Syrian refugees as the victims of urban regeneration: A case study of Ankara, Önder and Ulubey neighborhoods

Abstract

The Syrian Civil War compelled vast numbers of Syrians to leave their homeland, and taking advantage of Turkey’s Open Door Policy, millions of Syrians crossed the shared border between 2011 and 2015 in search of refuge. The temporary protection nature of Turkey’s Policy for Syrians prevented the formation of comprehensive socio-spatial policies related to the provision of human rights. Regarding to the right to housing, the lack of government accommodation for refugees meant that the Syrian refugees became a part of Turkey’s existing housing problems, such as squatting and failed urban regeneration projects. The present study reveals different dimensions of housing problems that Syrian refugees encountered such as poor housing conditions, socio-spatial isolation, unaffordability, and forced mobility through the Ankara case. It is argued that living in an area in the process of urban regeneration has exacerbated these multiple housing problems. The research is based on a mixed-method including the analysis of quantitative data, questionnaire with Syrian refugees, semi-structured in-depth interviews with both Syrian refugees and key actors, and participant observations. Field study of the Önder and Ulubey neighborhoods was conducted between 2017 and 2019. The paper concludes with an evaluation of the findings, and an explanation of their potential for use in the future in urban policymaking and planning processes.

Keywords

• Urban Regeneration
• Syrian Refugees
• Urban Refugees
• Right to Housing
• Ankara

Kentsel dönüşümün mağdurları Suriyeli mülteciler: Ankara’da Önder ve Ulubey mahalleleri örneği

Öz

Suriye İç Savaşı, çok sayıda sivili ülkesinden ayrılmaya zorlamış ve 2011-2015 yılları arasında Türkiye’nin açık kapı politikasından yararlanan milyonlarca Suriye vatandaşı sınırı geçerek sığınma arayışına girmiştir. Türkiye’nin Suriyelilere uyguladığı geçici koruma politikasının niteliği, insan hakları çerçevesinden kapsamlı sosyo-mekansal politikaların geliştirilememesine neden olmuştur. Barınma hakkı bağlamında da politika üretilememiş olması, Suriyeli mültecileri Türkiye’deki gecekondu ve kentsel dönüşüm gibi mevcut sorunlu barınma süreçlerinin bir parçası haline getirmiştir. Bu çalışma, zayıf barınma koşulları, sosyo-mekânsal izolasyon, pahalılık ve zoraki yer değişiklikleri gibi Suriyeli mültecilerin karşılaştığı konut sorunlarının farklı boyutlarını Ankara örneği üzerinden ortaya koymaktadır. Kentsel dönüşüm sürecindeki bir bölgede yaşamanın bu sorunları derinleştirdiği ileri sürülmektedir. Araştırma, nicel verilerin analizi, Suriyeli mültecilerle yapılan anket çalışması, Suriyeli mülteciler ve diğer önemli aktörlerle yapılan yarı yapılandırılmış derinlemesine görüşmeler ve katılımcı gözlemleri içeren karma bir yönteme dayanmaktadır. Saha çalışması, Önder ve Ulubey mahallelerinde 2017-2019 yılları arasında gerçekleştirilmiştir. Sonuç bölümünde bulgular, gelecekteki planlama ve politika oluşturma süreçlerine girdi sağlayacak biçimde tartışmaya açılmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Kentsel dönüşüm
• Suriyeli mülteciler
• Kent mülteciliği
• Barınma hakkı
• Ankara

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