Page 131 - Syrians in Türkiye - Special Report

GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF TÜRKİYE THE OMBUDSMAN INSTITUTION

dynamic process management in order to develop a comprehensive strategy towards
integration.

There are many factors that make it difficult for a significant number of Syrians to
return to Syria:

1. It does not seem possible to reestablish peace and security in Syria in the near
future.

2. 2. Even if peace is reestablished, the country is destroyed and there is hostility and
conflict between groups, which will have an impact on every Syrian.

3. Research about mass migration shows that if the problem does not end in the
near future and the refugees are not in the border region, their return will become
more difficult. More and more Syrians move from border provinces to Türkiye’s
central and western regions, where they establish their lives, which indicates a
significant change. Even if their desire to return home persists, sociological reality
proves that it gets more difficult every day.

4. The desire to return home is always more intense for those who live in refugee
camps. However, only 7.45% of Syrians are living in camps in Türkiye. The
remaining 3 million Syrians have spread to all 81 provinces of Türkiye, which also
plays a role in the emotional context that makes the return difficult.

5. Syrians, some of whom have been living in Türkiye for more than 6 years, with
92% living in urban areas, have made great efforts to build their lives. Syrians
have entered the business world, learned some Turkish, sent their children to
school, developed social relations with their neighbors, made friends, and so on.
A period of 5-6 years is extremely long for a human life and has effects on future
plans. If Syrians feel safe in Türkiye, even if their earnings are low but they have
a job, have an average place to live, and have schools where they can send their
children, it will be difficult for them to go back to Syria even if the war is over.
One of the important indicators of Syrian’s survival is the babies who have been
born in Türkiye. According to official numbers, a total of 276,158 Syrian babies
have been born in Türkiye since 2011. Even this fact can be read as a sign of their
inclination to stay permanently.

6. In addition to the liberal democratic system in Türkiye, social and economic
opportunities are very attractive for Syrians.

SYRIANS IN TÜRKİYE SPECIAL REPORT 131