Syrian refugeeS in Turkey The Long road ahead (original) (raw)

Syrian refugees in Turkey: Beyond the numbers

he Syrian crisis has entered its eighth year. More than 3.5 million people displaced by the violence there have sought refuge in Turkey. Their numbers, through births and new arrivals, are increasing by approximately 1,000 people per day.

MASS IMMIGRATION AND SYRIANS IN TURKEY CONFERENCE FINAL REPORT

MASS IMMIGRATION AND SYRIANS IN TURKEY , 2017

The conference included a total of 11 sessions with 45 presentations by 52 speakers. • Over the past fifty years, two thirds of the world population has migrated from rural to urban spaces. The projections indicate that this tendency will gradually increase and by 2050 60 percent of the world population will be living in urban settings. • In 2016, the global refugee population reached 65.5 million. If refugees formed a new country, it would be the 21st largest state in the world according to population size. • The global tendency of migrating from rural to urban spaces necessitates thorough atten- tion. The first international migration and security conference entitled “Immigrant Influx and the City”, organized by CRIBS in 2016, aimed to fill a major gap in this context. A series of conferences with various themes that will address the issue are also planned for following years. • In the presentations made as part of the conference, it was underscored that overlooking immigrants in urban planning processes is a significant global-level shortcoming. For instance, it was highlighted in one of the presentations that Pakistan has a number of urban planning practices embedded with covert discriminatory dimensions particularly against poor and female immigrants. • In Turkey, the population of Syrians under temporary protection reached 2.801.586 as of December 15, 2016. Among this population, 258.571 people take shelter in Temporary Refugee Centers (TRCs) (not to say camps) while the rest reside in spaces outside of camps using their own means. • If all Syrians under temporary protection in Turkey gathered in one city, it would be the 4th largest city in the country. • According to four different scenarios developed as part of the projections made about Syrian population in Turkey, the population of Syrians under temporary protection will be between 2.4 and 3.7 million by the 2025. 7 Mass Immigration and Syrians in Turkey • In Turkey, the influence of Syrians under temporary protection on the country's economy is significant. Their influence on the Turkish economy was also one of the topics discussed in the conference. According to the presentations made as part of the conference, the primary effects were determined as follows: • Positive effects: • Evaluating the impact that Syrians under temporary protection' have on the country's economy by looking solely at the negative effects would make for an incomplete assess- ment. Consequently, while making evaluations regarding this issue, the contributions Syrians make to the local economies with the assets they hold must also be taken into account. • The extensive aid provided in border regions of Turkey has created economic mobility for local companies (the local production rates have increased particularly in the textile and food sectors.). • A growing mobility has been observed in the real estate market. • Negative effects: • Rents prices have increased. • Unfair competition has been observed in the labor market. The manpower (particu- larly in agriculture and unskilled labor) has become cheaper by falling below the national average. • The province-based inflation has climbed above the national average in a number of provinces including Kilis, Gaziantep and Hatay, where Syrians under temporary pro- tection are densely populated. • Unrecorded economic activities, tax loss and tax fraud have increased. • It was highlighted throughout the conference that the economic impacts of the the mass migration movements in the context of Syrians under temporary protection should not only be considered in terms of security, but also approached with an aim to provide effective manage- ment. • A number of presentations made within the conference were about the education of mass migrants. Considering that the influx of Syrian immigrants to Turkey constitutes one of the largest mass migration movements in recent years, the education of Syrians under temporary protection in Turkey stood out as one of the main themes touched upon in the presentations. 8 Mass Immigration and Syrians in Turkey • The topics highlighted in the presentations about the education of Syrians under tempo- rary protection in Turkey include: • Among nearly three million Syrians under temporary protection in Turkey, the pop- ulation of school-age children is around 900.000. • Asserting that “all Syrians in Turkey will be educated” is a baseless approach. Despite all the endeavors, a large number of Syrians under temporary protection will not be incorporated into the education system. • Prior to 2014, it was suggested that Syrians should be educated in accordance with their own curricula with the assumption that Syrians under temporary protection would soon return to their country. However, as a result of the realization that Syrians would not be returning to their country in the short-term, in 2014, a Turkish educational cur- riculum was designed for Syrians. • By 2016, Turkey had already spent $3 billion for the education of Syrians under temporary protection. • When the education of Syrians under temporary protection is considered in terms of allocated resources, it can be seen that the local administrations aid Syrians not only with regard to education but also in terms of meeting their basic needs such as housing, food and health care. • A total of 19.200 teacher candidates among temporarily protected Syrians were pro- vided with in-service training. The trained candidates are now ready to start working as professional teachers. • The following points were highlighted in the presentations on mass migration and hous- ing: • Towards the end of 2016, a total of 258.571 Syrians under temporary protection were taking shelter in 25 Temporary Refugee Centers located in 10 provinces across Turkey. • The cost of Temporary Refugee Centers based in Turkey is considerably high. Thanks to the modern facilities in the centers all kinds of basic necessities of Syrians under tem- porary protection are met. • Administered by Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (DEMP), the Temporary Refugee Centers are globally acclaimed. • Based on the observations, Syrians under temporary protection who live outside the Temporary Refugee Centers (camps) encounter serious problems with regard to accom- modation. 9 Mass Immigration and Syrians in Turkey • Living especially in slum areas or in city’s decrepit neighborhoods, Syrians under temporary protection take shelter in buildings with poor material conditions. This situ- ation can cause health problems along with serious societal problems. • Syrians' need for shelter has caused housing rents to rise in certain provinces such as Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa and Kilis. • In the presentations made on the topic of mass migration and urban security, the fol- lowing subjects were highlighted: • Mass migration can lead to an increase in xenophobia and hate crimes. • The social and psychological relations between the host country and migrants must be closely followed and required measures must be taken to ensure coexistence in har- mony. • Although the issue of urban security is already on the agenda regardless of mass mi- gration, the Syrian influx in Turkey has rendered the issue even more crucial. Concerns about urban housing and security, have led to an increase in high-security gated com- munities, which is being shaped by the discourses developed around Syrians' need for shelter. • Aghettoisanurbanspacepredominantlypopulatedbymembersofaminoritygroup. Ghettoization directly affects urban security. Formed in the outskirts of cities, these spaces constitute a threat to the security of cities. The isolation of immigrants from the rest of society obstructs their integration into the host country. Various offenses includ- ing forgery, smuggling and drug trafficking are prevalent in ghettos. Ghettoization is also a major impediment to adopting an urban identity. • Immigrants' acting according to their own accord instead of complying with urban and social life could lead to threats against national security in the medium and long term. • Mass migration leads to threats against border security. • Human trafficking activities rise as a result of mass migration. • The mass migration experience in the context of the Syrian case is an example of failure for the United Nations (UN). As a transit country, Turkey was confronted with the migrant crisis as a result of this failure. However, this crisis is as a matter of global concern. The whole world is both responsible for and vulnerable to the crisis. Therefore, all countries across the world should contribute to resolving the problem that is partic- ularly visible in countries of transit like Turkey. 10 Mass Immigration and Syrians in Turkey • The first wave of Syrian refugees arriving in Turkey scrambled for a living under harsh circumstances. Yet, the living conditions of refugees in Turkey have been en- hanced as a result of the policies introduced throughout the process. However, long- term and far-reaching policies are still required in Turkey for the integration of Syrian refugees into society. • The organized crime networks active in Turkey can easily deceive Syrian refugees, who form the most vulnerable segment of society. Consequently, Turkey could con- front the danger of an ethnic shift in terms of perpetrators of crime (both in offenders and injured parties) in the short term. For this reason, immediate measures are required. • Following projects such as refugee centers and special education facilities designed for Syrian refugees, Turkey should develop more projects not only for Syrians but for all segments of society in order to facilitate the integration of Syrian refugees into social life.

Syrians go home: the challenge of the refugee influx from the Syrian civil war in Turkey

One of the biggest problems arising from the conflict derivate from Syria´s civil war is the flows of refugees to neighboring countries. With an estimated population around 1.5 million, Turkey has become the country with the highest number of forced migrants are receiving. If at the beginning Turkish population has considered the Syrian immigration and their guests (misafir) under a government´s policy of "open gates", the most recent developments (with several protests and xenophobic behavior against Syrian refugees), consistent with the traditional view that Turks have maintained over the Arabs as subjects of the Ottoman Empire and the attempt, since the founding of the Republic, to break away from the image of the Arab Muslims, which has resulted in a negative image of it in Turkish society. Therefore, the main objectives of this paper, as its title indicates, tried, through the historical context of migration flows that Turkey has received during the past 25 years (migration routes, visa policies and relations with the EU about illegal immigration); changes in number, geographical distribution and profile of Syrian refugees; and the analysis of both different discourses, realities and implications for domestic politics, the challenges that the country with Ottoman heritage with an emergence of a duality in the "Arabization of Turkish streets", faces due to political shift to MENA region of the foreign policy implemented by the AKP since 2002, which has not only opened gates for the arrival of Syrian refugees, but also of Iraqi, Libyans, Palestinians refugees and Egyptians exiles, which contrasts with the influx of a large number of tourists from the Gulf countries.

Turkey’s refugees, Syrians and refugees from Turkey: a country of insecurity

The European Union (EU) has faced one of its biggest crises with the rise of population inflows through its Eastern and Southern neighbours as well as movements within the Union. In 2016, the main debate that dominated Europe was on restricting migration within and into the EU along with concerns and objections to the refugee quota systems and the sharing of the burden among member states. Turkey emerged as a ‘gate keeper’ in this crisis and has since been at the centre of debates because of the large Syrian refugee population in the country and billions of Euros it was promised to prevent refugees travelling to Europe. The Syrian crisis produced over 4.8 million refugees with over 2.8 million were based in Turkey by the end of 2016. Turkey with its generous support for Syrian refugees has been confirmed as a ‘country of security’. This shadows the darker side of affairs as the very same country has also produced millions of asylum seekers since the 1980 military coup. Current circumstances and fresh evidence indicate that there will be more EU bound refugees coming through and from Turkey.

Effects of Syrian Refugee Crisis on Turkey

— Since the outbreak of Syrian war in 2011, an estimated 9 million Syrians have fled their homes, taking shelter in neighbouring countries like Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt and other European Union nations. As a result of Turkey's " open door policy " , it is now hosting refugees more than its critical threshold which led to a huge economic stemming and is impacting the country socially, ethically, economically and culturally. With limited assistance provided by the international community, Turkey is now struggling to cope with the growing numbers. The paper intends to provide a profound analysis on how the displacement crisis has impacted Turkey and its shift on the refugee policies in order to encompass long term solutions.

Effect of Syrian Refugee Crisis on Turkey

Since the outbreak of Syrian war in 2011, an estimated 9 million Syrians have fled their homes, taking shelter in neighbouring countries like Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt and other European Union nations. As a result of Turkey’s “open door policy”, it is now hosting refugees more than its critical threshold which led to a huge economic stemming and is impacting the country socially, ethically and culturally. With limited assistance provided by the international community, Turkey is now struggling to cope up with the growing numbers. The paper intends to provide a profound analysis on how the displacement crisis has impacted Turkey and various initiatives undertaken by the Turkish government to reduce their burden. Also the paper highlights Turkey’s shift on its refugee policies in order to encompass long term solutions.

Turkey's Syrian Refugee Question

The New Turkey, 2019

Turkey has recently increased control over immigration as well as the irregular settlement of Syrians, due to increasing social disturbances, particularly in Istanbul.

Current Migration Data and Main Problem Areas Relating to Syrian refugees in Turkey

Current Migration Data and Main Problem Areas Relating to Syrian refugees in Turkey, 2021

The events that started in the neighbouring country Syria in March 2011 within the framework of the popular uprisings that took place in Arab countries such as Tunisia and Egypt, which is referred to as the "Arab Spring" in the literature, turned into great chaos and civil war in a short time. The civil war in Syria has brought along a great humanitarian tragedy, security problem and mass migration wave to neighbouring countries. Nearly ten million Syrians have turned to internal and external immigrants. In this context, humanitarian concerns and the "open door policy" that opened its borders to all Syrians seeking asylum in Turkey, there are already three and half million have been given temporary asylum to Syrian refugees. Despite the end of the wave of refugees, Turkey is still a case of escape and a country of asylum for refugees. Therefore, it is too essential to collect and analyse the latest migration trends in Turkey. In this study, first Turkey's latest migration trends, with their analysis of data and statistics, will be made, and graphs, maps and tables will support it. Then, the problems of Syrian refugees and Turkey's issues are facing through the process of dealing with the refugees. Besides, the study results available that refugees' problems and potential risks to Turkey are assessed.