DISPLACED PERSONS CASE STUDY TEMPLATE

DISPLACED PERSONS CASE STUDY TEMPLATE

1. What is the population of the displaced persons that you selected?

There are 6.2 million persons displaced within Syria and 2.5million children included. Syria is the most significant population of internally displaced persons in the World. This rate of displacement remains relentless. This being more than 40% of the people displaced.

http://www.emro.who.int/eha/displaced-populations/index.html

https://www.unhcr.org/sy/internally-displaced-people

2. History of your selected population?

Syria being rich in cultural and artistic heritage, is one of the ancient civilizations. From its origin to political instability that was recent then to the infamous Civil War, the country had had such a complicated history.

In the First World War, there was an invasion by the British and the French diplomats. They decided secretly to divide the country into regions—dividing the Arab lands into spheres: British and French, even as the First World War was coming to an end. British and French troops invaded Syria in the Second World War, but only for a short period. Soon after, Syria gained its independence in 1964.

There was an accusation from the U.S. against Syrian in 2002. The reason is that Syria is acquiring weapons of mass destruction, listing the country as a member of the “axis of evil.” Shortly after, Syria was blamed in the involvement of the assassination of Rafic Hariri, prime minister of Lebanese.

Some children and teenagers were arrested and tortured for being involved in writing anti-government graffiti, which they thought was inspiration from the Arab rebellion. This was followed by peaceful demonstrations in Syria, becoming widespread. The Syrian government, with Assad, reacted arresting and killing demonstrators with their family.

Combining those events with other conditions: a lagging economy, a significant hunger strike, a tense religious atmosphere, and a lack of freedom and rights caused civilian confrontation and, eventually, a revolt.

The (FSA) Free Syrian Army, arose in July 2011 and revolution erupted, overwhelming Syria in a full-blown civil war by 2012. Approximately, 321,000 people are dead or are missing since the war began. During a chemical attack in Damascus, hundreds of people killed. The U.S. said that the attack was by the Syrian regime, but the government accused the opposing forces. What was a disagreement between the Syrian rebels and the Assad government brought more complications as the clash advanced. New powers, including the Islamic State (ISIS), joined the war against the Syrian government.

ISIS took over significant areas of Syrian and Iraq in 2014. From then on, the U.S. forces have bombed ISIS-controlled regions in the state. The U.S. then began opposition to Mr. Assad’s government but has shown reluctance in getting deeply involved in the conflict. Iran and Russia took on to support the Syrian government.

For the first time in 2015, Russia launched an attack on the opposition in Syria.

On April 7, 2017, the U.S. instigated its first direct army action against Mr. Assad’s forces after accusing them of carrying out another chemical weapons attack on civilians.

https://www.history.com/topics/middle-east/the-history-of-syria

3. From where does your selected group originate?

The Syrian population originated from various places over some time. The Roman and Greek ethnic influences were insignificant compared to the Semitic inhabitants of Mesopotamia and Arabia: Canaanites, Chaldeans, Assyrians, and Aramaeans. Later on, the Turks, like the Romans and Greeks who came prior, influenced economic and political structures but were unable to produce any noticeable change in the Syrian people’s dominant Arab character.

A Kurdish minority also resides in Syria; many of the Kurdish inhabitants are Arabic-speaking and resides mostly in the northeast.

Syrian’s Armenian population is divided into two: the early settlers, who are Arabized, and the later immigrants, who arrived later, after the First World War and got to retain their language and identity. The Turkmen freely interacted with the Kurds and Arabs, but they did not lose their ethnic characters in some northern villages. Syria-speaking Assyrians migrated from Iraq to Syria as refugees in the 1930s quickly integrated due to migration and intermarriage in the cities.

Most of the population’s language is Arabic. Other languages are Kurdish, expressed in the northwest and northeast; in Aleppo, a major city, Armenian is spoken; and in villages east of the Euphrates and along the Turkey border, Turkish is spoken. French and English are understood, particularly among the educated and in urban centers.

https://www.britannica.com/place/Syria/Settlement-patterns

4. How many of your selected groups are refugees?

Turkey has the most significant number of enumerated Syrian refugees, being at 3.6million.

In Lebanon, livelihood is a struggle for more than 1million refugees with little or no financial resources.

In Jordan, there are over 655,000 men, children, and women who are currently in exile.

Iraq has been experiencing an increased number of Syrians arriving, therefore hosting more than 246,000 refugees. In Egypt, protection and assistance to more than 126,000 refugees have been provided by UNHCR.

But although life in exile can be difficult, it is even harder for the 6.2 million of them who are internally displaced. Thus the total number of refugees is approximately 5.6 million.

https://www.unhcr.org/syria-emergency.html

5. Host areas/countries? In other words, which countries are accepted by your selected group?

About 5million Syrians who are displaced live in the neighboring countries in North Africa and the Middle East. Those in Turkey (3.4 million), Lebanon (1 million), Jordan (660,000), and Iraq (250,000). In North African countries like Egypt and Libya, there are more than 150,000 Syrians.

Those who have moved to Europe as refugees or asylum seekers since the conflict began are about 1million. Small numbers of Syrian asylum seekers transferred to Sweden, being more than 110,000 and Austria being nearly 50,000.

Those who live, Africa, outside Europe, and the Middle East, mostly in North America, are about 100,000. About 52,000 refugees have resettled in Canada and 21,000 in the U.S.

Populations of contention?  Who conflicts?

The conflict is between those who are for or against Mr. Assad, the Syrian president.

There are also various groups and countries involved, which are both having their agendas, making the situation much more complex, and the war becomes prolonged in the end.

The countries backing up the opposition include several Gulf Arab countries, Turkey and some western powers, while Iraq and Russian are in support of the government.

This had led to an accusation being that they are nurturing hatred between the president’s sect and Syria’s religious groups where the divisions have caused both sides to commit violence, tearing communities apart and dimming any hopes of peace.

This has led to the flourishing of various extremist groups, al- Qaeda, Islamic State (I.S.), and jihadists groups. Another group that had added to the dynamic of conflict in Syria’s Kurds who are after the right of self- governance, but they have not fought Mr. Assad.

The increased interests and divisions among the multiple parties have contributed most to the country’s unrest.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35806229

7. Characteristics of the populations who conflict?

They include:

• a lagging economy
• Severe famine.
• Lack of freedom and rights.
• Uneasy religious atmosphere.
• Sociocultural similarities and differences among parties.
• Salience and contact awareness.
• A drastic shift or change in the balance of powers.
• Different expectations and perceptions.
• Unmet structured expectations.

https://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/WPP.CHAP16.HTM

8. Why are they fighting? In other words, what are the issues and concerns?

There begun with complaints by  Syrians due to corruption, high unemployment rates, lack of political freedom, under the governance of Mr.Assad, who took after his father after his death.

There, therefore, erupted demonstrations in Southern of Deraa, brought about by the ‘Arab Spring’ in neighboring countries in March 2011. The protests erupted nationwide, demanding the president to resign. The government used deadly force to crush these protests.

This caused a spread in the unrest, which intensified; the oppositions had to take arms to defend themselves and to get rid of the security forces from the government.  The president vowed to crush what he called “foreign-backed terrorism,” descending the country into civil war.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35806229

9. Drivers of immigration and “Push” factors? What is pushing your selected group out of their home country?

The most alarming reason for the citizens to move is that the war does not seem to end soon.

Other reasons include

• Lack of employment leading to worse poverty levels
• Scarcity of resources
• Overcrowded camps within the country which had forced many to sleep in freezing temperatures.
• Inflation in their country makes it hard to afford basic needs.
• Lack of freedom to express one’s religion.
• Lack of education as many schools were destroyed during the war.
• Lack of political freedom.

10. “Pull” factors? What is pulling them toward a specific host country?

• The proximity of their host country – people tend to flee nearby, hoping to return to their homes once the war ends. They moved nearby to friends and relatives in the hope of keeping an eye on their homes.
• Permission to work and invest financially – few countries do not allow refugees into their country to settle in and engage in income-generating activities. Many will be drawn to a country that will enable them to resettlement and work opportunities.
• Countries with access to international humanitarian aid- some countries may be unable to access enough support to their refugees. A country with excellent international support will attract more refugees, as they will have access to their basic needs.
• Countries with access to free medical aid
• Opportunity for formal education for children. Some refugee camps have no facilities for formal education or those provided are expensive. Countries with access to education will attract refugees.
• Countries open to accept refugees from their lands through their borders.

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2015/oct/25/six-reasons-why-syrians-are-fleeing-to-europe-in-increasing-numbers

11. When did the fighting begin?

The civil war began when there arose demonstrations in support of a group of teenagers who had written anti-government graffiti, southern of Daraa, in March 2011.

These events, combined with other conditions, including a lagging economy, a severe hunger strike, a lack of general freedoms, and a tense religious atmosphere, led to civilian confrontation and, eventually, a revolt.

The Free Syrian Army (FSA) was formed in July 2011, and pockets of revolution broke out. Syria was overwhelmed in a full-blown civil war by 2012. Approximately 321,000 people are dead since the start of the war or are missing. During a chemical attack in Damascus, hundreds of people were killed. The U.S. said the Syrian regime was carried out, but the government blamed rebel forces. What began as a war between the Syrian rebels and the Assad government became more complicated as the battle advanced. New powers, including the Islamic State (ISIS), joined the fight against the Syrian government.

As the violence increased, the atmosphere became tense, leading many families to flee. In two months, refugee camps had to be opened in Turkey, and by March 2013, more than a million people had fled from Syria.

Today, 12million Syrians are displaced, and more than a million children, born in exile.

https://www.mercycorps.org/blog/quick-facts-syria-crisis

12. What are the local issues and effects (in the host country)?

• Environmental – locals are required to give some of their lands for the construction of resettlement areas or refugee camps. The locals near refugee camps are forced to share their resources. This can easily lead to depletion strain of funds or their depletion.
• Public health- high intake of refugees can lead to crowding in the camps, hygiene being hard, many outbreaks occur, this becomes a challenge to communities neighboring the refugee camps.
• Cultural-difference in the culture of refugees and the locals can be a barrier and a turn-off, especially to the hosting community. Having a hostile hosting community makes it difficult for the refugees.
• Financial- most hosting families can be willing to host the refugees, but they are already struggling with small incomes and don’t have the room or finances to help the refugees.
• Security- refugees can bring tension due to social and cultural differences causing instability between local groups.
• Education- some schools have divided the school day into shifts, to make room for more Syrian children. But due to the high population, there is no enough space created for all students. Also, since most schools are at a distance, many refugee families can’t afford transport to get their children to school.
• https://www.mercycorps.org/blog/quick-facts-syria-crisis

13. What are the national issues and effects (in the host country)?

• Economic– some countries may have little or no finances set aside to meet crises, causing a financial strain in the country as they aim to care for refugees.
• Security- There is some research indicating that refugees can disrupt the countries that host them. This may be in the form of political activists who seek to use the host country as a base for recruiting and mobilizing rebels.
• Environment – the arrival of refugees in high numbers can easily result in adverse environmental impact. This may include; deforestation, erosion, degradation, de-vegetation, and pollution of water towers and sources.
• Political– social and physical infrastructure, which include bridges, roads, airstrips, and water supply and schools, can be strained due to the high refugee population. This quickly presents political strategies and opportunities.
• What are the international issues and effects (in the host countries)?

Here are some categories to help you think about issues and effects:

• Economic- when countries have an unexpected entry of refugees, the international humanitarian aid programs may take longer to respond to a state which causes a strain in the host country for a while. As it may take time before approval is made and the aids are released.
• Political -the significant presence of international aid agencies associated with increased refugees can have considerable political consequences, including rebalancing of authority away from the local government toward U.N. or NGO actors.
• Social- a struggle may arise in the difference of cultures. For example, some countries can be Islamic states and can bring a strain if the refugees are of a different religion. This brings pressure between the two that can easily lead to instability.
• Public health – due to crowded populations in refugee camps lead to lack of clean water and sanitation. This causes a high disease outbreak and spread, which is even more life-threatening since there is no enough medical services.
• Environment – in the case of high refugees’ arrival, negative environmental impacts are due to happen. This may include erosion, de-vegetation, degradation, deforestation, pollution of water towers and sources, fishing, overgrazing, and poaching.
• Language – language barriers can prove difficult in the process of registration of refugees in a country. This can cause a prolonged registration process, and an added financial cost since the host country will need interpreters.

15. What are some personal crises among your selected group?

Disagreements between ethnic groups and between secular and religious fighters continue to complicate the conflict’s politics.

This explains, aside from the major civil war between the supporters and those who oppose the current Syrian president, then conflict narrows down even worse to individuals.

There is a significant disagreement between Christians and Muslims.  In the regions controlled by ISIS, there are circulations of slogans against Christians, with accusations showing that all Christians support the regime and that their fate is one with the government: death. This has forced Christians to leave, especially those living along Iraq and turkey borders. As they are faced with three choices: converting to Islam, go or face their death. In other regions, Christians are required to pay jizyah, an individual ‘protection tax’ to stay. But on the condition that they cannot rebuild their rundown churched or show any symbol indicating their religion. This has caused many Christians to flee to safer areas, away from Isis controlled regions, to neighboring countries, mostly Lebanon, never to return.

As Syrian Christians’ safety is not guaranteed, they have been leaving the country, experiencing loss of a future.

https://www.globalministries.org/the_syrian_war_and_the_christians_of_the_middle_east

16. How does the host country vet your selected group?

The Turkish authorities have taken upon themselves to admit the Syrian refugees.  They have done this by adopting a system of shocked arrivals at their border due to a rapid increase in new refugees and the challenges in expanding the capacity of the refugee camps to meet their demand. They have made it easy for Syrian passport holders giving them legal to access Turkey without applying for visas through the official border crossings open and lifting any restrictions to entry. The Turkish Passport Control Police manages the control of admitting the Syrians without passports.  At the border points controlled by the Gendarmerie or the Turkish Land Forces, Syrians’ entry is similarly generally restricted to medical emergency cases. With the restrictions at the border, many Syrians without valid passports seek illegal entry into Turkey, some with smugglers’ assistance.

https://www.unhcr.org/tr/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2017/02/frequently_asked_questions.pdf

17. How is your selected group integrated into the host country?

Turkey is one of the largest host of Syrian refugees. There is a temporary protection regime legislated by the Turkey regime where Syrian refugees, nationals, and stateless people seeking protection will be admitted to Turkey. The temporary protection states that persons will not be forced back to Syria against their will. This protection regime includes those without identification documents. It also contains the rights applicable to Syrian refugees, whether they within or outside the camps. This provides them with access to education, health, labor market, and social assistance.

https://www.unhcr.org/tr/wp content/uploads/sites/14/2017/02/frequently_asked_questions.pdf

18. How is your selected group assimilated into the host country?

The (AFAD) Disaster and Emergency Management Authority of the Republic of Turkey is responsible for handling refugee camps in Turkey. At the same time, the Ministry of Interior has the authority to carry out refugees’ registration in camps. Facilities required for registration are located within each field. This process occurs in all 81 Turkish provinces throughout the country. On registration, camp residents are given registration cards by the Foreigners Police, which can be used as documents of identification and secure access to several services and medical care. Demand for camps is more the available set aside for camps. The Government of Turkey is the only one with the discretion to know whether or not Syrian refugee is placed in a tent and which field. DGMM, in coordination with governorates, will then determine camp placement. Persons with special needs identified by the provinces or the DGMM shall be given the priority for camp placement.

https://www.unhcr.org/tr/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2017/02/frequently_asked_questions.pdf

19. What are the needs of your selected group in the host country?

Considering the two outbreaks in the last six months and another conflict in northern Syrian, in October 2019, the greatest need for Syrian refugees is protection. Syrians require a haven to take shelter. There is a temporary protection regime legislated by the Turkey regime where Syrian refugees, stateless people, and nationals seeking protection will be admitted to Turkey. This states and ensures that the refugees will not be forced into their country against their will.

After this, then the need for Syrian families and children is met. Ensuring that they are provided with food, water, health care, and psychosocial support to help them deal with the trauma they have experienced.

https://www.unrefugees.org/news/syria-refugee-crisis-explained/

20. What are the responsibilities of your selected group in the host country?

• Peace- a host country will expect that Syrian refugees do not bring war into their country will is like abuse to their generosity.
• Work- once resettled, the refugees are expected to engage in income-generating activities to provide to their family, which will ease the burden of the government. This will help more resources to be focused on the incoming refugees.
• Patriotism- as much as the refugees are yet to be given citizenship, their host country expects them to obey the country’s rules and regulations put up by the authorities.
• Responsibility- a lot will be expected on the refugees with the resources they can access or those given to them. This can be by being careful not to waste whatever supplies they are given, or be informed of caring for their environment.

21. Which countries/ethnic groups are NOT accepting your selected group? Why not?

Majorly they are countries in the Persian Gulf: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. They refused to accept the Syrian refugees for the following reasons:

• The concept of refugees is not acknowledged in their Politics. The Gulf Arab States did not sign the U.N. convention as regard to the state of refugees. This is a document that contained the legal rights of the refugees and a signatory of the agreeing country the responsibility to care for them. Therefore meaning the Gulf countries have no legal obligation to care for the refugees. Consequently, they cannot give any preferential treatment to those regarded as ‘refugees’ and are treated as mere ‘residents.’
• The amount of foreigners in the Gulf countries is at new levels compared to the rest of the countries around the World.  There is an increase in oil revenues, which in turn led to high reliance on work-related immigration. This had led to the national population in some countries to be a minority. For example, in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar,  90% of the population was made up of foreigners ; Kuwait, the percentage was at 70%. This already shows an unstable demographic situation in the Gulf countries, thus the fear of refugees being overwhelmed.
• Another reluctance to this effect is to prevent political instability as the Gulf countries are the most stable in the region. This is because they fear the arrival of Arabs who have been politicized by the Syrian war. They know welcoming Syrian refugees could destabilize what they have with their subversive ideas.
• Also, the Gulf countries are involved in Syrian political affairs as they are the ones arming and funding the insurgent Sunni groups, in the efforts to destabilize Bashar El-Assad’s government, which makes them supporters. Therefore, welcoming Syrian refugees will weaken their security balance. They have the fear that the Islamic State would sneak among the refugees and provoke them to risk terrorist attacks in their countries.

https://www.lejournalinternational.fr/Syrian-refugees-why-won-t-the-oil-rich-Gulf-States-take-them-in_a3477.html

22. What agencies are helping your selected group? In other words, who are the assistance agencies?

• UNHCR – the U.N. established this in 1950. It coordinates and leads international action to resolve refugees’ problems and protect them worldwide.
• Mercy Corps – is an agency that provides direct help to Syrian refugees—providing food and supplies, increasing access to clean water and sanitation, shelter, and safe spaces for children activities.
• Save the Children –this agency provides emergency food and supports education for Syrian children in refugee camps.
• UNICEF is a U.N. agency whose focus is on the Syrian children, providing them with healthcare, immunization, nutrition, classes, water, and sanitation
• Catholic Relief Services- This is a faith-based agency that provides comprehensive services. Which are: education, shelter, supply food, and medical assistance to support Syrians and communities affected by refugees influx. It mainly focuses on the following countries: Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, and Egypt.
• Shelter Box –this organization mainly focuses on vital supplies and emergency shelters, to support communities all over the World that are overwhelmed by Humanitarian crisis and disaster.

https://www.one.org/us/blog/want-to-help-here-are-5-organizations-supporting-  refugees-and-affected-communities/

23. What strategies do you propose for solving problems associated with your selected group?

• Dividing Syria into independent confederation zones becomes much easier when Syrian can be divided into separate zones of governance. And work within the  zones creating opposition groups which will be against the Syrian president, Assad and the Islamic State (ISIL)
• Intervene in the civil war– this could be done in three ways:

1. Creating a military stalemate.
2. Forging a power-sharing agreement among various communities.

• Signing and having some long term commitments showing that the agreement has guarantees for minorities.
• Contain the instability in Syria –since most Syrians have just moved into neighboring countries, it is easy for the war to spread into those regions. This can be by coming up with strategies that ensure: harder security, counterterrorism assistance, and weakening the Islamic State.

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/brookings-now/2015/11/20/3-strategies-to-address-the-syrian-civil-war/

24. What are the interrelationships between the issues and concerns of your selected group?

The issues leading to the civil war seem to arise from political and religious differences.

While the war majorly is between those in support and those against the president in governance. It boils down to the other seeming conflicts. The fight between Muslims and Christians is because the majority of Christians are Pro Mr. Assad and the majority of the Islam community lead by Islamic State being on the opposition side.

25. What are the effects of decision-making (e.g., economic, political) on local and global scales related to your selected group?

• Trade-even as local and international plans are being made to encourage trade-in, and with Syria, the country’s instability makes it hard to rely on trade in this country. Investors will hesitate to indulge in business with fellow business people or the country as a whole
• Economic growth– as the U.N. engages other countries with development funds, most resources will be allocated to humanitarian aid when it comes to Syria. This slows the U.N. objective in terms of economic growth as a country.
• International humanitarian aid – most international aid agencies are forced to consider giving a high contribution to Syria and its refugees’ host countries. The demand for financial and resource support is high, which can quickly become an issue in other countries that also need aid.