Page 144 - Syrians in Türkiye - Special Report

GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF TÜRKİYE THE OMBUDSMAN INSTITUTION

V. Accommodation and Placement

As is often expressed throughout the report, 7.45% of the Syrian population in our
country, which is more than 3.4 million, is living in the temporary accommodation
centers, and other remaining 92% is living in the 81 provinces of our country.

Syrians who reside in cities rather than in TACs have created a serious demand for
rental housing, especially in the border provinces, and this situation has increased the
rent prices notably; for this reason, both Syrians and local people who are looking for
affordable rental housing and students, civil servants, or workers coming from other
cities have experienced difficulties in this regard. In our meetings, people stated that the
increase in rent prices caused Syrians to stay in places that are inadequate and in bad
living conditions, sometimes with more than one family living together. Also, Syrians
who live together in crowded housing sometimes create dissatisfaction and complaints
among the local people. In this context; it is important to expand the social housing
projects currently in progress throughout the country and in particular to direct the
attention of the international community to this issue.

A fair sharing of burdens is needed in order to find a lasting solution to the problem of
housing.

Taking the above-mentioned points into consideration, it is possible that the public
housing administration (TOKI) in cooperation with municipal administrations can
build new social housing with very low rent for refugees, but the possible reactions of
the Turkish society should be taken into consideration. Their support is necessary to
develop peaceful coexistence. When regional preferences are made in these placements,
this should be done very sensitively and in a way that does not cause perceptions of
ethnically-based placement; otherwise serious tensions and conflicts may arise in the
near future.

◊ Temporary Accommodation Centers

All the needs of Syrians in the temporary accommodation centers (TACs) are fulfilled
by coordination of the AFAD and the relevant public institutions and organizations;
all the people in the families, including newborn babies, are provided regular financial
support by AFAD and the Turkish Red Crescent every month to ensure their basic
needs; in addition to accommodation, schools, polyclinics and vocational courses are
provided free of charge within these centers; the Syrians are able to produce materials
for themselves free of charge in the vocational training courses in these centers, and
they can use the revenue obtained as a result of the sale of these products for their own

144 SYRIANS IN TÜRKİYE SPECIAL REPORT