Syrian refugees: 11 years of suffering and displacement

After 11 years of crisis, life has not been the same for millions of displaced Syrians who have been forced to flee their homes since 2011, seeking safety in other countries. As the crisis continues, the situation is getting harder, and hope seems to be lost. 

Hosting countries 

Syria remains the world’s largest displacement crisis in a decade. According to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, more than 13 million people have either fled the country or are displaced within its borders. Turkey hosts the largest number of registered Syrian refugees – more than 3.6 million in 2021, while Lebanon and Jordan are among the countries with the highest number of refugees per capita globally, with more than 660,000 Syrians currently trapped in Jordan.

Iraq hosts nearly 260,000 Syrian refugees, the majority of whom are based in the Kurdistan Region, the UN reported. 

According to UNHCR, more than 6.9 million people are still displaced inside Syria, and 14.6 million people require humanitarian assistance, while 5.9 million people need help to secure safe accommodation. 

Sanaa’s journey to Germany 

Sanaa, a Syrian female refugee in her fifties, did not think about leaving her home even after the war. When it was time for her two sons to join the military service, she decided to flee with them to Germany through illegal migration.

“I was afraid they might be killed or disappear if they would have joined the military,” Sanaa told Jusoor Post. 

The two sons, Khaled and Mohamed, were immediately accepted as asylum-seekers and granted accommodation and monthly aid, and they started to learn the German language. 

After the death of her mother, and the price increase in Syria, she and her husband decided to migrate to Germany as refugees and live with their sons. 

“It was not easy for me to leave my country. I miss Syria. We enjoy many privileges and facilities in Germany; however, I cannot mingle with the society. It is difficult to be part of a society when you are different. I feel alienated,” Sanaa told Jusoor Post.  

Displacement impact on mental health 

Migrants and refugees face various stages of the migration process, starting with pre-migration, then travel and transit, post-migration, and finally integration and settlement. These stressors can increase the risk of developing mental health conditions, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).  

Mental health of a migrant may be negatively influenced by many factors, including socioeconomic deprivation, discrimination, racism, distress (e.g. feelings of anxiety and sadness, hopelessness, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, irritability, anger, and pains). For children, frequent changes in school, leaving their homes, and departing their families cause negative influence on their psyche. Some studies show that the prevalence of common mental disorders (e.g. depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder) is higher among migrants and refugees than among host populations, WHO reported. 

The return

In 2021, UNHCR monitored the return of about 36,000 refugees to Syria. Refugees refer to various factors in their decision to return or not, such as their safety, property rights and livelihood opportunities. In parallel, many internally displaced Syrians have returned home.

International community Support 

UNHCR has supported Syrian refugees since the beginning of the crisis, yet the rising food prices place them at greater risk of being food insecure, according to the UN. 

According to UNHCR, life-saving humanitarian aid is provided for Syrian refugees, including medicine, thermal blankets, winter clothing, clean water and sanitation.

In 2021, UNHCR and 270 partners aimed at supporting more than 10 million people – including over 5.5 million Syrian refugees and 4.8 million members of their host communities. This is the highest number since the Syria crisis began.