Breanna McOmber

Human Geography

Professor Ling Zhang

The Syrian Forced Migration

ePortfolio Project 1

Introduction

No one leaves home unless home is the mouth of a shark. Warsan Shire

In a world of war there are those who get caught in its jaws. All of which are forced to

flee by one means or the other. This is called forced migration. This forced migration imposed on

the people within a country of conflict tend to form two specific types of vulnerable groups. In

todays world, it is common to have knowledge on one of these groups to whom we refer to as

refugees. They are more commonly known because they are often or should I say providentially

being placed within our own cities so citizens would have to recognize them. But as Ive said

before there is the unrecognized acquaintance to refugees who have been hidden on the face

down side of the crisis coin. These individuals are called internally displaced people and it is the

IDPs who need help the most although fortunately there is progress.

IDPs, Refugees and Migrates

Before I delve into current events based on these groups allow me to define each of them

simply. Refugees are commonly mistaken for migrates but there is a distinct description between

the two. Migrates are those who migrate by their own choice in search of better opportunity in

education or employment. Whereas refugees have no choice to leave their country and are
fleeing persecution, natural disaster or armed conflict/war. Then there are internally displaced

person, often referred to as IDPs, who are those caught under these same circumstances as

refugees but are unable to leave their country, therefore becoming internally displaced.

Why cant IDPs leave their country?

I have come to ask myself why these people cant get out of their crisis country as if it

had a simple solution. Now Ive found the answer isnt easy to explain either because this leads

to multiple and diverse verdicts, as any worldly problem would, but allow me to list a few

examples. IDPs are unable to leave their country because of limited wealth or physical strength

that holds them from making a dangerous trek or swim to another country to in hopes of

becoming a refugee. Reasons also include the war or natural disaster or fear of persecution

blocks an IDP from reaching a boarder. It can even be as simple as a specific IDP family decide

to remain hopeful and await peace. In the long run, it is easy to recognize that IDPs are far more

vulnerable spot than refugees and struggle to help themselves remain safe in these danger zones

much less flee the country.

What is happening with the current forced migration in our world and what struggles do

they face in order to become a refugee?

Well, I would like to focus specifically on Syrian IDPs and refugees in the Syria conflict.

The tragedy of this conflict has caused 11.5% of the population to be killed or injured. The

Internationally Displaced Monitoring Centre website states,

There were at least 6.6 million internally displaced people (IDPs) in Syria as of 31

December 2015.*
 Accounting for people who have fled across international borders, IDMC estimates

that the current number of IDPs represents 40 percent of the people still in Syria. With more than

4.6 million Syrians who have fled the country to seek refuge abroad, this means that overall 50

percent have had to flee their homes.

It is so devastating that a conflict can cause over 50% of a population to flee their homes.

This is the foundation that Syrian IDPs and Refugees share. They were doctors, store keepers

and farmers, but now theyve found themselves on the run and begging for safety. Though there

is a shared foundation one could assume protection refugee are in a more fortunate place than

IDPs. Whereas refugees would be protected by international laws the IDPs have to rely on their

own governments for protection from violence, persecution or disaster. In most cases the

government is either unable or unwilling to help those within the country so this is why IDPs are

much more defenseless. Disappointingly helping them to receive aid from outside organizations

is even becoming increasingly difficult. Fortunately, the number of refugees placed each year

within the US has increased as illustrated by the New York Times by Haeyoun Park and Rudy

Omir Aug. 31, 2016,

 This graph along with others was used to tribute to the celebration of 10,000 Syrian

refugees who have been resettled within the United States who reference The White House.gov,

who had this to say on the matter,

While refugee admissions are only a small part of our broader humanitarian efforts in

Syria and the region, the President understood the important message this decision would send,

not just to the Syrian people but to the broader international community. As such, he set a goal

of admitting 10,000 Syrian refugees this fiscal year. Millions have been displaced by the

violence in the region, but this decision still represented a six-fold increase from the prior year,

and was a meaningful step that we hope to build upon.

The following graph was also presented by the New York times,

There are so many specific factors that go into helping a IDPs become refugees but as

you can predict the means can be treacherous and far deadlier if not done through a legal process.

Therefore, it is very disastrous that the legal process isnt an easy one. The challenge legally

processed Syrian refugees face include each refugee are subject to an additional layer of

background checks, which drawn-out through an extensive screening process which can take up
to two years. This is possibly the cause as to why IDPs primarily go through a smuggling process

since either way once they enter a country they receive the title refugee and are protected by

refugee rights by the 1951 Refugee Convention under international law. Some of these rights

include not being persecuted for entering the country illegally, not to be returned to their country

of origin if their safety cannot be assured, gainful employment and welfare and the list goes on.

There needs to be the funds and better innovations put towards a process in order to get

refugees out internationally to neighboring countries as well as those on separate continents

because legally these rights are theirs and we as the human race need to provide them with them.

Fortunately, some countries havent been dragging their feet and I look forward to the U.S.

quickening our pace at the same velocity as which its been.

References
http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/internally-displaced-people.html

http://www.internal-displacement.org/middle-east-and-north-africa/syria/figures-analysis

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/11/report-on-syria-conflict-finds-115-of-

population-killed-or-injured

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/08/30/us/syrian-refugees-in-the-united-states.html

- The New York Times Article

https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2016/08/29/statement-national-security-

advisor-susan-e-rice-syrian-refugee

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/2015/07/syria-refugee-crisis-

150709120935092.html - I am a Syrian Child, Documentary by Mirna Shbaro

Get that one link for registration