REFUGEES, DISPLACEMENT AND POLITICS OF MIGRATION

Case Study -Syria

Word count - 2500
Table of Contents
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................2
Part 1 Multiple Ways That Led Forced Migration of People from Their Origin Country........................3
Part 2 Human Rights Situation and the Scope and Nature of Forced Migration from Syria..................4
Part 3: Asylum Applications Or Human Trafficking Cases From Syria in the UK.....................................7
Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................9
References...........................................................................................................................................10
Introduction
Migration has always been a feature of the individual or collective human behaviour. Currently,
there are around 79.5 million people forcibly displaced across the world. Forced Migration refers to
the movement of people from their homeland to another place, it can be either within the same
country or between countries (Newman and Van Selm, 2003). As of every two seconds, 1 person is
uprooted with nothing but cloth. There is a number of factors that lead to the forced migration of
people across the world such as natural disaster, economic crisis, conflict, nuclear disaster, human
rights violation, development project and war. the main goal of migration is to have a better and
safe life. By the end of 2019, around 67% of all Refugees have come from the five-country of Origin:
Syria, Afghanistan, Myanmar, South Sudan and Somalia (Giovetti, 2019). here, focusing on Syria, this
case study report attempts to gain knowledge and understanding of the reasons for forced migration
in relation to Syria. the human rights situation in Syria is examined here along with the nature and
scope of the forced migration from the country. The last part of the report will cover the information
about the asylum application from Syrian refugees as well as the cases of human trafficking in the
UK. this report provides comprehensive information and data on Forced migration, its reasons,
patterns, forms and responses.
Part 1 Multiple Ways That Led Forced Migration of People from Their Origin Country
As witnessed through history, the displacement of people is triggered to access to safe and secure
life. Safety and wellbeing are the basic need of human. People often migrate from dissatisfactory
social conditions to places that promise the opportunity for improvement. The reasons for migration
vary from political, social, economic, to natural disasters (Jahngand Doshi, 2021). Reed Ludwig and
Braslow (2016) states that Forced migration may be conflict-induced and disaster-induced. conflict-
induced migration typically referred to as caused by Humans. Disaster-induced migration is caused
by natural factors. However, there can be both reasons as the human conflict may arise due to issues
over natural factors and natural disasters can be caused due to human interferences.

In Present times, War and conflict are the most common factor for forced migration across the
world. In the case of forced migration, violence serves as the main push factor (Moore and Shellman,
2004). The war led to consequences such as unemployment, lack of food, lack of basic facilities like
clean water, food and medication can also be termed as the push factors that cause forced
migration.

The existing studies suggest the five categories of factors that affect the migration flows. According
to Hébert, Perez and Harati (2018), the migration flow is affected by the five factors: economic
drivers (poor income and employment opportunities), political drivers (political conflict), social
drivers (cultural practices), demographic drivers (composition and size of population), and
environmental drivers (ecosystem). Abel et al. (2019) have connected the civil war and political
unrest in Syria with the climatic conditions. The author studied the interaction between
environmental and political drivers that results in forced migration. The author has found out the
linkage between the climatic shock and conflict only for the period of 2010-2012 when the global
refugee flow was dominated by the refugees originated from Syria. According to Doocy et al. (2015),
climate change is more likely to force migrants in a country that is undergoing political
transformation. Where the conflict arises due to the discontent of the population to the inefficient
response of the government to climate impacts. Kelley et al. (2015) state that the frequent Droughts,
growing water scarcity and poor water management in Syria led the crop failure for years and
economic deterioration of Syria. this has consequently resulted in the mass displacement of people
in Syria. So, it could be stated that, Indirectly, change in climatic ocnditions also contributes to the
forced migration.

In the few years, climate change has caused conflict in Africa and the Middle East are and served as
the main factor for displacement to Europe. Climate changes affect the availability and supply of
resources such as food, water and shelter that trigger conflict and consequently result in migration
(Doocy et al., 2015).

Therefore, on studying the ways and causes of displacement of people from their country of origin, it
is understood that Syria is the most affected country that has faced almost every problem like,
economic, political, environmental and social that led its population towards forced migration.
Therefore, a further study is presented in the context of Syria.

Part 2 Human Rights Situation and the Scope and Nature of Forced Migration from Syria
Situation of Human Rights in Syria

Syria is mostly considered the worst country in the world in human rights situation ( Idris,2017). In
Syria, the Ba’ath Party was ruling since 1963. The International Observers has considered that the
Human rights condition in Syria is exceptionally poor under the rule of this party. The authorities of
Syria have been accused of harassment and imprisonment of human rights activities and the critics
of the government. According to the reports of Human rights watch, the Syrian government strictly
control the freedom of expression, assembly and association in the country. The women and ethnic
minorities were facing discrimination. The Assad government did not record any improvement in the
Huma rights record in its 10 years rule. Since 2008, human rights conditions were further
deteriorated (Erameh, 2017).

In 2011, the Syrian army intervened and the government cracked, which resulted in an increase in
violence. Hundreds of Syrians died in the clash between Army and the government that includes
soldiers and armed protectors. The country has descendent of civil war. Including around 200,000
civilians, more than half a million people have died in the Syrian Civil war. According to Amnesty
International, during the Civil war, the government of Syria may be guilty of a crime against
humanity on the basis of extrajudicial executions, death of a witness in custody, rape, torture, forced
disappearance and arbitrary detention (Marauhn, 2012). It has been reported that the Syrian
government has executed chemical attacks on civilians.

In August 2016, according to the report of Amnesty International, the prisoners of Syria are exposed
to crime against humanity. They are tortured and ill-treated. Around 17,723 people deceased in
police custody in Syria (Dearden, 2016). on 6th July 2020, a police photographer turned
whistleblower has published the pictures of dead bodies of detainees in media graphics of forensic
police that has been identified by the families of detainees. The photos are thousands of pictures of
victims of prison Torture who are trafficked out of Syria (Human rights Watch, 2020). Syrians do not
have freedom of movement; they need to get an exit visa to leave the country. The government has
imposed restrictions on freedom of movement.

Moreover, the government also restricts the right of religion that is even provided in the constitution
of Syria. the Syrian government monitored the activities of religious groups and all the other groups
that are deemed to threat to religious freedom. Since the civil war, the freedom of movement in
Syria is restricted in certain areas (Lombardo, 2015).

On considering the freedom of speech and media, the Syrian government has control over it. There
are several cases of harassment, murder, arrest and restriction of journalists in Syria. it is 3 rd worst
country in the worlds where online bloggers and writers faced restrictions, harassment and arrests.
There is extensive internet censorship in Syria. the government bans several websites ( Wikstrom,
2011).

In addition to this, the deteriorating condition of the Nation has caused the migration of millions of
Syrian people to neighbouring countries. a large number of populations has forced to migrate within
and outside Syria. the civilians have faced the worst human rights violation. Children were shooted,
people were raped, brutal interrogations and sexual abuse (Lombardo, 2015). The Syria civil is one of
the biggest humanitarian emergencies of our time. According to the report of UNCHR, due to the
Syrian civil war, the total number of worldwide refugees exceeded the mark of 50 million for the first
time since the second world war (Almoshmosh, 2016).

Nature and Scope of Forced migration from Syria

Several reasons apply to Syria that forced its people to displace to other nations. Syria’s Civil war has
caused a huge forced migration. The nature of Forced Migration in Syria is conflict Induced. in Syria,
the Forced migration is started with conflict and war and is continued with the poor economic
condition, unemployment, lack of infrastructure, natural calamities like Famine, terrorist activities,
and consequences of all these factors. The country is under grave destruction.

In Syria, the key reason for Forced migration was the beginning of the civil war in 2011. Since 2011,
around 6.6 million people of Syria have been forced to migrate from their country and around 6.7
million people have been internally displaced (UNHCR, 2021). Since March 2011, Syrians have faced
several challenges. The Civil War that erupted in 2011 still continues to burn the nation and its
people (Bahcekapili and Cetin, 2015). As a result of violence and war, the overall system of Syria is
damaged. The healthcare system, water and sanitation systems, schools, and utilities are badly
damaged and destroyed, which would take years to settle. According to Yazgan, et al. (2015) The war
and conflict have broken the social and business ties that bound the communities in Syria. Rapid
population growth, unemployment, overcrowding and increased inequality has resulted in the
breakout of political unrest. The infrastructure of Syria is collapsed. Only 50% of healthcare and
Hospital’s facilities are fully functional. Around 8 million residents do not have proper access to safe
water. Around 2.4 million children are out of schools. More than 80% of the Syrian population is
living in Poverty. The economy of Syria is completely Shattered that forces its residents to migrate to
better places.

In 2019, the strong winds and floods have affected the northwest region of Syria that affected food
supplies, shelters and left the people homeless that caused the displacement of additional 1 million
people (Weinthal et al., 2015). The largest number of Syrian Refugees are migrating to neighbouring
countries like Turkey, Jordon, Lebanon and Iraq. Some Refugees are also displaced to seek Asylum
and protection in European countries by travelling sea and land areas that are not often safe
(Özdemir, 2018).

From the overall discussion, it is clear that the condition of Syria is still not suitable to meet the basic
needs of its residents. The internal conflict and war and poor climatic condition have worsened the
situation of the country and leave people in apprehensive condition (Abel et al., 2019.). The people
are forced to migrate from the country to access better living opportunities like safe water, shelter,
food, education for children and opportunity for improving the standard of living (Sirin and Rogers-
Sirin, 2015). However, some people have returned to their land to check on their property and home
but still does not have basic facilities like sanitization, water, education and infrastructure. The
displacement of Syrians might continue for few more years.
Part 3: Asylum Applications Or Human Trafficking Cases From Syria in the UK
Asylum Application in the UK From Syria

In order to stay in the state as a refugee, one has to apply for Asylum. Asylum is the protection
provided to the refugees who left their state to escape from serious threats to their lives. It allows
them permission to stay in the country or another form of humanitarian protection. Asylum seekers
can apply for free accommodation and support but are not allowed to work in the UK (Sturge, 2021).

Roughly, 29,500 refugees have sought asylum in the UK from January 2010 to June 2020 under the
four settlement schemes of the country. around 70% of the Asylum application in the UK were from
Syrian nationals. As shown in the below figure, the majority of the Asylum applicants or refugees
resettled in the UK are from Syria (The Migration Observatory, 2020). These figures include refugees
resettled under the vulnerable Children Resettlement Scheme, Vulnerable Persons Resettlement
Scheme, Gateway protection programme and Mandate Scheme.

UK is ranked 6th among the EU-28 in 2019 for the highest number of individuals whom it approved
Asylum related protection. From 2010 to 2019, UK is the highest ranked for the absolute number of
refugees resettled (Sturge, 2021).
Human Trafficking Cases in the UK

Human trafficking is a serious violation of rights of human that involves recruitment, transfer, or
acceptance of the human within and across the boundaries, who are exploited for personal or
financial gains. In the UK, the Modern Slavery Act 2015 regulates existing offences of trafficking and
slavery of human. Human trafficking in the UK is increased by 80% in the year 2017 among which the
majority of victims are from overseas (Broad and Turnbull, 2019). The migrant workers are trafficked
to the UK for domestic servitude, forced labour in Construction, agriculture, and food services.

However, there is no specific data on human trafficking from Syria in the UK. the government report
estimates that around 13,000 victims of trafficking are present in the UK. In the UK, the largest
source countries for Human trafficking includes Nigeria, Albania and Vietnam. around 26% of victims
are from UK (Broad and Turnbull, 2019). However, there has been no significant record of Human
trafficking in the UK from Syria. Reported that Syria is one of the most vulnerable countries to
human trafficking due to its current condition.

United Nations Protocol has designed the framework for action. It is the technical assistance tool
designed to assist the members of the united nations in the effective implementation of the United
Nations trafficking protocol (UNTP) to eliminate, prevent and punish trafficking in persons, especially
in children and women. The US Department of State in its annual report on human trafficking has
ranked the UK as a "Tier 1” country i.e., the government of the country fully comply with the
minimum standards of the Trafficking victim’s Protection Act (TVPA) for eliminating human
trafficking (U.S. Department of State, 2020).
Conclusion
Displacement and Refugee is one of the serious issues in the present world. several nations are going
through this severe humanitarian crisis due to verities of reason like internal violence and war,
economic crisis, and environmental crisis. This case study is based on Syria, which that is facing this
issue since 2011. The country is facing multiple issues like conflict, civil war, terrorism, natural
disasters and economic crisis that has left no option to its population but to leave and migrate to
other places. the human rights situation in Syria is very worse. Its people are migrating across
different continents but majorly to Turkey, Lebanon, Iran and other Middle East countries. some
people are also migrated to European countries to Seek asylum and protection. Syrians are also
exposed to human trafficking and exploitation. They are living in poor conditions. There is great to
support and protect the refugees and migrants from exploitation.
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