Over 19,000 Syrian refugees passed through Albania in last five years

Dec 13, 2024 - Over the past five years, over 19,000 Syrian refugees have passed through Albania, seeking a route to safety and a future in European countries. Most of them entered the country from Greece, fleeing the brutal regime of Bashar al-Assad.

Albanian authorities have reported that while some refugees sought asylum in the country, most used it as a transit point to continue their journey northward, often heading for Montenegro and beyond.

According to data from Albania's Institute of Statistics (INSTAT), the largest number of Syrian refugees entered in 2020, with 6,224 individuals recorded. The following year saw 5,366 Syrians cross into Albania, a trend that mirrors the ongoing displacement caused by the conflict in Syria.

Many of those who sought asylum in Albania did so temporarily, often to gain time before continuing their journey to other European nations. This practice, while providing brief respite, highlights the broader migration patterns in the region, where refugees are often in search of a safer and more stable life.

While the fall of Assad's regime in Syria has shifted the political landscape, experts expect that Albania may reconsider its asylum policies for Syrian nationals. This adjustment will align with the new realities in Syria and the policies adopted by European Union countries, which continue to manage rising migration pressures.

In total, approximately 1,034 Syrian nationals applied for residency in Albania over the last five years, with many settling in the capital, Tirana. However, as of recent months, there has been a noticeable decrease in Syrian nationals entering Albania from Greece.

With the migration situation evolving, Greek immigration authorities have reported that some Syrian refugees in Greece have recently withdrawn their asylum requests, possibly as a result of shifting policies and changing opportunities in the EU.

Albanian authorities, while not yet seeing significant new entries from Syria, remain vigilant, with border controls and asylum procedures continuously under review in light of regional shifts and European responses to the ongoing migration crisis.