Syria’s Displaced Millions: The Ongoing Struggles for Syrian Refugees in the Middle East
Since 2011, the Syrian Civil War has caused increased turmoil in the Middle East. Millions have been killed, maimed, and left homeless, while Daesh has filled the power vacuum, displacing countless more. The regime headed by Bashar al-Assad has allegedly targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and schools. The country, embroiled in a bloody conflict, has forced approximately five million people to flee to Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan. With over 70% facing extreme poverty and often being housed in makeshift shanty towns, Syrian refugees have become a contentious and divisive issue for host countries in the Middle East.
Syrian refugees are faced with particular animosity in Türkiye and Lebanon. President Erdoğan was initially welcoming towards them, with around 3.3 million refugees allowed entry and registered in Türkiye. However, under political pressure in the face of a uniquely tight and contentious election in May 2023, Erdoğan has vowed to expel more than one million refugees back to Syria. Their continued presence has proved controversial for many within Türkiye, with reports of alleged mass looting following the devastating earthquake in February. As a result, Syrians have faced campaigns of discrimination by the government and opposition authorities.
Similarly, Syrian refugees have been subjected to raids by the Lebanese Army and denied access to education and healthcare. Lebanon's political landscape has witnessed a concerning trend where the nation's political leaders increasingly blame the nearly 800,000 Syrian refugees for the consequences of political gridlock, economic stagnation, and fiscal mismanagement. Despite international pressure serving as a deterrent, the Lebanese government has persistently pursued large-scale repatriation of Syrians, and refugees find themselves vulnerable to arbitrary deportations and socioeconomic marginalisation. Against the backdrop of an economy in steep decline since 2019, nine out of ten Syrian refugees live in conditions of poverty.
While Syrians have fared better in Jordan, problems remain. The Jordanian government has created programs like the Jordan Compact scheme to further access education and employment opportunities. However, the plan was criticised for restricting refugees to specific employment sectors and failing to register requisite applicants. Furthermore, some claim the project has been unable to improve Syrians' economic well-being, with over 80% of those living outside refugee camps living in poverty.
However, despite their unfavourable reception in neighbouring countries, Syrian refugees are overwhelmingly reluctant to return home. With more than 70% unwilling, the polling data underlines that a large-scale voluntary return remains unlikely due to the prevailing conditions of violence, repression, and economic turmoil in Syria. Despite Jordan's gradual re-engagement with Syria since 2017, the number of refugees returning remains minimal, primarily due to persistent security concerns and fear of repercussions from Daesh and the Damascus regime.
Consequently, Syrians find themselves economically, socially, and politically disadvantaged in their host countries, unable to return home, and experiencing heightened exclusion. This situation has severe human consequences, affecting refugee children with limited access to education, the mental well-being and economic prospects of Syrian families, and their inadequately supported host communities. The implications extend beyond humanitarian concerns, as the stability and security of the host countries are also at stake.
New solutions are needed. Short-termism has led to incomplete projects and failed to produce the desired results. Initiatives led by organisations such as the Mayor’s Mechanism have devised coherent strategies to mitigate the crisis, building coalitions of local officials and city-level governance structures to include Syrian refugees in their economic plans and treat them as valuable economic agents. It has been suggested that Turkey and Lebanon devise versions of the Jordan Compact to employ Syrians, changing their status from a dependent to an asset for their respective host economies.
The Syrian migration crisis is a long-term policy problem with significant ramifications for its dispossessed population. Their country lacks basic infrastructure and amenities, and for many, it is inconceivable that they could return. Their plight in neighbouring countries and Europe has been difficult; many are impoverished, uneducated, and unfulfilled, and this will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. Without integration into the host nation’s economies, labour forces, and education systems, the problem will continue to drain dwindling economic resources and foment tension and polarisation in host nations in the Middle East. Without policy reform, Syrian refugees face continued poverty and marginalisation.