University of Milano BicoccaSummer school @ EXPO 2015

Bruno Neri

Syria History background

Syria was a place of one of the most ancient civilization since the Neolithic era.

In 1516, was conquered by the Ottoman Empire, until its collapse in 1918.

1946 become independent from the French mandate

On the 1961 Syria became the Syrian Arab Republic

 On 1963, a coup d’état brought the Ba’th party to power. The country entered a totalitarian era.

 Hafez al-Assad’s arrival into power in 1970, establishing an authoritarian and corrupted regime

 Bachar al-Assad succeeded his father in 2000.

2011 Uprising In March 2011 popular uprisings with civilian and

peaceful demonstrations, inspired by a wave of the

Middle East and North Africa “ Arab Spring” started

in Syria, increasingly turned into a civil war

Civilians have been subject to direct and

indiscriminate attacks, including the widespread use

of barrel bombs

Since 2011 daily fighting continued in contested

areas, pushing the civilian death toll higher and

higher. Over 240,000 people was killed, including

over 70,000 civilians, 12,000 children

Humanitarian Contest

●12.2 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance inside Syria, including 5.6 million children;

●4.8 million people are living in 137 hard-to-reach areas and ongoing siege areas, including up to two million children. Humanitarian needs in those areas are particularly high because access is obstructed

●Human rights violations and abuses continue to occur in the context of widespread insecurity and in disregard of international law, international humanitarian law, and human rights law

Affected PopulationMore than 50% of all Syrians have leaved their homes

making Syria the largest displacement crisis globally.7.6 million people are IDPs within Syria; 50% are children

REGIONAL DISPLACEMENT4,015,256 Syrians are refugees in neighboring

countries

Who are the refugees ?Refugees are individuals (civilians) with a legitimate

fear of being persecuted because of their race, religion,

nationality, or affiliation with a social or political group,

and who are outside their country of origin.

Asylum seekers are people whose claims of persecution

have not yet been substantiated.

According to the 1951 refugee convention, which was

amended in 1967, “refugees deserve, as a minimum, the

same standards of treatment enjoyed by other foreign

nationals in a given country and, in many cases, the

same treatment as nationals”.

International Refugees LawProtecting refugees is the responsibility of the States. The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its

1967 Protocol are the main international legal instruments on the protection of refugees and these documents set the minimum standards for their treatment.

States who have signed the Convention are obliged to protect refugees on their territory and treat them according to internationally recognized rules.

In the case of a mass influx of refugees, when regular asylum systems are overwhelmed, there is an obligation for states to provide international protection at least on a temporary basis.

However, of the countries hosting significant numbers of Syrian refugees (Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt) only Egypt and Turkey have signed the 1951 Convention and its Protocol.

As a result, the legal status of those fleeing Syria is mostly governed by the host countries’ national laws concerning foreign nationals.

Refugees legal status is primarily governed by the laws of the host country where they reside.

The legal framework applicable to asylum seekers and refugees differs significantly between countries and different laws apply to different groups of people.

In Lebanon for instance, the situation varies significantly between Syrians and Palestinian Refugees from Syria (PRS).

Overall, the people fleeing Syria can be divided into 3 different groups, depending on their status in the host-country: Those residing in camps; Those who have the appropriate papers and are therefore

regularly residing in a country; and Those who are irregular, meaning residing in a host country

without the required documents. While these 3 groups are not mutually exclusive, the level of

access to services and protection differs between the different groups

Legal Status

Country Employement Education Health

Lebanon

A work permit is required for all Syrians in Lebanon, although in practice, the large majority of those working do so illegally

The Ministry of Education allows all Syrian students, after they register with UNHCR, to enrol in public schools for reduced fees.

Once registered, Syrians can access primary healthcare through existing Lebanese health care structures. Due to lack of funding, UNHCR covers hospital bills only in life saving situations.

Situation in the host countires

Country

Employement Education Health

Jordan A work permit is required which in practice is not granted to Syrians. According to the labour ministry, about 160,000 Syrians are working illegally in Jordan. They mostly work in the informal sector and are exposed to hazards and exploitation

Syrian refugee children who are registered with UNHCR can enrol in public schools

Once registered, Syrians can access the public health system.

Situation in the host countires

Country

Employement Education Health

Turkey A work permit is required and difficult to obtain. Many who work do so illegally.

Only those with residence permits can enrol in public schools. Others can only follow education as ‘guests’ or attend informal schools. Schools have been established in the 17 camps

All Syrians in Turkey can receive free emergency health services in public hospitals, albeit only in the 8 provinces where Syrians are registered. Syrians in the camps receive full health services.

Situation in the host countires

Country

Employement Education Health

Iraq In the Kurdish areas, refugees can work legally if they have residency permits. In other areas of Iraq, those refugees who are confined to the camps cannot work

The KRG and the Iraqi Government allow Syrian children to register free of charge in public schools.

The Refugee Act entitles refugees to the same health services as nationals

Country

Employement Education Health

Egypt Syrians require work permits are difficult to obtain, as they require proof on the part of the employer that no Egyptian national is available to do the work.

Access is granted to Government schools. This decree is not applicable to Palestinian Refugees from Syria

Syrians access to the public health system against the same fees as Egyptians.

Stateless People More than 51.000 newborn Syrian babies in Lebanon are stateless, with no identification documents;

Stateless status prevents children from realizing basic human rights;

Stateless status denied access to public services, such as education and health care; a lack of protection from child labour, early marriage, illegal adoption or sexual exploitation, and the inability to travel, marry or work legally. 

One of the main reasons parents refrain from applying for legal status of their children is a fear of approaching their embassy because of security or political reasons;

Many refugees may have lost their documents after being displaced or their documents have expired and they have difficulty replacing them

11 NGO’s Syria Joint Response11 NGOs have formed a consortium in

order to create a better coverage and fill gaps in the life saving needs of the Syrian displaced people and refugees.

Programme beneficiaries 124.100 people with food assistance, 56.258 people with health support, 22.890 people receive non-food items, 15.512 people will receive shelter

support, 10.000 women and children will get

psychosocial support 330.020 people will have improved access to water supply.

Overview on Sectors and Areas of Intervention

WASH Food Security Health NFI Shelter Protection World Vision

(SYRIA: Aleppo)

CARE (SYRIA: Idleb)

Terre des Hommes (JORDAN)

Cordaid (LEBANON)

Save (SYRIA: Idleb)

Warchild (SYRIA: Idleb, Al Hassakah and other areas)

Oxfam (SYRIA: Aleppo)

Dorcas (SYRIA: Aleppo, Idleb, Al

Hassakah)

S. Vluchteling-

IRC (SYRIA: Aleppo, Idleb)

ZOA (JORDAN)

World Vision (SYRIA: Idleb)

ICCO Coop (JOR

ZOA (SYRIA: Aleppo)

ZOA (SYRIA: Aleppo, Al

Hassakah)

ICCO Coop (JORDAN)

Terre des Hommes

(LEBANON)

Terre des Hommes

(IRAQ) Dorcas

(SYRIA: Idleb)

Cordaid (Lebanon)

ICCO Coop (SYRIA: Aleppo, Al Hassakah)

SAVE (SYRIA: Aleppo, Idleb)

ICCO Coop (SYRIA:

Aleppo, Al Hassakah)

S. Vluchteling-IRC

(SYRIA: Aleppo, Idleb)

Terre des Hommes (SYRIA: Idleb)

Cordaid (Lebanon)

Cordaid (Lebanon)

IRAQ

• The Basirma refugee camp in Erbil, Northern Iraq, more than 700 families, with 1889 children, are residing there.

In Basirma Refugee Camp there are about 3.500 individuals.

Tdh carried out a survey a total of 637 families were interviewed with underage children

Single persons were not included in this assessment, unless they were minors

BASIRMA REFUGEES CAMP

Household compositionOf the 637 households interviewed, 298 were effectively headed by a female. The other 339 were male headed households. All the respondents together had a total of 1654 children . The family size recorded ranged from 1 to 13 persons.

PregnanciesThe assessment recorded 94 pregnancies in the camp

Medical conditions307 families indicated there was a member of the family suffering from a severe medical condition.

Child birth in camp and birth registration124 families indicated that at least one of their children was born in Basirma Camp. Of these newborns 114 were registered. Only 10 children remained without birth registration.

Children trauma

Separated children21 families taking care of children who are not part of their immediate family.

Married children13 of the interviewed families a minor child was married in the last two years. Most families indicated that the reason for the early marriage was security (9)

Household income and working membersSource of income: # of families- Work inside the camp 117 families- Work outside the cam 111 families- Volunteer work 80 families- Humanitarian assistance 28 families- No form of income 296 families 

BASIRMA REFUGEE CAMP

Terre des Hommes Italy is carrying out a project which aims to provide psychosocial support services for Syrian refugee children and to empower Syrian refugee persons through community mobilization

The project intends to create protected spaces for children, torganize recreational activities, provide counseling and psychosocial support and to conduct awareness activities on several issues

BASIRMA REFUGEES CAMP

.R1 Address the urgent protection needs of the most vulnerable groups among the population (including women, girls, boys, the elderly, disabled, and survivors of torture and sexual violence in conflict);

R2 Expand protection response networks among national and international actors

R3 Create an environment for the respect of human rights by strengthening national protection networks

Expected results

Expected Result

Indicators Target population

Activities

EXERCISE

THANK YOU FOR YOUR

ATTENTION