ON YIL SONRA TÜRKİYE’DEKİ SURİYELİLER:

MEVCUT DURUM, ÖRÜNTÜLER, AĞLAR, UYUM VE GELECEK

SYRIANS IN TURKEY AFTER TEN YEARS:

CURRENT SITUATION, PATTERNS, NETWORKS, COHESION, AND THE
FUTURE

Introduction and general pattern

According to the June 2021 data of the Ministry of Interior, General

Directorate of Migration Management, there are 3 million 681 Syrians registered
under temporary protection in Turkey. This demographic does not include Turkish
citizens and unregistered Syrians. Again, as of June 2021, there is no province in
Turkey where there are no registered Syrians. Although their rates and density vary,
definitely there is a Syrian population living in every provincial centre and city. 1 The
presence of Syrians in all areas of daily social life is the scene of very complex social
relations, legal uncertainties, interactions and encounters in every city of Turkey.
On the other hand, considering that a demographic of approximately four
million people has very different characteristics and tendencies that are far from
homogeneous, contrary to the easy approaches made many times, the information
obtained about the Syrian population under temporary protection status spread across
Turkey reveals the importance.
According to data in mid-2021, around 5% of the total population in Turkey consists
of Syrians. In addition, a closer look at the overall pattern of this demographic reveals
some interesting situations. There is a process in which quite different and complex
factors mutually determine each other (reflexive) such as the geographical and
regional distribution of the 5% of the population, their legal or legal status, their
relations with national and international networks, their directions and axes after
2011, their socio-cultural characteristics, and the economic conditions.

Therefore, in terms of horizontal and vertical social relations and qualities, class,
culture, economic conditions, international relations, legal procedures, NGO
behaviors, aids, vulnerabilities, inequalities, seeking for rights and justice, gender
characteristics, education, production, rural or urban characteristics work together,
and with all this, we come across a very sharp path that is tried to be kept in balance
with the complex relations established with the existing society. For this reason,
every work to be done or to be undertaken about Syrians always means embarking on
an adventure that is open to the effects of dozens of different facts, calculated and
uncalculated. As already mentioned, we are talking about a heterogeneous population
of about four million registered people. One of the other important or different issues
is the fact that it is a fluid phenomenon that has emerged from the last 10 years of
migration and refugee conditions and that designs itself very quickly according to the
policies both inside and outside of Turkey. In other words, we are faced with a
migration and refugee phenomenon, which is shaped by national and international
political dynamics in every aspect and can re-establish itself very quickly, from their
status to their settlement. For example, when we pay attention to the very stable
willingness (65% return to Syria and 40% go to a Western country when they can) of
Syrians in Gaziantep to settle, stay or re-immigrate, take action, we can clearly see the
1
https://www.goc.gov.tr/gecici-koruma5638 Access: 23.06.2021
potential for take constant action.2 Therefore, it can be argued that people who are
once mobilized, displaced or refugees are constantly ready to migrate, guided by
national and international dynamics. However, it should be kept in mind that the
dynamics that trigger and shape this process are determined by the conditions in
which Syrians, or, more generally, immigrants and refugees, live in as much as their
characteristics.
The migration and movement aspects of Syrians living in Turkey, whose number is
approaching four million, start from their own countries, continue within Turkey and
in some cases slowdown in Western countries, seem to work with historical
backgrounds as well as current dynamics. It can be argued that the existence of at
least three historical socio-cultural axes, in which the spiral of civil war and violence
after 2011 reappeared, shaped the positions and migration experiences of Syrians in
Turkey. The first line is the Rakkaa-Urfa axis, and now we see that the Syrians in
Şanlıurfa and other provinces east of the Euphrates come to Turkey from this
axis.The other line is the Aleppo-Kilis-Gaziantep axis. Currently, we can detect that
the Syrian demographics in the surrounding provinces, especially in Kilis and
Gaziantep, are advancing along this line. The third line is the Idlib-Antakya axis,
which proceeds from regions such as Idlib, the regions of Aleppo close to the
Mediterranean, Latakia and Tartus. These axises did not occur after 2011; it existed
historically, but it has regained visibility in immigration and refugee conditions and
has shaped the distribution of the population moving towards Turkey. However,
another social reality that works together with these axises is that these lines are
ethnically, sectarian and culturally heterogeneous, contrary to expectations. Therefore,
we see that these historical differences, qualities, cultures, tensions, strains, closeness
and social distances have also progressed through these historical axes.
To put it more clearly, we also see that the heterogeneity or insurmountable social
dichotomy, which is very easily standardized as “Syrians” in academia and public
opinion in Turkey, reactivates itself in a way in the later stages of migration and
refugees.
For all these reasons, it is essential to understand the current situation of the Syrians in
Turkey, within the said multiplicity and diversity, and to deal with quite different
variables such as region, city, sector, time, situation and legality and particularly
careful planning is required in terms of sample, scope and depth of field research.
According to the official data as of June 2021, it becomes clear that planning
must be done by taking into account the geographical and demographic distribution of
the 3 million 681 thousand registered Syrians in Turkey.
Because, as well as horizontal and vertical social stratification in field studies,
it is necessary to pay special attention to interactions with social conditions.

One of the biggest problems we encounter in field research on Syrians in Turkey

(also) is that, as the inevitable wrong result of the perspective of “Syrians” isolated
from the current social reality, make discussions on a pure Syrian identity, whose
heterogeneity is ignored (like other societies) and whose class and cultural differences
are ignored.

2
Gültekin, M.N., Giritlioğlu, İ., Karadaş, Y., Soyudoğan, M., Leyla Kuzu, Ş., Gülhan, S.T.,
Doğanoğlu, M., Utanır, A., Aslan, Ç., İncetahtacı, N., (2018) Gaziantep’teki Suriyeliler: Uyum,
Beklentiler ve Zorluklar (Özet Rapor), Gaziantep: Gaziantep Üniversitesi Yayınları; Gültekin, M.N.,
Yücebaş, M., Soyudoğan, M., Atasü Topçuoğlu, R., Doğanoğlu, M., Leyla Kuzu, Ş., Gülhan, S. T.,
Aslan, A., İncetahtacı, N., Utanır, A., Aslan, Ç., Kaya, M., Karayakupoğlu, H.C., Açikgöz, Ü.,
Özhazar, İ., (2021) Gaziantep Monitörü 2020 – Suriyeliler, Ankara: SABEV Yayınları;
 However, we are talking about a complex process involving many variables, from
migration and refugee history, to relations with global networks, from work and
employment to procedures for obtaining citizenship, from socio-cultural differences to
ethnic or religious identities.
Therefore, it is inevitable that any research on Syrians or immigrants and
refugees will include multidimensional questions and methods as well as a
multidimensional sample.

On the other hand, the pattern and general view of the registered Syrian
population in Turkey should definitely be taken into account in research plans that
will focus on current and possible future situations.
The four provinces with the highest number of registered Syrians are,
respectively, Istanbul (527 thousand), Gaziantep (451 thousand), Hatay (435
thousand) and Şanlıurfa (423 thousand).
In terms of total, these four provinces have almost twice as many Syrian
population as the fifth-ranked province (Adana with 254 thousand).
However, although the general population totals give a statistical idea, they
may be insufficient to provide the sociological dimension.
Because, it is obvious that the main factors that Syrians experience and shape
their current conditions and future expectations are in the 'sociological' dimension.
Because the ratio of Syrians to the provincial population is 21.6% in
Gaziantep, 26.3% in Hatay, 20.1% in Şanlıurfa, 11.3% in Adana, 74.2% in Kilis,
12.5% in Mersin, 10.5% in Mardin, Konya 5.3% in Istanbul, 3.5% in Istanbul, 1.8 in
Ankara, 0.4% in Trabzon, 0.6% in Samsun and 0.1% in Ordu.3
Therefore, it would be more realistic to discuss the phenomenon of Syrians in
Turkey over this proportional distribution and human geography rather than the
general population.
Another point to be emphasized here is the regional distribution of Syrians in
Turkey.
In addition to the historical, geographical and cultural axes just mentioned, we
can see that the compulsory residence policies implemented within the framework of
demographic/social engineering focusing on the resettlement of immigrants and
refugees after 2011 also built this distribution.
According to 2021 data, the regional distribution of Syrians in Turkey, as a
very general pattern, is as follows: 41% of all registered Syrians in Turkey reside in
the provinces of Kilis, Hatay, Gaziantep, Urfa and Mardin.
Except for the border provinces, which also mainly produce agricultural
production, 20% of the Syrians reside in agricultural regions such as Adana, Mersin,
Osmaniye, Kahramanmaraş, Konya, Aydın, Sakarya.
Again, excluding border provinces, 28.8% of registered Syrians reside in
important industrial cities of Turkey such as Kayseri, Bursa, Istanbul, Ankara,
Kocaeli, Denizli and Izmir, while in Turkey's largest cities such as Balıkesir, Muğla,
Antalya, Sinop, and Çanakkale 0.7% of Syrians reside in the leading tourism
provinces.
The total number of registered Syrians in 18 provinces in the Black Sea
Region, from Artvin and Rize to Bolu and Düzce, is around 30 thousand, which
means 0.8% of all registered Syrians in Turkey.4

3
https://www.goc.gov.tr/gecici-koruma5638 Access: 23.06.2021
 In the table that appears very clearly, we see that studies on registered Syrians
in Turkey it would be realistic to intensify in in the first place, the border in the South
and the provinces in the Southeast; second in agricultural production regions and third
in cities where industrial production is dominant.
Undoubtedly, conducting research on Syrians within the specificity of each
city or region will also provide meaningful data but we see that the Syrians mostly
live, settle/settled and move within Turkey in these three main axes.
In addition to all these, another very interesting result is that 99% of Syrians in
Turkey live in cities.
However, according to the results of 2020, 60% of the population in Syria
lives in cities.5
When compared with the urbanization rates in Syria, it is revealed that a
significant part of the Syrians in Turkey experience urbanization along with migration
and refugees.
Therefore, it is certain that conducting research on Syrians mainly in urban
centers will make it possible to obtain much more realistic data on the general
population (with the right method, technique and questions).
It is inevitable that studies on fragile social segments such as migrant refugees
in Turkey, including Syrians, are multi-layered in terms of perspective, method and
questions.
After a large-scale research aimed at obtaining a general Syrian pattern, after
revealing the current socio-cultural, legal, socio-economic situation, first collecting
and analyzing information with questions prepared and applied according to different
social layers and demographics according to cities or regions. It is essential for him to
read the general photo.
In studies based on large samples of Syrians, expectations of social
integration, re-migration, adaptation or inclusion in the migration and refugee
networks of the diaspora can be revealed according to the period and demographic.
One of the issues that should be kept in mind in the migration and refugee
experiences of Syrians in Turkey is the different aspects of the functioning of migrant
and refugee networks, their strength and the long-term construction process.6
Therefore, it should not be forgotten that immigrant and refugee groups, which
seem to be very stable, have the capacity to take action by adding larger groups to
their side.
To put it more clearly, it would be misleading to make evaluations based on
the results of the researches, which consist of a few questions and were carried out
with problematic samples, as it is frequently reflected in the popular public
opinion.As a subject, the Syrians in Turkey, which we discussed, need to be handled
carefully due to very different parameters such as their demographic size, their
distribution in human and physical geography, the duration of their migration and

4
https://www.goc.gov.tr/gecici-koruma5638 Access: 23.06.2021 &
https://multeciler.org.tr/turkiyedeki-suriyeli-sayisi/ Access: 23.06.2021

5
https://databank.worldbank.org/views/reports/reportwidget.aspx?
Report_Name=CountryProfile&Id=b450fd57&tbar=y&dd=y&inf=n&zm=n&country=SYR Access:
23.06.2021
6
Massey, D. S., & Taylor, J. E. (Eds.). (2004). International Migration - Prospect and Policies in a
Global Market. Oxford University Press.; Massey, D. S. (1990). Social Structure, Household
Strategies, and the Cumulative Causation of Migration. Population Index, 56(1), 3-26.
refugee experience, the current situation in Syria, international power balances and
policies.
The main problematics and rationale of the research
The general theme of the envisaged field research consists of studies that have
been done, published and will be published at different times with the support of
Gaziantep University, IOM and Care International in Turkey.
Similar to the field studies carried out in Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa and Kilis
provinces before, it is aimed to be implemented in 22 cities in the three main axes we
mentioned throughout Turkey.
In this field research, information will be collected and analyzes will be made
on the following main topics, with the questionnaires to be prepared:
-Demographic information about the household
-Pattern of women, family and marriage
-Migration experiences before coming to Turkey
-Migration experiences after leaving Syria
-Relations with Syria (round trip, return, kinship, property, etc.)
-Current legal or legal status
-Educational pattern in the household
-Daily life experiences and interactions in the city
- Experiences of exclusion, discrimination
- Information on vulnerable individuals in the household (elderly, sick,
disabled individual)
- Daily socio-economic life (neighborhood, interaction, etc.)
- Job and working life
- COVID-19 experiences
- Media use in daily life
- Future expectations and plans
In the questionnaires to be prepared, it is aimed to collect various data under the
general headings above.
The universe, sample and methodology of the research
In mid-2021, after a decade of war and refugee settlement, the settlement of
the Syrian population in Turkey is generally stable, except for short periodic
fluctuations.
Of course, it should not be forgotten that the compulsory residence and
restricted travel policies implemented starting from the southern cities of the country
are the biggest factors in the emergence of these results.
As mentioned before, with the addition of cities such as Malatya and Samsun,
the number of Syrians living in three main axes today is around 3 million 422
thousand.
This value corresponds to a very large proportion of Syrians registered in
Turkey, at 93.7%.
Therefore, it is obvious that choosing a sample from this population in the 22
cities in question will reveal a very reliable result in general.
According to the statistical calculations made with 99% accuracy, (confidence
level), 1% margin of error, 3913 interviews will be sufficient to obtain the most
reliable information of 3 million 422 thousand 28 people living in 22 cities, which
corresponds to 93.7% of all Syrians in Turkey.
On the other hand, according to previous experience in migration and refugee
research in the field, exceeding this number of interviews will always provide more
robust data.
 However, when choosing the sample number, the 1% representation we
obtained when the population in 22 provinces is divided by the household size was
taken as a basis.Research shows that the Syrian household size in Turkey is 6 on
average.
When approximately 3 million 422 thousand people in 22 provinces are
divided into 6, the result is 573 thousand 338 households.
Therefore, 1% household representation corresponds to 5703 interviews. The
number of household interviews planned according to the provinces can be followed
from the table below.

GENERAL REGISTERED SYRIAN POPULATION AND SAMPLE DISTRIBUTION

Provinces Estimated
Registered 1%
with the Most Number of
Syrian Number of
Registered % in 22 Households (6
Population House
  Syrians Provinces % in Turkey Persons)
1 İstanbul 527.067 15,4 14,3 87.845 878
2 İzmir 148.540 4,3 4,03 24.757 248
3 Bursa 180.121 5,3 4,9 30.020 300
4 Konya 119.901 3,5 3,3 19.984 200
5 Kayseri 80.246 2,3 2,2 13.374 134
6 Ankara 80.246 2,3 2,2 13.374 134
7 Mersin 229.930 6,7 6,2 38.322 383
8 Adana 254.114 7,4 7,4 42.352 423
9 Osmaniye 46.576 1,4 1,3 7.763 78
1 Kahramanmara
0 ş 93.937 2,7 2,7 15.656 157
1
1 Malatya 31.012 0,9 0,8 5.169 52
1
2 Hatay 436.000 12,7 11,8 72.667 727
1
3 Gaziantep 451.385 13,2 12,3 75.231 752
1
4 Kilis 105.079 3,1 2,9 17.513 175
1
5 Şanlıurfa 423.960 12,4 11,5 70.660 707
1
6 Mardin 89.472 2,6 2,4 14.912 149
1
7 Aydın 8.147 0,2 0,2 1.358 14
1
8 Kocaeli 55.619 1,6 1,5 9.270 93
1
9 Sakarya 15.616 0,5 0,5 2.603 26
2
0 Samsun 7.960 0,2 0,2 1.327 13
2
1 Denizli 13.286 0,4 0,4 2.214 22
2 Diyarbakır 23.814 0,7 0,6 3.969 40
 2
22 PROVINCES
  TOTAL 3.422.028 100 93,7   5703
  Turkey Total 3.681.531        
Estimated Number of Households in
570338      
22 Provinces (Average 6 people)
1% of Households in 22 Provinces 5703      
Minimum number of interviews for statistical sample (%99 Confidence level)

Research questions will be prepared based on previous fieldwork with Syrians

and other immigrants, however, questions that will enable us to understand the current
household patterns and the re-migration tendencies of Syrian refugees and their
reasons will also be asked.As much as existing household patterns and contact points
with the social relations system in which Syrians live, questions will focus reflect on
parameters such as the state, official institutions, social services, NGOs, other
immigrants and refugees, family relations, gender relations, COVID-19 and refugee
vulnerability.
After all data are transferred to SPSS environment, analyzes will be made and
finally a report will be written in English based on scientific foundations and
justifications.
If requested, a 10-15 page summary report consisting of shorter and striking
infographics can be prepared than the full and long report.
After the final report, with the approval of the supporting organization,
writing an international academic book is a matter that can be negotiated.
The questionnaire will be applied electronically via KoboToolbox.
Within the framework of protecting the personal data of the interviewees and
the privacy of private life, the interviewers will be trained before going on the field
and the sensitivities in this matter will be especially taken into consideration.
The sampling and interview locations in the field, neighborhoods will be
determined by the research team.
Interviews will be held in neighborhoods and homes.
Before each interview begins, the purpose and content of the research will be
told to the interviewees, and Gaziantep University TARGET's commitment that the
answers will not be used for any other purpose will be verbally expressed.
On the other hand, the legal permissions of the interviews in 22 provinces will
be obtained and the job security and personal security of the interviewers in the field
studies will be ensured at the highest level in cooperation with official institutions.
No audio recordings will be taken during the interviews.
No photo or video recording will be made to reveal the identity of any
interviewee, especially women and children.
Due to the COVID-19 conditions, hygiene rules will be strictly observed for
the health of the interviewees and the interviewees.
This research, which is aimed to be carried out in 22 provinces by a team with
research experience on Syrians in Gaziantep, Kilis and Urfa, within the Department of
Sociology of Gaziantep University, since 2017
It should be noted that it will provide very robust and reliable data from a wide
range of Syrians' current socio-economic status, adaptation, employment,
employment, education, displacement and future goals.