Syrian Immigrants Research Articles

How does the service quality in refugee camps, affect the satisfaction of Syrian immigrants?

How does the service quality in refugee camps, affect the satisfaction of Syrian immigrants?

Syrian Immigrants and Turkish–European Union Migration Deals: Business as Usual

ABSTRACT Turkish–European Union Migration Agreement (TEMD) was signed in 2016, at the height of the Syrian migration flows. Together with this deal, the EU aimed at blocking the migration flows from the Middle East to Europe, and for not so obvious reasons, Turkey accepted to be a buffer between these two. Immigration, in its numerous legal, semi-legal and illegal varieties, has been the lifeblood of capitalism. Despite all the harsh rhetoric against immigration, the flows are not abated, but rather the newcomers are stratified in a manner that locks the newcomers into vulnerable positions. In this article, I will examine the case of immigration control regulations between the EU and Turkey. The EU and Turkey has a complex relationship of immigration flows that include third-country nationals as well as the native populations. The ‘EU-Turkey Statement and Action Plan’ was signed to constitute the pinnacle of a series of dealings between these two entities, though the balance of power is clearly skewed towards the former. This article intends to start examining the stratification effects of the Syrian immigration and the subsequent transformation of the immigration politics played among the three actors: the EU/Germany, Turkey and Syria.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, and Perceived Social Support Among Iraqi and Syrian Immigrant and Refugee Adolescents in Türkiye

This study determined the levels of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, and perceived social support among 109 Iraqi and 136 Syrian immigrant secondary school students residing in Bolu, Türkiye. The participants, who had previously experienced trauma, were compared with 143 Turkish adolescents. The refugee children had significantly higher scores for both PTSD and depression, and lower scores for social support. While there were no significant gender differences for the three variables, older students had higher PTSD scores. Immigrant students who had lived in Türkiye for four years or longer had lower depression, higher social support, and social support from a special person. Degree of problems with Turkish language had no effect, while those with Turkish friends had significantly higher scores for perceived social support and family social support than those who did not. Surprisingly, students whose families had immigrated for educational reasons had higher PTSD scores and lower family social support scores than those that immigrated due to conflicts. A regression analysis, conducted to predict depression via PTSD and social support, showed that the two variables accounted for 25% of the variance in depression scores.

Analysıs of the 6 February 2023 Turkey earthquake as a challenge ın dısaster sociology under the guıdance of Bruno Latour and Terrestrıal

Current studies in disaster sociology, which were initiated and developed mostly in the USA upon the request of the army, are far from meeting the needs today. Today, more than ever, new theoretical and methodological approaches that are not human-centered are needed. The research, a part of which is presented here, aims to render invisible the damages and losses suffered by those who are marginalized by the powerful, in disasters in general and earthquakes in particular. The main question of this research is how to address the damages suffered by soil plants and animals, including immigrants in Turkey, due to the disaster on 6February 2023.(Based on this, the main question of the study is how to address the damages of the natural environment, including plants, animals and soils, as well as Syrian immigrants in Turkey, who were affected by the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş on 6February 2023, which we experienced most recently, will be addressed with an antipositivist approach.) For this purpose, unlike classical sociological approaches, based on relational sociology, how immigrants, plants, animals and soil are affected together during the uncertainty and complexity in daily life has been analyzed based on available written and visual documents. The findings were discussed with a holistic view, based on the ‘One World’ terminology suggested by relational sociologist Bruno Latour. It has been revealed that due to the earthquake turning into a major disaster, the resident population has become openly or secretly immigrants, and they have been marginalized like other creatures, especially international immigrants, most of whom are Syrians, have been blamed, excluded and rendered invisible. While the research results reveal the inadequacy of classical essentialist sociological approaches based on the basic duality of nature and society, they also show that ‘differences’ and ‘uncertainties’ come to the fore in daily life instead of linear determinations. In addition, while the importance and contributions of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary studies with concepts such as ‘liminality’ and ‘turning point’ are exhibited, on the other hand, some suggestions are made based on Bruno Latour’s ‘One World’ approach.

Education of Syrian Immigrants in Türkiye, Jordan, and Lebanon

The Syrian civil war, which started in 2011, caused the migration of more than 6 million Syrians, and this wave of migration affected the region in many ways. Neighboring countries with the highest number of Syrian refugees, especially Türkiye, Lebanon, and Jordan, were greatly affected politically, socially, and economically by this process. War negatively affects the lives of children, one of the most vulnerable groups in society, in many ways. One of these negative effects is undoubtedly the interruption of their education, an important element in shaping their entire lives. This study conducted by document scanning method, has dealt with the access of Syrian children to education in the countries which they migrated to in the context of policies and practices. The importance of non-formal education activities in ensuring access to education for hundreds of thousands of out-of-school children in all three countries was discussed. Language training, catch-up training and vocational training programs should be organized within the scope of non-formal education to meet the educational needs of Syrian children who are out of school due to curriculum and language differences, inadequacy of classrooms, poverty and resulting child labor and early marriage of girls.

Experiences of Prejudice and Discrimination from the Perspective of Syrian Migrants: A Qualitative Study in Türkiye

This study examines Syrian immigrants’ experiences of prejudice and discrimination, their causes, and solutions based on their own experiences. The findings obtained from in-depth interviews with the 20 participants selected using the snowball sampling method are as follows. There are experiences of prejudice and discrimination in business life, such as late employment, wage inequality, and marginalizing labels. Experiences of exclusion, such as marginalizing discourses and being treated differently, are evident in social life. The reasons for these phenomena are economic, social, and media factors. Social policies and education regulations are needed to prevent prejudice and discrimination. Among these suggestions, steps such as facilitating services for Syrians and improving Turkish language skills stand. This research makes an important contribution to the field in terms of addressing the causes and solutions of prejudice and discrimination against migrants based on their own experiences. Therefore, we argue that it is important to include the voices of migrants in future research on the causes and prevention of prejudice and discrimination.

Muslims of the Heartland: How Syrian Immigrants Made a Home in the American Midwest

Muslims of the Heartland: How Syrian Immigrants Made a Home in the American Midwest

Unmet need for family planning among Syrian migrant women living in Turkey and its determinants

IntroductionMigrant women might be cannot benefit from health services sufficiently. The unmet need for family planning is among the pivotal indicators for measuring progress toward improving maternal and child health. The aim of this study was to identify the unmet need for family planning (UMNFP) among Syrian migrant women living in Mardin and its determinants.Material and methodsThe study was conducted in Mardin. Data were gathered during home visits Data collection tools were socio-demographic and reproductive health questionnaires. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Qualitative variables were presented by number and percentage. Quantitative variables were presented by means (standard deviation). To determine, the determinants of UMNFP binary logistic regression was used.ResultsThe result of this study showed that prevalence of UMNFP was 35%. Woman’s low educational level (OR:5.42, CI95%:2.43–8.94), history of un intended pregnancy(OR:1.43, CI95%:1.1–1.94) and induced abortion (OR:1.76, CI95%: 1.41–2.21), not having husband’s regular job(OR: 2.24, CI95%:1.92–3.78) and lack of woman`s autonomy in decision related to use of contraception methods(OR:3.21, CI95%: 1.78–6.12) were determinants of UMNFP.ConclusionThe prevalence of UMNFP among Syrian immigrants living in Mardin was considerable. Understanding the challenges and the barriers impacting use of contraception including cultural norms as well, as social and language obstacles are essential to decrease UMNFP.

Syrian Immigrants in the Malta Bazaar of Istanbul: Changing Rules of the Trade Game and Negotiation between the Capitals

ABSTRACT This article examines the socio-spatial transformations of the Malta Bazaar in Istanbul and the new Syrian shopkeepers as potential game changers. We argue that the transformation of the bazaar cannot be seen solely as a commercial venture, but can also be read as a dynamic playground of understanding and tolerance, as well as emerging social, cultural and economic contrasts and tensions. To test these arguments, we designed a field study with an ethnographic approach. The central theme of our research is to read the role of Syrians in the social reproduction of space through potential changes in the rules of the game in a micro-space. We adopted Pierre Bourdieu's concepts of field and habitus to relate the micro-level experiences of actors in space to broader macro contexts. As a result, we concluded that the change in the rules of the game should be defined as a process of mutual uneasiness. What happens in the field at this stage is an attempt to fit into a single space where negotiation rather than cooperation is more prominent and mutual compromises are inevitably made.

Assessment of frailty, daily life activities, and nutrition of elderly immigrants: A household based cross-sectional study.

With the global migrant population on the rise, it's imperative to focus on the health status of more vulnerable groups within these communities. The elderly immigrants face myriad physical and psychosocial challenges that significantly impact their health and quality of life. This study aims to investigate the nutrition, daily life activities, and clinical frailty status of elderly immigrants residing in Türkiye. A cross-sectional design was employed in the Sultanbeyli District, focusing on Syrian immigrants aged 65 and over. Participants were surveyed face-to-face by interpreters proficient in Arabic. The questionnaire comprised sociodemographic details, health status, and scales like Katz Daily Life Activities, Clinical Frailty, and Mini Nutritional Assessment. The data analysis was executed using SPSS 22. Continuous variables were presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD) and median, while categorical ones were expressed in numbers and percentages (%). A significance level of P < .05 was considered for the analyses. The average age of the participants was determined as 71.64 ± 6.20 years. In the study group, 49.7% were female, 75.5% were younger than 75 years old, 47.7% had less than primary school education, 56.3% were married, 42.4% had a low income level, and 56.9% lived in the same household with 5 or more people. Among the participants in the study group, 47% had walking and balance problems, 29.1% had a history of falls in the last year, 10.6% were disabled, 69.5% complained of pain, 82.8% had a chronic illness, and 43% had polypharmacy. The median value of the KATZ Daily Living Activities scale was 6, the mean score of the Clinical Frailty Score scale was 3.25 ± 1.25, and the mean score of the Mini Nutritional Assessment scale was 12.40 ± 2.15. Among immigrant elderly individuals, 88.1% were able to sustain their lives independently, 13.9% were clinically frail, and 3.3% were at risk of malnutrition. Factors such as age, level of education, socioeconomic status, marital status, number of cohabitants in the household, BMI, neurological problems, walking-balance disorders, disability, and presence of chronic diseases are associated with daily life activities, frailty, and malnutrition status. It is believed that broader field research with greater participation would be beneficial for evaluating the nutritional status of immigrant elderly individuals.

International Forced Migration and Employment Relations: The Case of Syrians in Turkey

Due to the political unrest following the civil war in 2011, several million Syrians had to flee from their own country to save their lives. This form of migration is called as forced migration given rise to reasons such as environmental disasters, climate change, civil conflict, and war. The mass migration movement of Syrians, first within the country and then towards neighboring countries, brought along many socio-economic problems. One of the most affected countries has been forced migration from Turkey to the Syrian hosts, including about 5 million registered and unregistered. Although it has been 9 years since the process, which was initially established through temporariness, a solution could not be found and the dream of returning Syrians has weakened day by day. This study aims to reveal how the Syrians, who are included in the labor market in an unplanned way, affect the Turkish labor market. Dynamic Panel data analysis was carried out using the data of 26 regions of Turkey. As a result, a 1% increase in the immigrant rate, which represents the share of Syrian immigrants in the region’s population, increases the employment rate by approximately 0.02%.

Muslims of the Heartland: How Syrian Immigrants Made a Home in the American Midwest

Muslims of the Heartland: How Syrian Immigrants Made a Home in the American Midwest

Internalized political repression: Legacies of authoritarianism in the U.S.‐based Syrian diaspora during the Arab Spring

AbstractAuthoritarian regimes are known to repress the political activity of their diasporas transnationally by threatening harsh sanctions. But is this their only mode of transnational repression? This article builds on scholarship on social control to explore whether migrants bring internalized forms of political repression from their authoritarian home country to their democratic country of settlement—and if so, how it shapes their transnational political activity. In‐depth life‐history interviews with 29 U.S.‐citizen and permanent‐resident Syrian immigrants living in Los Angeles, California and Louisville, Kentucky reveal that for many U.S.‐based Syrians, demobilizing emotions, interpretive frames, and habits learned in Syria depressed their transnational political activity during the Arab Spring. Four internalized mechanisms of transnational political repression are conceptualized: learned helplessness, chronic fear of politics and the State, political trauma, and disciplined aversion to political expression. Leveraging comparisons between activists, demobilized activists, and non‐activists, this article demonstrates the connections between specific political socialization experiences, internalized political repression, and transnational political (in)activity. This article contributes to the growing literature on constraints and barriers to transnational mobilization, and to the debate over the role of pre‐migration political experience on immigrants' political participation.

Language Learning Tendencies of Syrian Immigrants Living in Gaziantep in the Context of Migration and Education

Suriye iç savaşı ile yaklaşık 4 milyon Suriyeli mülteci Türkiye sınırları içerisine sığınmıştır. Bu durum Türkiye’yi önemli bir göç ve göçle birlikte de birçok uyum problemi ile karşı karşıya bırakmıştır. Uyum sürecine bakıldığında da Suriyeli göçmenlerin ekonomik, psiko-sosyal ve kültürel olmak üzere pek çok problemle baş etmek zorunda kaldıkları da en belirgin göstergelerdir. Hayatta kalmak ve daha iyi yaşam şartlarına sahip olmak isteyen göçmenler yeni girdikleri toplumlarla uyum içinde yaşayabilmek için göç edilen ülkelerde dil, din, ırk, kültür, gelenek ve sosyoekonomik durum gibi farklılıklarla karşılaşmaktadırlar. Göçmenlerin ve göç edilen bölgelerdeki yerli halkın uyumları için gerekli olan birbirleri ile sağlıklı bir şekilde iletişim kurabilmekten geçmektedir. Sağlıklı bir iletişimin temeli ise iki farklı topluluğun birbirlerinin dilini anlamasına dayanır. Yeni bir dil öğrenmek için ise her şeyden önce kişinin ilgili dili öğrenmeyi istemesi gerekmektedir. İkinci olarak, o dili öğrenmesinde yardımcı olacak materyaller, eğitimciler, özel veya kamusal kurslar vb. araçlar gereklidir. Gaziantep’te yaşayan Suriyeliler üzerinden dil öğrenme konusu incelediğinde gelen göçmenlerin dil öğrenmesine engel durumların olup olmadığının tespiti gerekliliklerden birini oluşturmaktadır. Toplamda 104 gönüllü katılımcı ile gerçekleştirilen anket çalışması dil öğrenimine etki edecek faktörleri belirlemek amacıyla 19 farklı sorudan meydana getirilmiştir. Dolayısıyla nitel araştırma yöntemine başvurulan bu çalışmada doküman analizi ve alan yazında yayımlanan araştırma makalelerine de başvurulmuştur. Oluşturulan anket çalışması ile yabancı uyruklu katılımcıların yabancı bir dil öğrenme eğilimleri konusunda izlenimlere ulaşılmıştır. Katılımcıların bildikleri dillerin de tespit edildiği bu çalışma ile özelden genele olacak şekilde varsayımsal sonuçlar elde edilmiştir. Yapılan anket çalışması ve araştırma makaleler karşılaştırılmış ve çıkan sonuçların genel anlamda benzer olduğu tespit edilmiştir.

Investigation of Malaria, Leishmaniasis, and Scabies Risk after Earthquakes and Recommendations for Prevention.

This study examines the risk of malaria, leishmaniasis, and scabies following earthquakes in southeastern Türkiye. The focus is on the impact on the local population and Syrian immigrants. Recommendations for prevention include vector control measures such as indoor residual spraying and distribution of insecticidal nets. Surveillance and early detection through rapid diagnostic tests and active case finding are important. Public awareness campaigns and community engagement are crucial for promoting protective measures. Strengthening healthcare infrastructure, providing essential supplies, and capacity building is essential. For leishmaniasis, early detection and treatment, vector control, health education, and community engagement are vital. Scabies outbreaks affect the socioeconomically depressed local population and Syrian immigrants. Early detection, treatment, contact tracing, health education, hygiene promotion, and improved living conditions are necessary. Implementing these interventions and strategies can effectively prevent, control, and manage these diseases. Tailoring approaches to the specific context and needs of affected communities is crucial. By addressing these challenges, we can protect the health and well-being of the affected population.

GEÇİCİ KORUMA STATÜSÜ ALTINDAKI SURİYELİLERİN ENTEGRASYONUNU VE REFAHINI ARTIRMADA YEREL YÖNETİMLERİN ROLÜ: ADANA BÜYÜKŞEHİR BELEDİYESİ ÖRNEĞİ

This study examines the impact of the Syrian civil war on Türkiye, specifically the migration of Syrians to Türkiye and the legal and institutional arrangements made for their temporary protection. Initially, Syrian immigrants settled in camps along the Syrian border, but they were later allowed to reside outside the camps, leading to their integration into Turkish society. The study analyzes the legal and institutional arrangements for Syrians under temporary protection status and the services provided by the Adana Metropolitan Municipality. The role of local governments in migration policies and the financing of services for immigrants are also explored. The strategic plan and activity reports of the Adana Metropolitan Municipality are analyzed to understand the various projects undertaken by the municipality in collaboration with international stakeholders to improve the integration and social and economic welfare of immigrants.&#x0D; The findings of the study show that the Adana Metropolitan Municipality has implemented numerous initiatives to support the integration of Syrian immigrants into Turkish society. These initiatives include education and vocational training programs, health services, and social support programs. The study also emphasizes the importance of local government involvement in migration policies and the need for adequate funding to ensure that essential services are provided to immigrants.

Surviving in the Digital Space: Digital Literacy of Syrian Immigrants in Turkey

Turkey is one of the countries hosting the largest number of Syrian immigrants in the world. Integration&#x0D; of Syrian immigrants is one of the problems Turkey has to overcome. Many studies around the world&#x0D; show that digital communication tools can be used effectively by immigrants in many integration processes&#x0D; such as language learning, learning about culture and socialization. In this study, which was carried out&#x0D; as a project of The Scientific And Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK), we aimed to&#x0D; determine the digital literacy levels of Syrian immigrants, which is a prerequisite for their integration by&#x0D; using digital tools. We applied a digital literacy scale adapted to Arabic to Syrian immigrants. The study,&#x0D; which was conducted both online and face-to-face, investigated the general digital literacy status of Syrian&#x0D; immigrants and their digital literacy levels according to variables such as gender, age, education level,&#x0D; income level, access to the internet, and Turkish citizenship status. Both at the general level and at the level&#x0D; of all variables, the digital literacy of Syrian immigrants was determined to be “Below Average / Weak”.&#x0D; Especially in European countries, public policies have started to be established to increase the digital literacy&#x0D; levels of isolated groups such as immigrants. In order to overcome the immigrant integration problem in&#x0D; Turkey through digital communication, public policies should be established to increase the digital literacy&#x0D; levels of immigrants.

Assessing the Psychometric Qualities of the Refugee Post-Migration Stress Scale: A Study of Syrian Immigrants in Turkey

The aim of this study is to adapt the Refugee Post-Migration Stress Scale (RPMS) to Syrian immigrants living in Türkiye and to determine the factors associated with RPMS. In this context, the WHO-5 Well-Being Index was administered with RPMS to 250 participants living in Mardin, one of Turkey's border provinces with Syria, for the study's first phase. In the second stage, RPMS and Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale were administered to 409 Syrians together with the demographic information form prepared by the researchers. According to the CFA results applied in the first stage, the psychometric properties of the adapted version of the scale were found to be satisfactory. In the second study, it was found that social support was negatively related to the post-migration stress levels of the participants and PMS differed significantly in terms of marital status, educational status, social support, income and employment status, language proficiency, hope for the future, and ethnicity variables. Study implications and limitations are discussed.

Rational Drug and Antibiotic Use Status, E-Health Literacy in Syrian Immigrants and Related Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Rational drug use is a pivotal concept linked with morbidity and mortality. Immigration plays a significant role as a determinant affecting individuals' health-related attitudes, behaviors, and the pursuit of health services. Within this context, the study was initiated to assess the factors influencing health literacy and rational drug use among Syrian immigrants in Istanbul. A cross-sectional study was undertaken on 542 Syrian adults utilizing a three-part questionnaire encompassing sociodemographics, rational drug use, and the e-health literacy scale (eHEALS). With an average age of 39.19 ± 13.10 years, a majority of participants believed medications should solely be doctor-prescribed (97%) and opposed keeping antibiotics at home (93.7%). Yet, 62.5% thought excessive herbal medicine use was harmless. The mean eHEALS score stood at 20.57 ± 7.26, and factors like age, marital status, income, and duration of stay in Turkey influenced e-health literacy. Associations were seen between low e-health literacy and being female, being older, having a lower education level, and regular medication use. Syrian immigrants displayed proper knowledge concerning antibiotics yet exhibited gaps in their understanding of general drug usage, treatment adherence, and herbal medicines. Approximately 80.3% had limited health literacy, pointing to the need for targeted interventions for enhanced health and societal assimilation.

Istanbul Residents’ Perceptions of the Use of Green Spaces by Syrian Immigrants

The aim of this study is to determine the perceptions of the people of Istanbul regarding Syrian immigrants and their common use of urban green spaces. The causes of conflicts that Istanbul residents and Syrians immigrants have experienced in green spaces are also addressed. An exploratory sequential design was used, being one of the mixed methods in which qualitative and quantitative approaches are used together. Semi-structured interviews and content analysis were conducted for the qualitative part of the study. For the quantitative part, data were collected from 389 people in Istanbul with a survey consisting of Likert-type scale questions. Explanatory factor analysis (EFA) was performed on the obtained data-set. As a result, it was found that Istanbul’s citizens have problems with Syrian immigrants in urban green spaces due to differences in activities, they expect Syrians to speak Turkish in mutual communication, and they do not want to interact with this group due to their negative attitude towards Syrian immigrants. More detailed research should be conducted to reduce the conflict between these groups. In addition, this study reveals that conflicts have increased due to the lack of green spaces, and an increase in green spaces may be proposed as a solution.