Situation of Syrian Refugees in Turkey Were Discussed at TEPAV The last Syrian report of the International Crisis Group builds on interviews with local people and refugees in Gaziantep and Kilis, as well as activists and local and central government bodies

ANKARA – International Crisis Group (ICG) report “The Rising Costs of Turkey’s Syrian Quagmire” which focused on Syrian refugees in Turkey was presented with a meeting held at TEPAV on May 8, 2014. Didem Akyel Collinsworth, Cyprus/Turkey analyst of the ICG, shared recommendations to Turkish government and international community on how to ease the situation of Syrian refugees in terms of basic findings of the study based on interviews with local people and refugees in Gaziantep and Kilis, as well as activists and local and central government bodies.

Stating that there were currently 720.000 Syrian refugees 500000 of whom lived in urban areas in Turkey according to official figures, Collinsworth expressed that this number was actually around one million and expected to 1.5 million in 2014 again according to official estimates. Reminding that despite the open border policy, only Syrians with valid passports could pass the border gate except in cases of emergency; Collinsworth indicated that interviewed refugees were mostly illegally smuggled into Turkey.

Pointing out that the prior need of Syrians living in urban areas in Turkey was a better-functioning registry system valid throughout the country; Collinsworth listed other main problem areas as housing, education and employment. Collinsworth underlined that Syrian refugee problem was a medium- to long-term issue and that this was also recognized by Turkish officials, Collinsworth said that it was necessary to have a medium-term policy perspective and a more comprehensive legal framework.

Collinsworth who also scrutinized the situation in Syrian side of border, indicated that the best solution for internally displaced people who stay in northern Syria and are stuck between Assad and ISIS despite the aid that was delivered through the “zero point deliver system”, was to enter Turkey. Expressing that Turkey was right to prefer to continue with the “zero point delivery system” in order to keep costs under control, Collinsworth denoted that international community had to provide more financial aid to Turkey for Syria. Collinsworth said “Turkey needs to feel more supported by the international community”.

Click here for the full text of the report “The Rising Costs of Turkey's Syrian Quagmire”