FORCED MIGRATION FROM THE SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC: A SNAPSHOT FROM THE COVID-19 PERIOD

Year 2024, Volume: 5 Issue: 1, 69 - 79, 29.06.2024

Renk Özdemir

https://doi.org/10.56400/tarsusiibfdergisi.1488568

Abstract

This study revisits the forced displacement from the Syrian Arab Republic, considered one of the biggest mass migration movements that occurred since the beginning of the 'Arab Spring' movements. With the prolongation of the crisis, the involvement of international actors and the COVID-19 pandemic, the plight of asylum seekers worsened, while the infrastructure of the host countries also continued to face challenges. According to the data compiled by the UNHCR from the said countries as of mid-2024, there are currently 3,115,344 Syrians with temporary protection status (SuTPs) in the Republic of Türkiye, followed by 779,645 Syrians in the Lebanese Republic, 631,656 Syrians in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, 282,620 Syrians in the Republic of Iraq, and 156,378 Syrians in the Arab Republic of Egypt. In the literature, there is common consensus that the Republic of Türkiye, especially during the initial years of the protracted Syrian conflict, pursued an 'open door policy' vis-à-vis the Syrian asylum seekers. Despite periodic setbacks and attempts to stem further mass migration movements from Syria since the year 2019, state practice vis-à-vis the displaced Syrians remains inclusive if one is to judge from the overall facilitation of access to healthcare, schooling, and the labor market. Building on these observations and relying on secondary sources and reports, the present article makes a modest attempt to take a snapshot of the SuTPs ' legal status and discusses the extent to which they have accessed healthcare during the COVID-19 period and beyond.

Keywords

The Syrian Arab Republic, Forced Migration, Syrians Under Temporary Protection, COVID-19, SuTPs

Supporting Institution

Acknowledgements are due to TUBITAK. This study benefited from project number 1059B192000704, funded by the TUBITAK BIDEB 2219 Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program.

Project Number

1059B192000704

Suriye Arap Cumhuriyeti'nden Zorunlu Göç: COVID-19 Döneminden Bir Kesit

Abstract

Bu çalışmada 'Arap Baharı' hareketlerinin başından bu yana yaşanan en büyük toplu yer değiştirme olaylarından biri olarak tanımlanan Suriye Arap Cumhuriyeti'nden göç ele alınmaktadır. Krizin uzaması, uluslararası aktörlerin sahaya girmesi ve COVID-19 salgını ile birlikte, sığınmacıların yaşadıkları zorluklara, ev sahibi ülkelerin alt yapısal sorunları da eklenmiştir. BMMYK'nın ilgili ülkelerden derlemiş olduğu veriye göre, 2024 yılı itibarıyla Türkiye Cumhuriyeti'nde kayıtlı 3.115.344 geçici koruma statüsü altında Suriyeli (GKAS) bulunmakta olup, bu sayıyı 779.645 Suriyeli ile Lübnan Cumhuriyeti, 631.656 Suriyeli ile Ürdün Haşimi Krallığı, 282.620 Suriyeli ile Irak Cumhuriyeti ve 156,378 Suriyeli ile Mısır Arap Cumhuriyeti izlemektedir. Türkiye'nin, özellikle de savaşın ilk yıllarında Suriyeli sığınmacılara karşı 'açık kapı politikası' izlemiş olduğu literatürde genel kabul görmektedir. Durum Türkiye'deki Suriyelilere sağlık, eğitim ve iş piyasası alanlarında sunulan erişim fırsatları üzerinden değerlendirilecek olursa, 2019 yılından bu yana Suriye kaynaklı yeni göç dalgalarını önlemeye yönelik girişimlere rağmen, GKAS'a ilişkin kapsayıcı yaklaşımın sürmekte olduğu ifade edilebilir. Elinizdeki çalışma, COVID-19 dönemi ve sonrasında Suriye vatandaşlarının yasal statüsüne ilişkin yapılan düzenlemeleri ve sağlık sistemine ne ölçüde erişebildiklerini kayıt almaya yönelik mütevazı bir çabanın ürünü olup, ikinci el kaynak ve raporlara dayanmaktadır.

Keywords

Suriye Arap Cumhuriyeti, Zorunlu Göç, Geçici Koruma Altındaki Suriyeliler, COVID-19, GKAS

Supporting Institution

Acknowledgements are due to TUBITAK. This study benefited from project number 1059B192000704, funded by the TUBITAK BIDEB 2219 Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program.

Project Number

1059B192000704

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