Election fever fuels discrimination against Syrian refugees in Turkey after earthquake

On the eve of the Turkish elections, 11.11.11 and its partners paint a disturbing picture of the living conditions of Syrian refugees. Intimidation, violence and discrimination in the distribution of emergency supplies in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes are proving to be a harsh daily reality for Syrians in Turkey. 

One of the Syrian respondents in the survey also testified: "I don't always feel safe [...]. We always hear the words 'refugees, return to your country', which causes me a lot of psychological pain and despair."

“Over the past year, Turkish politicians have used Syrians as scapegoats more than ever before. Election fever has led to a series of drastic measures,” says 11.11.11-expert Willem Staes. “Raids and arrests go hand in hand with political hate speech and forced deportations. All to score easy points at the expense of people who survived a war and earthquakes.” 

Key figures from the research of 11.11.11 and its partners Upinion and Basmeh & Zeitooneh, with more than 400 Syrian refugees in Turkey: 

• 67% of Syrians surveyed in Turkey reported more than a month after the earthquake not having sufficient access to emergency aid. Women in particular (74%) indicate this (compared to 64% of male correspondents). 

• Nearly one in three respondents (27%) emphasizes the unequal, discriminatory access to emergency support. Also in interviews that 11.11.11 physical and verbal intimidation during the distribution of aid supplies occurred on site. 

• 25% of Syrians reported being unable to find shelter in the Turkish earthquake zone. 10% even reported being evicted from their existing shelters. As many as 24% of respondents were unable to find psychosocial help.  

• 57% of respondents feel unsafe or partly unsafe in the current political context. Forced returns to Syria in particular emerge as a fear factor (92%). Six in ten Syrians (63%) say their fear has increased since the earthquakes. 

• 53% refers to hate speech in (social) media, 44% indicates discrimination or abuse by politicians or civil servants to experience.  

• 85% of respondents indicate that the social tensions between Turks and Syrian refugees increased significantly over the past six months.  

• 35% of respondents wants to leave Turkey in the next 6 months due to deteriorating conditions, the majority of which are to the European Union. Only 2% of all respondents plan to return to Syria.  

11.11.11 asks the EU and our country to take action in light of the figures. "The much-discussed model of 'reception in one's own region' has been creaking at the seams for a long time. Looking the other way while the lives of millions of Syrians are becoming more unbearable every day, and then driving desperate Syrians back with brutal force at the European external borders, is not a serious policy. More ambition to create an effective protection of refugees in the region “There is an urgent need to guarantee and resettle more Syrians,” said 11.11.11-expert Willem Staes.  

Closer cooperation with local organizations is also crucial, according to 11.11.11. “Despite everything, there is always hope on the horizon. Syrian organizations and Turkish volunteers joined forces immediately after the earthquakes. The support that these same Syrian organizations are currently offering to Turkish earthquake victims can lead to more mutual understanding and solidarity.”