1.2 - Syria International Migration

Question 1

When did the Syrian refugee crisis begin?

Answer 1

The Syrian civil war started when major conflict broke out March 15, 2011, after a forceful crackdown on peaceful student protests against the government of Bashar al-Assad. Conflict continues with insecurity in parts of the country

Question 2

Give some statistics on the Syrian involuntary migration crisis (name 3)

Answer 2

• about 13.5 million Syrians are forcibly displaced
• 6.8 million of whom are refugees and asylum seekers who have fled the country
• the rest 6.7 million remain in Syria but displaced from their homes and living under terrible conditions
• more than 80% of Syrians live in extreme poverty (under $1.90 a day)

Question 3

What are some push factors for migration from Syria? (name 6)

Answer 3

• ISIS: radicalistic groups who have destroyed civil infrastructure
• only 53% of hospitals and 51% of healthcare facilities are still functional
• a want for a better future
• tired of extreme conditions
• have lost loved ones, suffered injuries, missed years of schooling, and experienced unspeakable violence and brutality
• seeking safety
• lack of jobs and extreme poverty
• lack of resources and basic human necessities
• more than 8 million people lack access to safe water
• estimated 2.4 million children are out of school

Question 4

What are some pull factors for migration to Europe for Syrians? (name 5)

Answer 4

• a possibility for a future
• job opportunities, better housing
• Europe is more politically stable
• wages and living standards are higher
• European societies are generally peaceful, low-abiding and tolerant of different faiths
• people want to join family members already in the EU

Question 5

What are some impacts of civil migration on the country of origin (Syria)? (name 5)

Answer 5

• ISIS has attacked cities of Syria
• destroyed infrastructure and forced out civilians
• extreme loss of able-bodied people
• households lose male workers and the providers of the family since physically strong men are the first to migrate
• women are over-burdened and the economy suffers
• more educated usually migrate first
• education, healthcare decline

Question 6

What are some impacts of migration on the migrants during the migration process? (name 7)

Answer 6

• there is no family members to help
• perhaps struggling with the loss of loved ones
• illegal activity
• scammed of their money
• terrible survival conditions
  - muddy tents, death and starvation in refugee camps
• through Turkey, 80,000 of the 260,000 migrants were Syrians
  - many did not survive the long journey
• robbed, abused, scammed
• according to IOM: whilst crossing the sea to Greece, Italy and Spain, 5000 Syrians drowned
• some taken into slavery
• faced months in overcrowded reception centres
• no jobs, no income, poverty

Question 7

What are some negative impacts on the receiving country of migrants (from Syria)? (name 4)

Answer 7

• immediate influx of population
  - grew rapidly to numbers that could not be managed
• immediate shelter, food and other necessities had to be provided, which the country may not be able to supply
• pressure on services
• maternity services were stretched
• migrants (due to belief systems) seek for larger families which causes an increased birth rate

Question 8

What are some positive impacts on the receiving country of migrants (from Syria) ?

Answer 8

• A supply of needed labour helped the economy, especially
  because some migrants were willing to undertake jobs
  the locals would rather not do
• Migrants work and then pay taxes.
• They created a larger market for local businesses.
• Their arrival resulted in the provision of services,
  including a diversity of food in ethnic restaurants.
• Migrants made available a wealth of cultural experiences
  in art, music, and literature, as well as creating a better
  understanding of different cultures.