Syria case study
Much of the Middle East including Syria has been politically unstable since the so-called Arab Spring
in 2010, when a series of protests, riots and civil wars broke out in many Arab countries. Syria has
been in a state of civil war since March 2011. Over 400,000 people have died as a result of the
fighting between the Syrian government and the rebel groups.
1.8m refugee in TURKEY, 1.2m refugee in LEBANON, 630k in Jordon, 250k in Iraq, and 160k Africa
PUSH FACTORS More than 40% of the population unable to access basic health services. Of 113 public
hospitals, 58% of them either partially functioning or completely out of service. Around 50%
of people are unemployed, and 70% are living in extreme poverty. Citizens often decide to
finally escape after seeing their neighbourhoods bombed or family members killed. Civil war
has left over 4m people homeless. Due to the war, much of the country’s infrastructure and
essential services have been destroyed. Hence it is extremely hard to live in Syria.
PULL FACTORS –
Many Syrians have family and friends already living abroad so it is easier to make the move.
Syria has porous land borders with Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan which makes it relatively
easy to migrate into these countries without passport (illegal migration). The neighbouring
countries have better standards of living
IMPACT ON SENDING COUNTRY (SYRIA) –
Much of Syria’s educated elite population (those who have money and connections) have
fled their home in search of safety. Syria does not have enough doctors and nurses to look
after the injured and the weak. Once vibrant cities such as Homs and Aleppo are now ghost
towns.
IMPACT ON RECEIVING COUNTRIES Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan are now home to over 3 million Syrian refugees. The majority of
Syrian refugees are living in Jordan and Lebanon. In the region’s two smallest countries,
weak infrastructure and limited resources are nearing breaking point under the strain. In
some towns the population has doubled, putting a lot of pressure on health and education
services. Waste management is not coping. Space is also an issue in crowded urban centres,
rents in some places have tripled since the influx of refugees. There are not enough
teachers. Some schools send Lebanese children home at lunchtime and then teach Syrian
children for the second half of the day. Some Lebanese people say they have lost their jobs
because Syrians are willing to work for less, or that they have been evicted because Syrians
share housing with many people, and therefore afford rents that the Lebanese cannot. Since
August 2014, more Syrians have escaped into challenges. northern Iraq at a newly opened
border crossing. In a country that is still recovering from its own prolonged conflict this influx
is dramatic and brings additional challenges. An increasing number of Syrian refugees are
fleeing across the border to Turkey, overwhelming urban host communities and creating
new cultural tensions and resentments. The World Bank estimates that the Syria crisis cost
Lebanon US$2.5 billion in lost economic activity during 2013 and threatens to push 170,000
Lebanese into poverty by the end of this year. Wages are plummeting, and families are
struggling to make ends meet.