The Syrian Humanitarian Disaster: Understanding Perceptions, Aspirations, and Behaviour Dissemination Workshop 9 December 2015 Dawn Chatty

Presentation Outline Historical contextualizing of the Syrian state as refuge for forced migrants [Bilad al Sham] Contemporary contextualizing of the humanitarian crisis across neighboring states of Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan Disparity of perceptions and aspirations among refugees, host community members and practitioners and policy makers in each of the three countries Preliminary conclusions

Understanding Historical Context

Ottoman Response to Refugee Movement 1857 Refugee Code Rumeli and Anatolian resettlement [6 or 12 year dispensation from taxes and conscriptions] 1860 Ottoman Commission for the General Administration of Immigration Liaison with international aid agencies

French Mandated Syria: the Refuge State.

Refugees Fleeing Syria November 2015

Refugees in Lebanon High level of social discrimination despite or perhaps because of close social and kinship ties Illegal curfews and vigilantism Late implementation of cash assistance to the most vulnerable;large scale NGO involvem ent

Refugees in Jordan Discrepancy between local press and policy makers re negative influence of Syrian refugees. Negative impact of cash assistance on rental and other livelihood expenditures Tribal relationships muting expression of social discrimination

Refugees in Turkey General sympathy to Syrian forced migrants but not to ‘Gypsies’ Lack of clarity regarding government efforts for Syrians in Turkey Widespread support from civil society especially NGO sector despite lack of common language or social ties

Turkey’s Contemporary Refugee Policy Translocality, circularity and general mobility Regional Power broking /New Ottomanism ? 2013 Domestic Asylum law and European Union pre - accession talks 2015 implementation of domestic asylum law

Concluding Remarks History and historical context matters Social ‘differentiation’ appears to promote sympathy and local integration Self settlement preferred by most refugees; UNHCR camp template generally rejected; For many Syrians, conditions are intolerable; onward migration will grow as conditions worsen

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