Since 2017, over 1,000 people have voluntarily returned to Syria with financial support from the German government, the German Interior Ministry told dpa on request.
The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) paid a total of 199 return trips in 2017, 466 in 2018 and 347 in 2019, the ministry said.
The actual number of voluntary trips to Syria is likely higher because applications from all federal states for the refinancing of trips have not been made, the ministry said.
Because of the "persistently difficult security situation," voluntary return to Syria is not currently being promoted, according to a federal government information page on the programmes.
A bloody civil war has been raging in Syria since 2011. Germany has not deported people to the country since 2012.
Funding voluntary return
The German federal and state governments have been funding voluntary return to the country of origin for more than 40 years.
In addition to travel costs and grants, there are also cash injections for returnees to restart their lives.
There are several programmes that are designed to provide organizational and financial support for people returning to their country of origin.
Almost 630,000 Syrians have applied for asylum in Germany since the beginning of the civil war, with most successfully gaining protected status.
