Syrian Refugee Crisis Molly S., Jillyan M., Wendy C., Jessica S.
Overview History of Syrian Civil War Current situation in Syria Syrian Refugee Policies in Turkey Syrian Refugee Policies in Jordan Syrian Refugee Policies in Germany Local and Personal Implications
Definitions UNHCR: Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. (UNHCR) Refugee: A person...owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country." (UNHCR)
Definitions Asylee: An asylum-seeker is someone who says he or she is a refugee, but whose claim has not yet been definitively evaluated. (UNHCR) Internally Displaced Person: Internally displaced persons, or IDPs... have not crossed an international border to find sanctuary but have remained inside their home countries. (UNHCR)
History of the Syrian Civil War December 2010: - Arab Spring demonstrations March 2011: - Syrian people lead peaceful protests against Assad s authoritative rule and other social issues - Assad counters protests with violence - Free Syrian Army is formed by rebel groups 2011-current - Civil war between opposition groups and Assad s regime http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/world/middleeast/30syria.html?_r=0
There the uprising descended into a full-blown civil war. The state s crackdown is ongoing and unyielding, with tanks, helicopter gunships, and bombers devastating major cities. - Brownlee, Masoud, and Reynolds
Challenges facing Syrians within Syria 1. Violence a. 220,000 people killed, half civilians b. 1.5 million people wounded/permanently disabled c. Cause: Chemical weapons, suicide bombs, shootings, ISIS. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/31/-sp-homs-syria-life-devastationresidents-rebel-assad-forces
Challenges facing Syrians within Syria 2. Mental health issues a. At least 1 in every 30 Syrians suffer from severe mental health conditions b. 130 centers provide care for 10,000 people each month c. Attacks on health centers https://timemilitary.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/134368013.jpg
Challenges facing Syrians within Syria 3. Education a. ~ 2 million Syrian children out of school b. Children s future: recruitment for soldiers, seeing violence/brutality c. 1 of 4 schools damaged/occupied http://www.telegraph.co. uk/news/picturegalleries/worldnews/9599879/families-flee-into- Turkey-as-army-and-rebels-fight-in-Syrian-cities.html? frame=2365509
Focus: Madaya Town of 40,000 civilians Food used as weapon in civil war Area is covered in landmines to prevent escape Starvation UN provided Madaya with food finally, but the handouts are only temporary http://ichef.bbci.co. uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/a80d/production/_87512034_ syriamadayakefraya4640116.png **UN 2016-2017 for the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP) is 5.8 billion USD **UN 2016-2017 Humanitarian Response Plan for Syrian Arab Republic is 3.18 billion USD
IDP in Syria - 6.6 million Syrians within Syria - Since 2011: 50 families per hour displaced http://theweek.com/captured/449516/life-inside-syrian-refugee-camps http://www.cbsnews.com/news/syria-crisis-has-created-2-million-refugees-un-says/
Location of IDP Camps http://www.internal-displacement.org/middle-east-and-northafrica/syria/2014/displacement-in-syria-as-of-october-2014
Syrian Refugee Policies in Turkey
Statistics of Syrian Refugees in Turkey How many legal refugees in Turkey? Over 2.2 million (November, 2015) How many live in refugee camps? 250,000-300,000 No more camp capacity Where do the other refugees live? ⅓ of refugees in Turkey are unregistered Homeless Live with family in Turkey http://syrianrefugees.eu/?page_id=80
History of Refugee Policies in Turkey April 2011: Unconditional Open Door Policy October 2011: Temporary Protection Status 2013: Law on Foreigners and International Protection April 2014: Conditional Refugee Status November 2015: Closed Borders February 2016: Closed but will open if necessary
Challenges Facing Turkey Economic Challenges By 2015, camps cost 5 billion dollars Limited resources Lower wages, rising rent, unemployment Social Challenges Contrasting cultural norms Hostile feelings Security Challenges http://syrianrefugees.eu/?page_id=80 Isis Harsh conditions lead to violent acts
Challenges Facing Refugees in Turkey Turkey s Limited Resources 1. Harsh Living conditions 2. Sickness and disease 3. Culture shock & forced adaptation 4. Human rights violations
Syrian Refugee Policies in Jordan
Jordan vs. Indiana Jordan Size: 34,495 mi² Population: ~6.7 million Foreigners: >52% Indiana Size: 36,418 mi² Population: ~6.5 million Foreigners: 4.8% Source: Countrymeters.info (2016) & Migrationpolicycentre.eu Source: U.S. Census (2015)
Principle ideology in Jordan: Kinship Principle Source: Haynes, W.C. (2016). Jordanian society s responses to syrian refugees. Military Review, 96(1), 45-52
Statistics of Syrian Refugees in Jordan Today How many registered refugees in Jordan? 622,000 as of Feb 2015 How many live in Jordanian refugee camps? 16% Over 80,000 refugees in Zaatari Camp alone Where do the rest live? Over 520,000 live dispersed in host communities Informal tented settlements (ITS) Source: amnesty.org
History of Refugee Policies in Jordan 1998: Non- Refoulement Policy 2013 Jan: Open Border Policy 2013 Oct: No Entry Policy ~2013: More Restrictions at Border 2014: 14 July Procedure 2015-2016 encampment policy 2014 Dec: Closed Borders w/ exceptions 2014 Nov: Closed Borders
Another major reason for Jordan s tightening of its borders is Jordan s participation in U.S.-led military campaign against ISIS. (Haynes, 2016, p.51)
Lieutenant Moaz al- Kasasbeh Killed on 1/3/15 by ISIS
Challenges Facing Refugees in Jordan Jordan s Limited Resources Harsh Living conditions Sickness and disease THE UNKNOWN
Syrian Refugee Impact on Economy of Jordan Loss of international trade between Jordan and Syria Dramatic decrease in tourism industry Increase in real estate prices Tightening job markets Source: The Washington Institute (2015)
A proposal for developmental change Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Model King Hussein Bin Talal Development Area (KHBTDA) Developmental work vs. Relief work Source: Betts, A., Collier, P. (2015). Help refugees help themselves. Foreign Affairs, 94(6), 84-92
Syrian Refugee Crisis in Germany
What is the EU?
Statistics of Syrian Refugees in Germany Germany received 1.1 million refugees in 2015
Challenges Syrian Refugees face in Germany Limited resources Islamophobia Scapegoat for attacks
Challenges for Germany Economic Limited Resources
EU :Dublin Protocol Migrants can only apply for asylum in the first EU member state they enter
Germany: Dublin Protocol Chancellor Angela Merkel suspended the protocol in August 2015 until November in an effort to respond to the crisis and welcome refugees Projected acceptance of 800,000 refugees in 2016
Local Implications
How does this crisis impact us? 70,000 refugee arrivals in 2015 85,000 projected refugee arrivals for 2016 Admitted 1,800 Syrian refugees in 2015 Expecting to admit 10,000 Syrian refugees in 2016
Why should we be concerned? UNHCR has already referred 18,000 Syrian refugee cases to the US Many of them are the most vulnerable-- torture survivors, people with special medical needs and women who head households
Common Fears Fear of vetting process not always 100% accurate Fear of Islamic takeover Fear of lack of resources and benefits
How can the US get involved? "My plea today is that we need governments around the world to show leadership, to analyze the situation, to understand exactly what their countries can do, how many refugees they can assist and how." - Angelina Jolie Pitt, UNHCR Special Envoy
What does this mean for us as Christians? I was a stranger, and you welcomed me Matthew 25:35
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References (2015). ( No. 195). Ortado`gu Strateji`k Arastirmalar Merkezi Center For Middle Eastern Strategic Studies: Orsam. doi:978-605-4615-95-7 Achilli, L. (2015). Syrian refugees in Jordan: a reality check. Migration Policy Centre, 1-12. Amnesty International (2015). Facts & figures: syria refugee crisis & international resettlement. Retrieved March 15, 2016, from https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2014/12/facts-figures-syria-refugee-crisisinternational-resettlement/ Betts, A., Collier, P. (2015). Help refugees help themselves. Foreign Affairs, 94(6), 84-92 Bhardwaj, M. (2012). Development of Conflict in Arab Spring Libya and Syria: From Revolution to Civil War. Washington University International Review, 1. Retrieved March 15, 2016, from https://pages.wustl. edu/wuir/development-conflict-arab-spring-libya-and-syria-revolution-civil-war. Bidinger, S., Lang, A., Hites, D., Kuzmova, Y., Noureddine, E. (2015). Protecting Syrian refugees: laws, policies, and global responsibility sharing. International Human Rights Clinic, 1-131. Brenke, K. (2015). Distribution of refugees very uneven among EU member states -- even when accounting for economic strength and total population. DIW Economic Bulletin, 5(39), 511-523.
References Brownlee, J., Masoud, T. E., & Reynolds, A. (2015). The Arab Spring. [electronic resource]: pathways of repression and reform. Oxford, United Kingdom : Oxford University Press, May 2015. ENGELEN, K. C. (2015). The Merkel Years. International Economy,29(4), 27-62. HAFEZ, F. (2015). The Refugee Crisis and Islamophobia. Insight Turkey, 17(4), 19-26. Haynes, W.C. (2016). Jordanian society s responses to syrian refugees. Military Review, 96(1), 45-52 Healing invisible wounds of the Syrian conflict. (2016). Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 94(1), 6-7 2p. doi:10.2471/blt.16.020116 Humanitarian Response Plan 2016-2017, OCHA, Dec 2015. Retrieved from: https://docs.unocha. org/sites/dms/syria/2016_hrp_syrian_arab_republic.pdf Icduygu, A. 2015. Syrian Refugees in Turkey: The Long Road Ahead. Washington, D.C.: Migration Policy Institute. Karakoç, J., & Dogruel, F. (2015). The impact of turkey's policy toward syria on human security. Arab Studies Quarterly, 37(4), 351-366. O'Rourke, J. (2015). Education for syrian refugees: The failure of second-generation human rights during extraordinary crises. Albany Law Review, 78(2), 711-738. Rad, S.T. (2011). SOAS University of London: the school of oriental and african studies. Retrieved March 15, 2016, from https://www.soas.ac.uk/cdpr/publications/dv/dv65.html
References Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan 2016-2017 in Response to the Syria Crisis. UNHCR and UNDP. Retrieved March 14, 2016, from: http://www.3rpsyriacrisis.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/3rp-regional- Overview-2016-2017.pdf Schenker, D. (2015). The Washington Institute: improving the quality of U.S. Middle east policy. Retrieved March 15, 2016, from http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/jordanseconomy-surprises The UN Refugee Agency (1977). Note on Non-refoulment (submitted by the high commissioner). Retrieved March 15, 2016, from http://www.unhcr.org/3ae68ccd10.html UNHCR The UN Refugee Agency. Data Retrieved from http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/regional.php http://www.rcusa.org/uploads/pdfs/at%20the%20breaking%20point%20-%20rcusa%20report%20on% 20Refugees%20in%20Jordan%20and%20Egypt.pdf Togral Koca,,Burcu. (2015). Deconstructing Turkey's "Open Door" Policy Towards Refugees From Syria. Migration Letters, 12(3), 209-225.