In recent months ICAN’s staff have
held regular in-person and online consultations with Syrian civil society
activists based inside the country or those who have recently left. They are
providing relief and development support to refugees and IDPs. They speak of
the humanitarian threats, security, political, economic and psycho-social
challenges that people are facing and the emergence of a nascent but committed
civil society. The international community must recognize their resilience, and
aspirations for the future, and support their efforts to withstand the impact
of war. Their work is a testament to the dignity and humanity of Syrians and
provides a glimpse of a peaceful pluralistic Syria for which they are striving. This brief summarizes
key priorities and recommendations on immediate humanitarian issues that
must be addressed by the international community.
1.International aid is not getting through, Syrians have self-organized to
provide relief, they need support:
Many Syrians are involved in organizing relief assistance inside
and outside the country. They are working independently, with limited access to
international funds, yet with access and human capacity to provide assistance
(health, shelter, food, education etc) in creative and collaborative ways. They
repeatedly state that international aid is not getting through. In some cases
corrupt networks are diverting it. In other instances – particularly inside the
country – there is insufficient allocation to key areas notably Aleppo and Homs. They mention that ‘overheads’ are taken such that far
less aid reaches the most needy. Supporting Syrian NGOs directly has multiple
benefits. They have the ability to make effective use of smaller grants (up to
$100,000). With help they can reinforce their management and institutional
capacities to ensure longer-term sustainability. They can develop additional
skills and the sectoral expertise needed for the transition and recovery
period. Syrian NGOs supported by the international community could be one means
of countering the influence of extremists in the country.
2.The situation in Aleppo is dire and getting worse, but local NGOs can make a
difference: Aleppo is facing a dire situation, made worse by the attacks on
the university campus where many IDPs had sought shelter and refuge. Essential
services are lacking and assistance is not getting through. There is fear of
spikes in disease due to a sanitation crisis, death, illness and child
mortality. Local health professionals have established a hospital to provide
healthcare and are planning to establish basic ’health points’ to provide care.
They are in desperate need of funds, medical supplies, medicines, vaccines and
insecticide to stop the mass outbreak of Leishmaniasis.1
3.Most refugees are not in the camps, and they are in legal and economic limbo:
Across Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon, only an estimated 20-30% of Syrian refugees are
actually in the camps. The majority has sought temporary housing outside the
camps, many in the border towns. In part this is due to the poor living
conditions within the camps and the lack of safety.
1 Leishmaniasis is a
parasitic infection transmitted by the bite of an infected female sand fly whose
hosts are animals, such as dogs or rodents, or human beings. It is spreading in
Aleppo due to sand flies breeding in uncollected trash.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/as-
fighting-rages-in-aleppo-syrians-face-hunger-disease-and-little-hope-of-aid/2012/12/25/86ab74f0-4d37-11e2-835b-02f92c0daa43_story_1.html
Legal Issues: Refugees outside the camps are in a state of legal
limbo. They can neither return home nor register for refugee status and
benefits. Those in Turkey often stay on a 3-month visitor visa, which forbids them
from working or attending school. Since they are viewed as guests of the
Turkish government they cannot register with UNHCR to repatriate to third
countries. Their uncertain residency status generates much fear and insecurity.
Human trafficking including sexual
exploitation: According to various reports, human trafficking is on the rise,
especially for those who want to go to European countries. Entire families have
been imprisoned for illegal entry into third countries. Reports indicate that
young women and girls being bought by Saudis and others from the Arab
Gulf states. Merchants are scouting camps in search of
younger virgin girls aged between 14-15. Some women and girls are given
promises of marriage and sent to other countries once they lose their
virginity. Some are sent back to Turkey but they are ashamed to return to their families so they
fall into prostitution. Child marriages are also becoming more prevalent
(reports from camps in Jordan and Turkey) among poorer families. For girls’ families these
marriages (often informal and unregistered) is justified as giving protection
to their daughters (from sexual harassment in camps) but it is also a means of
bringing money in and getting rid of an extra mouth to feed.
Economics: Syrians are unable to get work permits in Turkey or Jordan. Yet they are desperate to earn incomes and support
their families. Joblessness among men is a key source of frustration,
emasculation and leading to gender based violence. Those who find employment
are vulnerable to exploitation (low pay etc) by their employers and have no
legal recourse as they fear deportation if they report incidences to the
police. Women heads of households face serious problems providing for their
families.
Education: Most Syrian refugees have no access to education. Many
children and university aged youth have lost up to 2 years of their education.
Even when they register and pay for a class (rare as often they lack the
appropriate identification papers) they receive no certificate upon completion.
Language differences are also a challenge, especially in Turkey. To alleviate the situation, Syrians have tried to set
up schools with support from western (Canada) and Gulf States. At least one religious school was set up. In Antab
Syrians worked with the mayor to set up a school for 4 grades offering Turkish
language.
Camp conditions vary between the countries but they are dire,
especially in the IDP camps: There is a pervasive lack of basic
necessities including food, blankets, adequate shelter and services such as
basic health care, education and psycho-social support (Zaatari camp in Jordan
is notable).
Physical Safety: Fear of sexual harassment and violence: In Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon refugees speak of the fear of sexual harassment and
violence in the camps. Anecdotally, the incidences involve the security and
civilian camp personnel. The cramped living conditions are also giving rise to
sexual abuse. In Jordan where Syrian refugees are more conservative and
impoverished, there are anecdotal reports of early marriages of young girls to
local Jordanians (to ‘protect’ them from sexual harassment).
Pressures on men, burdens on women: For many of the
men dependency on handouts is intolerable, so they refuse to seek help or
collect the supplies. Women have to get the supplies. But for more conservative
families, the public exposure of women is a challenge too. This is causing
trauma and domestic violence. For widows it is particularly difficult and
anecdotally some are opting to marry as the 2nd wife to get male protection. But this is creating new societal
problems. Some women household heads and widows may go for days without food,
because they do not feel comfortable and don’t have the skills to negotiate
assistance.
Political Fear: because there is
a mix of people at camps, including members of the government security forces,
political activists and those seeking asylum feel unsafe as they fear political
infiltration and threats in the camps.
Fear of local police and authorities (risk of harassment and
deportation): Because of their precarious residency status fear of deportation
and lack of police support, Syrians who are victims of crime or exploitation in
host countries (Turkey, Jordan, Iraq etc), rarely report it to the authorities. In
addition in Turkey since registration with the authorities limits their freedom
of movement, many avoid doing so. But this also makes them more vulnerable.
Health: There is a profound
lack of basic health care and other services. In one camp in Jordan, water pollution was so high (the color was red) that
the refugees feared for their children’s wellbeing. Syrians in Turkey lack health insurance so in cases of serious illness
(e.g. cancer) they either go untreated as they cannot afford treatment, or are
forced to return back to Syria.
Restrictions on movement – impact on
women and men. In camps there are restrictions on the movement of people. To
leave the camps, Syrians need a guarantor who is a national of the host
country. This creates a new form of exploitation as locals can extort money
from the desperate Syrian refugees. Given traditional practices it is typically
the men who are able to leave the camps. Women face even greater limitations on
movement.
IDP Camps (on the borders): The situation in the IDP camps is dire.
Often run by the Free Syrian Army, they are at times subject to bombings and
attacks. Atma Camp inside Syria – the last stop before Turkey –is a case in point. Overcrowding is a critical issue
with some 17,000 refugees sharing just 1300 tents. There are virtually no
toilet facilities (one bathroom for the women), so people have to use the
fields. The tents are cold, small and there is a lack of basic necessities
including food and blankets. There is no paving and the mud becomes unmanageable
with rain and snow. There are no health services or school. Children have died
because of the cold and accidental fires.
Recommendations:
- End the legal limbo for
Syrians:
Change laws to allow for residency, work permit and access to health and educational
services in host countries. Allow Syrians outside the camps to register
for refugee status with UNHCR, access benefits and seek assistance for 3rd country settlement.
- Support media and community
based programs to raise awareness about human trafficking & reducing
the stigma of sexual violence: Through radio programs and outreach via
Syrian NGOs and others to refugee populations (in/out of camps), raise
awareness about the signs and risks of human trafficking (illegal
immigrants, sex trafficking etc). Tackle the stigma of sexual violence to
shift the shame away from victims, and provide them (and their families)
with care and counseling.
- Fund & support activists
and human rights defenders: These activists are critical to the struggle
and to Syria’s future but are facing
immense financial, legal and other challenges. In some instances they have
been denied Syrian passports so they cannot travel. Set up special funds
and mechanisms offering financial support, visas for medical treatment,
respites and education to support human rights and civil society activists
who face persecution or chronic illness. Germany for example has provided
5-year special visas to activists from other countries. The resources
could be channeled through existing international NGOs supporting human
rights defenders and civil/political activists.
- Work through Syrian civil
society to ensure that IDP and refugee camp residents are involved in
service provision and have access to the assistance. Set up male/female committees
in camps to Monitor distribution of aid. Diversify implementing
partners so that Syrian NGOs have direct access to international aid.
Reach out through Syrian NGOs to determine humanitarian needs of
communities inside the country. Syrian NGOs are cost effective, active
and quick to respond. Funds could be passed through international NGOs
working with Syrian partners or made directly available to Syrian NGOs.
- Host and neighboring
countries should ease the way for Syrian NGOs to register and establish themselves
in order to receive funds and support from the international community. This will also provide greater accountability
and transparency. Currently many Syrian NGOs (especially those active
inside the country) are in a state of limbo and uncertainty. They cannot
register, and thus cannot open organizational bank accounts. Yet there is
immense need for their services.
- Identify and work with
Syrian civil society and professionals (lawyers, doctors, engineers,
social workers, teachers etc) to provide the necessary care and assistance: Syrians do not want to
become dependent on aid. They want help to help themselves. To sustain
their resilience and social capital, the international community must
identify Syrians to provide the basic services. Where organizations
already exist (e.g. Aleppo, Homs, among refugee
communities), they should channel resources to them.
- Allow Syrians to enter
neighboring countries: The international community must support
regional states in allowing Syrians fleeing the war to gain refuge outside
their countries. The borders should not be closed. They should be opened
and service provision increased.
- Improve camp
infrastructure (in host countries and in Syria) and get refugees to do the
work: Pave the areas around and inside the camps, replace tents with
premade (prefab) rooms, build toilets, set up basic health and social
service facilities.
- Support economic empowerment
and employment generation projects for women and men including youth. Training (basic and more
complex skills) for women (especially widows and female heads of
household) who don’t have education is needed urgently. Male employment (building, infrastructural work) is
also critical, to enable them to provide for their families, maintain dignity
and reduce gender-based violence. Working in partnership with Syrian civil
society and NGOs to implement these programs is key to building the
capacity of local civil society and to ensuring the success of such
programs. Some NGOs are providing this, but there is a need to upscale and
diversify.
- Set up medical centers to
address war injuries including sexual violence in border areas: Kilis has seen an influx
of injured Syrians, with no medical care. The Antab city hospital is
already full, because the injured are being brought into the camps and the
cities around. Medical services inside the camp and near borders are
essential to treat the injured and those who get sick. Resources should be
channeled to Syrian CSOs providing medical care inside the country.
- Set up schools with Syrian
NGOs and hire Syrian teachers: Draw on Syrian teachers, to provide
education in these new schools and to teach in camps. Work with local
Syrian NGOs in Syria or in border countries to
set up schools and kindergartens at low cost ($30-$50,000). These should
be schools that are registered and provide certifications for completion.
- Scale up, support and set up
psychosocial support centers working with NGOs: A number of small NGOs are
providing psychosocial support to refugees and IDPs. They need resources
to scale up their efforts. They also want to build their own capacities to
tackle trauma (war-related, sexual trauma, children’s issues etc). Schools
can serve as centers to provide these services. Increase opportunities for
children to play and recover from trauma (build on existing programs).