Understanding the Syrian Refugee Crises in Turkey: Perspectives from Actors

Refugee and migration crises are among the most heartrending and troubling humanitarian issues of this century. These crises are particularly evident in the case of Syria, where, since 2011, civil war and terrorism have led millions of people to seek refugee status in neighboring countries. . Since 2011, Turkey has pursued an open-door policy accompanied by a national temporary protection regime to protect over 3.6 million Syrians fleeing the civil war. Government institutions (the public service) in Turkey have the significant responsibility of providing essential services, including education and health; moreover, together with government agencies, NGOs are working hard to meet the needs of these people and for improving the quality of services provided. Against this backdrop, the aim of the study was to examine, analyze and understand the positive and negative ramifications of Syrian refugee presence on public services, specifically within the context of education and healthcare, and the role of NGOs while providing these kinds of services.

Emrah Atar is assistant executive editor of the Political Reflection Magazine, field editor of Journal of Interdisciplinary Food Studies and commissioning editor of the E-International Relations.