This report is the fifth in a series, which together constitute the Humanitarian File prepared by the Syrian Civic Platform (SCP). This data was collected through consultations held with nearly 3,500 diverse Syrians between October 2017 and May 2018.
Executive Summary:
The issue of Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Syria is one of the most critical aspects of the conflict and has been described as the largest displacement crisis in the world. There are an estimated 6.6 million IDPs and 5.4 million refugees, which together constitute half of the Syrian population.
The SCP conducted community consultations on the issue of refugees and IDPs in preparation for this series of reports, which highlight the most important issues affecting all Syrians. In this report the SCP explores the views of Syrian refugees and IDPs on the causes of their displacement; their living conditions; and the challenges they face; and the extent to which they believe their issues are included in the negotiations. In addition, their perspectives were explored on the optimal conditions that would help the return of refugees and IDPs, as well as their views on the role of civil society.
The report was based on 304 community consultation sessions conducted between October 2017 and May 2018 in nine Syrian provinces: Idlib, Hassakeh, Raqqa, Deir Ezzor, Homs, Damascus countryside, Suweida, Daraa, and Quneitra. Additional sessions were conducted with Syrians seeking asylum in Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraqi Kurdistan. A total of 3,376 people participated in the sessions, 46.6% (1,580) of whom were women. The number of participants representing civil society organizations (CSOs) numbered 705.
From the consultations, this report has arrived at a number of conclusions.
IDPs:
- Continued fighting and shelling, especially by Government of Syria (GoS) forces, are the main factors fuelling the continued displacement of populations in all Syrian regions. Violations by other dominant groups including arbitrary arrests, imposition of different ideologies on the population, or forced recruitment of young Syrian men, are also affecting displacement trends.
- The immediate implementation of a ceasefire as well as the launch of a political solution is the first step to facilitate the return of refugees and IDPS to their homes.
- All the dominant military forces have committed violations against IDPs and failed to take into account the fundamental rights of IDPs.
- There is a near consensus that the issue of refugees and IDPs is not being taken into consideration during negotiations taking place at all levels.
- What concerns displaced people in various Syrian regions is primarily the deteriorating economic situation and the difficulty of securing a minimum standard of living.
Syrian refugees:
- The massive influx of Syrian refugees into neighboring states has contributed to economic and social crises in the host countries, some of which were already suffering from economic burdens even before the outbreak of the conflict.
- Host countries have used the Syrian refugee issue for political purposes or for other purposes related to funding from UN organizations.
- There is no clear policy regarding Syrian refugees in host countries and the absence of laws governing their status has doubled the burden of Syrian asylum seekers.
- Many of the countries that received Syrian asylum seekers have not observed, or in some instances have even violated, the minimum rights of refugees protected under international human rights instruments as well as the 1951 Refugee Convention. On the contrary, the policies of these countries have contributed to enhancing racist tendencies towards refugees.
- The issue of refugees has often been raised in international forums in the context of the interests of the host countries or of States that fear the growing number of refugees. This has resulted in agreements designed only to stop the flow of war fugitives across borders and not on serious action to find a just political solution that would end the war and lead to a reduction in Syrian asylum seekers and facilitate the voluntary return of refugees to their home country.