Bild, confirming that not a single individual has yet been confirmed to have departed under the scheme. Officials did not disclose how many Syrians may have left Germany without claiming financial assistance.
