The impact of the influx of Syrian refugees on rural areas of Türkiye

Yıl 2023, Sayı: 50, 285 - 296, 08.10.2023

Suk-kyeong Kang

https://doi.org/10.32003/igge.1307204

Öz

The rapid and significant influx of Syrian refugees to Türkiye, has transformed rural communities in Türkiye significantly in terms of living space, social and economic aspects. This study was conducted through a time-series survey over approximately four years beginning in 2016. The study area selected for this study was Çukurkuyu town, situated within the Niğde province in the Central Anatolia region of Türkiye. We argue that over this time period, conflicts and frictions between locals and Syrian refugees changed in terms of the object and intensity of the conflicts over time. The community members in the study area experienced significant confusion and conflict in the early days following large influxes of Syrian refugees. However, as refugees gradually migrated to urban areas in large numbers, and living spaces became separated from local people, confusion and conflicts were alleviated. On the other hand, competition for employment with seasonal Turkish agricultural workers living in the same temporary residential areas and engaged in the same agricultural activities, and conflicts over wage decreases emerged.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Syrian Refugees, Türkiye, Niğde Province, Temporary Residential Area, Seasonal Turkish Agricultural Workers

Teşekkür

The paper was written by a single author. I would like to thank Associate Prof. Muhammed Zeynel ÖZTÜRK of Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, who helped me take drone photography while carrying out this study. In addition, I would like to sincerely thank Assistant Prof. Derya AĞBABA of Samsun University and the students of the Department of Geography at Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University in Turkey, who actively participated in the fieldwork with me during approximately four years of this study.

The impact of the influx of Syrian refugees on rural areas of TÜRKİYE

Öz

Suriyeli mültecilerin Türkiye'ye hızlı ve kitlesel bir şekilde akın etmesi, özellikle kırsal alanda yaşayanların hayatını sosyal ve ekonomik açıdan dönüşüme uğratmıştır. Çalışma alanı olarak İç Anadolu Bölgesi, Niğde İlinde yer alan Çukurkuyu Kasabası seçilmiştir. Bu çalışma, 2016 yılında başlayan ve yaklaşık dört yıl süren bir zaman serisi araştırması olarak yürütülmüştür. Bu süre zarfında, yerel halk ile Suriyeli mülteciler arasında tartışma ve sürtüşmelerin olduğu, ancak bu uyuşmazlıkların nedenlerinin ve yoğunluğunun zaman içinde değiştiğini iddia etmekteyiz. Çalışma alanındaki Türk ve Suriyeli topluluk üyeleri, mültecilerin büyük göç dalgasının ilk günlerinde önemli ölçüde karışıklık ve çatışma yaşamıştır. Ancak çok sayıda mültecinin zamanla kentsel alanlara göç etmesi ve yaşam alanlarının yerel halktan ayrışmasıyla birlikte karışıklıklar ve çatışmalar hafiflemiştir. Diğer taraftan, Suriyeli mültecilerle aynı geçici yerleşim alanlarında yaşayan ve aynı tarımsal faaliyetlerle uğraşan mevsimlik Türk tarım işçileri arasında iş gücü rekabeti ve ücret düşüşü nedeniyle anlaşmazlıklar ortaya çıkmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Suriyeli Mülteciler, Türkiye, Niğde İli, Geçici Yerleşim Alanı, Mevsimlik Türk Tarım İşçileri

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