Population: Forced migration - Syria Flashcards
When did the Syrian civil war start and as part of what?
2011, as part of the Arab Spring
How did the civil war start?
Non violent anti-government protests were met with a violent backlash from the government
How was the Free Syrian Army created?
Armed opposition (citizens) formed as members of the army defected and were joined by armed civilians creating the FS army.
What effect did the war have on the Syrian people?
Syrians had no choice but to leave their homes and take the position of refugees.
Why did Syrians have to leave?
Because:
- bombings destroyed cities and cut off all communications
- since 2011, nearly 500,000 people have been killed
- infrastructure is non-existent: health care, clean water and schools are very limited, housing in mostly destroyed, economy is severely depleted
- children are used as human shields and forced to fight
- the frontline is constantly changing and civilians are getting caught in the crossfire.
What are the destinations of the refugees?
What are the general conditions in these places?
- Majority of the Syrian Refugees go to:
- Lebanon
- Jordan
- Turkey
- Egypt
- Iraq
They each have weak infrastructures and limited resources. Addition of refugees add a huge strain.
How many refugees go to Lebanon?
639,982
How many refugees go to Jordan?
505,347
How many refugees go to Turkey?
428,198
How many refugees go to Egypt?
99,167
How many refugees go to Iraq?
161,879
Some refugees try to go to Europe but…
it involves a very dangerous trip across the Mediterranean sea and many countries have closed their borders.
What is the impact of Syrian refugees on Lebanon?
- strain on Lebanon’s health and education services and its electricity and water and sanitation systems
- there are more refugee school children than lebanese so schools were forced to provide places for up to 100,000 Syrian children although most are not going to school.
- there was a feeling that the political system was being undermined and in 2014 the Lebanese government made it harder for Syrian refugees to renew residency permits. The result is that nearly 70% of Syrians are in Lebanon illegally.
How many Syrian refugees settled in Lebanon in 2016?
Totalled just over 1 million and settled throughout the country.
What were the consequences for the refugees in Lebanon?
In the camps, refugees live in difficult conditions:
- access to clean water is limited
- shelter (often tents) are overcrowded
- little or no sanitation
- diseases spread in cramped conditions: cholera, diarrhoea, common killers due to lack of medical services
