Impact of 2023 Earthquakes on Return Dynamics of Syrian Migrants in Türkiye: Observations from the Field
Smoke billows from the Iskenderun Port as rescue workers work at the scene of a collapsed building on February 07, 2023 in Iskenderun, Turkey. Burak Kara/Getty Images
by: Umutcan Yüksel, Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul (SRII)
The devastating earthquakes on February 6, 2023 in Türkiye affected over 15.6 million people across 11 provinces. As part of the humanitarian aid efforts and personally touched by the loss of relatives due to this catastrophe, I visited the affected areas after the earthquake’s immediate aftermath. Talking with the affected individuals, witnessing the altered states of cities embedded with our collective memories, and assessing ongoing needs has proven to be an intensely personal and professionally challenging period. One of these visits was made as part of the fieldwork for the GAPs project, where I interviewed state and non-state actors, encompassing international NGOs, local associations, and governmental bodies. This blog post presents observations from my fieldwork in the southeast of Türkiye in February and March 2024. I dedicate it to my beloved aunt, uncle and cousins who lost their life in the 2023 earthquakes.
Discussions with the affected community and stakeholders revealed significant issues: the profound impact on the Syrian community, Türkiye’s efforts to manage irregular migration, and the shift towards promoting voluntary return. Among the residents of the 11 hard-hit provinces were 14 million Turkish citizens and 1.7 million Syrians.
More than 230,000 Syrians secured travel permits to relocate temporarily, and around 84,000 returned temporarily to Syria for urgent personal needs. Despite these movements, there is a marked absence of a desire among Syrians to permanently return, dependent on safety and rule of law restoration in Syria.
Interviews highlighted a community grappling with deep-seated trauma, with many living in dire conditions in informal settlements or basic foldable container camps. These precarious conditions, especially during summer, elevate the risk of diseases. The economic plight is severe, with many relying on informal labor amid spiraling inflation. The Turkish government’s tightened control over irregular migration since 2019 has instilled widespread fear of detention or deportation, contrasting with migrants’ needs and desires. Many now look towards resettlement in third countries, though this seems increasingly unlikely.
The February 2023 earthquakes caused 50,700 deaths (including at least 7,300 Syrians) and destroyed over 313,000 buildings, leaving 3.3 million homeless across 11 provinces. One year later, more than 675,000 individuals still stay in 392 formal container sites. Data on informal temporary settlements remain limited. Of the 1.7 million registered Syrians, approximately 339,000 moved to other provinces or Syria temporarily.
New foldable container sites for non-nationals host around 24,000 Syrian migrants, according to information provided by an intergovernmental organization (22 February 2024). These sites, with poor hygiene and lack of infrastructure, pose significant risks. The distance to toilets, regressive behaviors among children, and increased risks of neglect and abuse are notable. Isolation from essential services and limited public transportation further marginalize migrants. Gender-based violence concerns are particularly acute in foldable container sites. Access to education has been severely hampered, affecting nearly 4 million children, including 390,000 refugee and migrant children.
In addition to the foldable container sites, many migrant households live in informal sites due to damaged homes or eviction by landlords whose homes were damaged. The Protection Cluster’s Post-Earthquake Inter-Agency Needs Assessment noted that among 90% of respondents who tried to access services, 44% could not due to unavailable appointments, restricted capacity of service providers, and lack of financial means. Loss or lack of civil documentation is a key protection issue, particularly for migrants in informal sites and tents.
The earthquakes also served as a psychological catalyst, reawakening traumatic memories of warfare and destruction from the Syrian civil war. Many migrants find themselves in dire living conditions, residing in informal settlements or in formal camps outfitted with basic foldable containers that lack essential amenities. These conditions are particularly precarious during the sweltering summer months, elevating the risk of communicable and waterborne diseases and compounded by the scarcity of necessary winter supplies. The economic plight of the Syrian community is severe, with many relying on informal or day labor to make ends meet. Spiraling inflation further erodes their ability to afford basic needs such as food, housing, and medical care.
Snapshot Analysis of Return Policies and Practices
Since the arrival of Syrian migrants in 2011, the Turkish government initially adopted an open-door policy. However, after 2016, a shift to a non-arrival policy was observed. During this period, Turkish policymakers sought solutions within Syria to reduce displacement into Türkiye. By 2019, the local election results led to a significant policy shift towards return, influenced by political losses linked to the presence of migrants. The COVID-19 pandemic further restricted borders, limiting migrant mobility.
The political landscape continued to evolve with the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan In 2021, intensifying pressures at the Iran border and increasing public scrutiny of the migrant situation in Türkiye. In response, the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM), which had been implementing a verification project with UNHCR and EU funds since 2017, commenced an address verification measure. Law enforcement units carried out address verification exercises in coordination with PDMMs throughout the country, aiming to enforce the existing law and legislation limiting Syrians from staying in the province of registration to access rights and services. The first impact was seen with the deactivation of status for around 600,000 Syrians under temporary protection in 2022. While over 160,000 people have had their status reinstated, many were relocated to their initial province of registration or risk continuing without the legal status that allows them to access public services and formal work. As an early outcome of the address verification exercise and to balance the social tension, around 1,200 neighborhoods, in which the proportion of all foreigners exceeds 25% of the total neighborhood population, are closed for new registration.
By June 2022, the government introduced stricter registration policies for Syrian migrants. Relying on Article 8 of the Temporary Protection Regulation (TPR), status determinations were confined to Temporary Accommodation Centers (TACs) except for individuals identified as having special needs. This policy predominantly favored family units, considerably reducing the likelihood of single migrants accessing registration. Specific TACs, such as Elbeyli in Kilis, Harran in Sanliurfa, and Nizip in Gaziantep, were designated as reception centers. These facilities were not only tasked with housing unregistered migrants but also those who were registered in different provinces from their initial registration, illustrating a strategic consolidation of irregular Syrian migrants.
In 2023, the introduction of mobile migration points equipped with access to the GöçNet and advanced fingerprinting technologies marked a further evolution in migration management. Initially piloted in Istanbul and later expanded to 30 metropolitan cities, including those affected by the earthquake, this initiative aimed to streamline identifying and referring migrants with irregular status to removal centers for deportation processes. According to official reports, over 286,000 migrants underwent these security checks, highlighting the scale and impact of this measure. In the aftermath of the 2023 earthquake, the government’s strategy to decongest some TACs presented migrants with a choice between relocating within Türkiye to specified urban areas or opting for voluntary return with financial incentives for each option. This policy reflects a nuanced approach to immediate crisis management and underscores a broader strategy to encourage voluntary returns, balancing humanitarian concerns with national policy objectives.
The commencement of 2024 saw another round of address verification exercises wherein law enforcement units conducted residence checks to verify the accuracy of addresses declared by migrants during their PDMM registration. Non-compliance due to absence triggered SMS notifications mandating a visit to Verification Centers. Failure to comply resulted in deactivating their IDs, cutting off access to crucial social services.
Conclusion
These findings highlight that the existing protection concerns of Syrian migrants since 2019 have also doubled since the devastating 2023 earthquakes. Already burdened with the trauma of displacement from their homeland due to ongoing conflict, these individuals have endured additional displacement within Türkiye as a direct consequence of the earthquakes. The repeated uprooting has rekindled past traumas and deepened their social isolation, as current government policies increasingly push towards return rather than integration. This shift marks a significant departure from earlier stances more supportive of migrant integration, and has particularly been noticeable since the 2019 municipal elections. The growing emphasis on return and combat against irregular migration has created an intimidating environment, leaving many migrants in a state of despair and hopelessness. With limited opportunities for social and economic integration and a prevailing climate that discourages permanent integration in Türkiye, the migrants’ outlook appears grim.
The February 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye have significantly compounded the already challenging circumstances faced by Syrian migrants, highlighting critical issues related to both the immediate impact of the disaster and the broader dynamics of return migration. The earthquakes resulted in substantial physical destruction, displacing millions and exacerbating the precarious living conditions of Syrian migrants who were already struggling with limited access to essential services and economic opportunities. The disaster has not only intensified the physical and economic hardships but also reignited psychological trauma among the migrant community.
In the context of return migration, the earthquakes have created a complex environment. Despite the Turkish government’s policies encouraging voluntary returns, the reality on the ground shows a marked reluctance among Syrians to return to their homeland permanently. Many of the temporary returns observed were driven by urgent personal needs rather than a genuine desire to resettle in Syria. The lack of safety, security, and viable living conditions in Syria continues to be a significant deterrent.
The 2023 earthquakes have underscored the intricate interplay between natural disasters and migration dynamics. Addressing the immediate humanitarian needs of Syrian migrants while considering the long-term implications of return policies is crucial. A balanced approach that ensures safety, security, and dignity for migrants, whether they stay in Türkiye or return to Syria, is essential for fostering resilience and stability in the aftermath of this devastating disaster.
Contact:
Umutcan Yüksel, Researcher (GAPs Project) | Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul (SRII) | umutcan.yuksel@sri.org.tr