Syrians in Turkey forced to 'voluntarily' return
March 18 2022
4 minutes
The situation of Syrian refugees in Turkey is deteriorating rapidly. A new report draws attention to 11.11.11 on the alarm bell. The disturbing situation threatens to fade into the background amid the attention for the Ukrainian refugee crisis. Turkey hosts more than 3.7 million Syrians, the largest refugee population in the world.
Today, a lot of attention is rightly being paid to people who have to flee the war in Ukraine. However, it is crucial not to close our eyes to the situation of Syrians on the runAfter all, they are part of the largest refugee crisis in the world, a situation that is now in danger of fading into the background. Eleven years after the start of the Syrian revolution, more than 6.7 million Syrians on the flight, on top of the 6.8 million Syrians that displaced are in Syria itself. More than half of all Syrian refugees (3.7 million) are hosted in Turkey.
Hostile climate
Create a new report van 11.11.11 en Opinion, based on a survey at 944 Syrian refugees in Turkey, maps out how the model of “reception in the region” is cracking at the seams. Under mounting pressure from Turkish public opinion and political opposition, and in the run-up to the 2023 elections, President Erdogan's government is under increasing pressure to to take more drastic action against refugees.
Raids, arrests expats must register with the local municipality and obtain a forced return of Syrian refugees are becoming more common. Also, more and more are being movement restrictions imposed on Syrians. Meanwhile, the deteriorating economic situation in Turkey for a hostile atmosphere among the population towards Syrian people fleeing. A significant loss of value of the lira, escalating inflation and rising poverty are causing an ever higher competition for employment.
From the report of 11.11.11 and Upinion shows that at least half (50%) of Syrians have a growing pressure of the authorities experience to to leave Turkey. More than a third (35%) of Syrians also report increased tensions with the Turkish population, often resulting in anti-Syrian violence.
Forced return
Under repeated coercion, interrogations, humiliations en beatings Turkish authorities allow Syrian refugees 'voluntary' return forms sign. The report shows that 14% of respondents have been forced to do this, or know people who have been forced to do this. This happens, among other places, in detention centers which were established with the support of the EU Fund for Refugees in Turkey.
After their forced return many Syrians are pinned en abused by pro-Turkish armed opposition groups or by Al Qaeda affiliated Hayat Tahrir al-Sham militant group. Fearing ill-treatment, deported Syrians fled with the help of human traffickers cross the border again towards TurkeyAs many as 80% of refugees surveyed know Syrians who fled Syria a second time after being forcibly returned.
Meanwhile, the socio-economic conditions for Syrian refugees in Turkey further backwards. More than seventy percent (74%) of respondents are unable to provide themselves with basic necessities for subsistence, and more than half (55%) are not allowed to leave their place of residence due to movement restrictions imposed by the Turkish authorities.
IMPLEMENTATION OF PARLIAMENTARY RESOLUTION
The report thus clearly states the limitations exposed of the reception in the region which today offers few sustainable solutions to people on the run. 11.11.11 en Opinion do therefore concrete recommendations EU and the member states, donor governments, UNHCR and the Turkish government.
These recommendations are closely aligned with a resolution on “sustainable solutions to the Syrian refugee crisis”, who has federal parliament adopted in December 2021. In this, the government is asked, among other things, to additional financial resources to free up quality reception and protection for Syrian refugees in the region. The resolution also calls for diplomatic action to take action against the increasing number of deportations of Syrians. In addition to the accelerated execution of this resolution, questions 11.11.11 and Upinion a independent research to the involvement of EU-funded deportation centres in case of forced 'voluntary' return to Syria
“The situation in Syria's neighbouring countries is deteriorating rapidly. Immediate action on all fronts is necessary to offer a perspective to the millions of Syrians who, after eleven years in an ever more hopeless situation We call on the government to immediately follow the call of parliament. In addition to an additional financial effort, we ask that Belgium take the initiative in the run-up to the annual EU/UN Syria conference in Brussels (May 2022) to coalition of like-minded EU member states to get on one's feet.
The situation in Syria's neighbouring countries is deteriorating rapidly. Immediate action on all fronts is necessary to offer a perspective to the millions of Syrians who, after eleven years, find themselves in an increasingly hopeless situation. In addition to an additional financial effort, we ask that Belgium take the initiative to set up a coalition of like-minded EU member states.
