Migration Policy and Migration Management of Syrians in Turkey
Migration Policy and Migration Management of Syrians in Turkey

Author(s): Michelle Dromgold
Subject(s): Politics, Geography, Regional studies, History of Law, Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, Public Law, Management and complex organizations, Post-War period (1950 - 1989), Transformation Period (1990 - 2010), Present Times (2010 - today), Migration Studies
Published by: Transnational Press London
Keywords: Turkey; Syrian refugees; migration; policy; migration management; NGO;
Summary/Abstract: Since the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War in the spring of 2011, the number of Syrian nationals seeking refuge within the borders of Turkey has surged, and the recent intensified threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has only caused the number of Syrians fleeing to Turkey for safety to rise further. Today, Turkey hosts more Syrians than any other country in the world; according to official United Nations Refugee Association (UNHCR) registration statistics as of April 10, 2015, there are 1,758,092 registered Syrians in Turkey (UNHCR 2015) although estimates among academics, representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and others predict the actual number of Syrians in the country as closer to 2.5 million. However, the legal status of Syrians in Turkey is unique. Not legally recognized as refugees due to Turkey’s historic and current migration policies, Syrians in Turkey are considered as ‘guests’ in the country and remain here under the legal status of temporary protection. Although this status provides for many basic rights - including shelter, food, education, medical support and the possibility of employment - Syrians often remain uninformed of and unable to access their rights-based provisions. Additionally, as the governmental and societal discourse of ‘guests’ suggests, Syrians are expected to be ‘hosted’ by the Turkish government and society and subsequently return home. Although governmental policy and many Turkish humanitarian aid-based NGOs continue to convey this discourse of Syrians as ‘guests’ under temporary protection, Turkish society is becoming tense - the Syrian ‘guests’ have overstayed their welcome.

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