an international failure the syrian refugee crisis

8/12/2019 An International Failure the Syrian Refugee Crisis

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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

BRIEFING

AI Index: ACT 34/001/201313 December 2013

An International Failure: The Syrian Refugee Crisis

"Syria has become the great tragedy of this century a disgraceful humanitarian calamity

with suffering and displacement unparalleled in recent history.Antnio Guterres, United Ntions !i"# Commissioner $or %e$u"ees on &'ri, 3 &e(tember 2013)1

Introu!tion

In t#e s(ce o$ 12 mont#s, 1)* mi++ion (eo(+e $+ed t#e rmed con$+ict in &'ri) ' &e(tember 2013t#e terrib+e mi+estone o$ t-o mi++ion re$u"ees #d been rec#ed s men, -omen nd c#i+drencontinued to (our out o$ t#e countr') As o$ . December, t#e number stood t oer 2)3 mi++ionre"istered re$u"ees,22 (er cent o$ -#om re c#i+dren)3In ddition, t +est 4)2 mi++ion (eo(+e redis(+ced inside t#e countr')4In tot+, more t#n ) mi++ion (eo(+e #e been $orced to +ee t#eir#omes in &'ri, ner+' t#ird o$ t#e countr's (o(u+tion)In u+' 2013, t#e United Ntions !i"#Commissioner $or %e$u"ees UN!C%5 sid t#t 67e #e not seen re$u"ee out$+o- esc+te t suc# $ri"#tenin" rte since t#e %-ndn "enocide +most 20 'ers "o8)

9ie countries nei"#bourin" &'ri ;ebnon, ordn, Tururo(e, Austr+i nd Cnd, t#e >U, -#ose nerest c(it+ ison+' 200 mi+es $rom Dmscus,1#s (+ed"ed tot+ o$ 12,340)1?T#is re(resents ust 0)4 (ercent o$ t#e tot+ number o$ re$u"ees $rom &'ri) It is rou"#+' t#e number o$ re$u"ees re"istered in;ebnon in t#e +st $ie d's o$ Noember)1*

Amon" t#e (+ces o$$ered b' >U countries, t#e st morit' 10,000 (+ces -ere o$$ered b'Germn', in t#e $orm o$ #umnitrin dmission (ro"rmme) >xc+udin" Germn', t#e reminin"

2? >U countries #e (+ed"ed mere 2,340 (+ces) >i"#teen >U ember &ttes, inc+udin" t#e UEnd It+', #e not mde n' resett+ement or #umnitrin dmission (+ed"es)


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It is not ust t#e >U t#t is $i+in" to mU, t#is brie$in" $ocuses on (rctices in some >U countries s -e++ s t#eresett+ement contribution o$ >U member sttes becuse o$ t#e b+ocU o$ten becuse t#e'#e $ced $urt#er #rds#i(s in t#e countr' to -#ic# t#e' $+ed, or becuse t#e' re tr'in" to rec#$mi+' nd $riends nd t#e #o(e o$ s$et') In t#eir des(ertion t#e' #e t


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Ba!'groun to the Syrian refugee !risisT#e t-o'er con$+ict bet-een t#e &'rin "oernment nd rmed o((osition "rou(s #s +e$tmore t#n 100,000 (eo(+e ded22nd #undreds o$ t#ousnds o$ cii+ins inured)23T#econ$+ict #s +so cused mssie destruction o$ cii+in (ro(ert' nd t#e dis(+cement o$ t

+est 4)2 mi++ion (eo(+e intern++')24

ore t#n 2)3 mi++ion (eo(+e #e $+ed t#e countr')

T#e in$+ux o$ re$u"ees in &'ris nei"#bourin" countries #s (ut n immense strin on t#e+imited resources i+b+e in t#ose countries, (rticu+r+' in ordn nd ;ebnon, -#ere mn're$u"ees re +iin" in (recrious conditions in oercro-ded re$u"ee cm(s or in #ostcommunities, inc+udin" in in$orm+ sett+ements)

In order to (roide de=ute (rotection nd #umnitrin ssistnce to re$u"ees $rom &'rind t#ose in need -it#in &'ri, in u+' t#e UN mde t#e +r"est #umnitrin ((e+ in its#istor', c++in" $or round H3 bi++ion in ssistnce to UN "encies nd NGBs -or


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re$u"ee (o(u+tions nd $rustrtions mon" mn' sectors o$ t#e (o(u+tion #e "ro-n, srents increse nd t#ere is incresed com(etition $or obs)

In ;ebnon, t#e number o$ re$u"ees #s (ut strin on +red' +imited resources, inc+udin"-ter nd se-"e $ci+ities, (ub+ic sc#oo+s, #os(it+s nd ot#er uti+ities)3Accordin" to t#e7or+d n


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ccess to residenc' (ermits nd $reedom o$ moement, -#ic# +imit t#eir bi+it' to -or< nd toccess serices)

Amnest' Interntion+ receied re(orts o$ some nonEurdis# &'rins bein" re$used entr' toIr=i Eurdistn nd o$ tens o$ indiidu+s, inc+udin" Arbs, bein" $orcib+' returned to &'ri)3&eer+ t#ousnd re$u"ees $rom &'ri reside in +Fim cm(, in Anbr (roince, -#ere

$reedom o$ moement is er' ti"#t+' contro++ed)

In Egy$tt#ere -ere 12.,1?4 re"istered re$u"ees s o$ * December 2013, but t#e "oernmentestimtes t#e ctu+ number t 300,000)4>"'(t mintined n o(en door (o+ic' to re$u"ees$rom &'ri unti+ mid 2013) !o-eer, on * u+' 2013, stricter entr' re=uirements -ereim(osed on &'rin ntion+s enterin" >"'(t, re=uirin" t#em to obtin entr' iss (rior to rri+)Due to t#ese ne- ru+es, on * u+' 2013 some 2. indiidu+s -ere re(orted+' sent bc< $romCiro to &'ri, ;ebnon, nd ot#er countries)

&ince t#e summer o$ 2013, more t#n 1,00 &'rin nd J+estinin re$u"ees $rom &'ri5 inc+udin" c#i+dren, -omen nd men -ere rrested $ter ttem(tin" to rec# >uro(e $rom>"'(t b' botK t#e' -ere rbitrri+' detined in (o+ice sttions cross >"'(ts editerrnen

cost)

!undreds o$ t#em re be+ieed to #e been de(orted, some o$ -#om -ere re(orted+'returned to &'ri)?

In Israel, ccordin" to medi re(orts, scores o$ &'rin ntion+s #e receied medic+tretment inside t#e Isre+ioccu(ied Go+n or t #os(it+s inside Isre+)*%e(orts indicte t#t$ter medic+ tretment members o$ t#e Isre+ De$ense 9orces #e t#en escorted t#eindiidu+s cross t#e border to &'ri)

In u+' 2012, t#e t#en Isre+i inister o$ De$ence re(orted+' sid 6i$ -e #e to sto( -es o$re$u"ees, -e -i++ sto( t#em8).Amnest' Interntion+ -rote to t#e inister o$ De$ence ur"in"#im to ensure t#t n'one $+eein" &'ri be ++o-ed to bene$it $rom (rotection (rocedures nds$e"urds to (reent t#eir $orcib+e return to &'ri)0Amnest' Interntion+ did not receie

res(onse to its +etter)

Fortress Euro$e: /ee$ing Refugees OutAs t#e c(cit' o$ &'ris nei"#bourin" countries to #ost re$u"ees becomes $urt#er strinednd conditions $or re$u"ee (o(u+tions -orsen, incresin" numbers o$ (eo(+e re ttem(tin" torec# >uro(e in t#e #o(e o$ $indin" s$et' nd ne- +i$e) In t#e t-o 'ers to t#e end o$Bctober 2013, ,000 (eo(+e $rom &'ri #e direct+' sou"#t s'+um in t#e >U see A((endix15, mountin" to 2)4@ o$ re$u"ees $rom &'ri)

To mU, re$u"ees $rom &'ri #e to brec# 69ortress >uro(e8, t#e co++ectie seto$ (o+icies nd (rctices t#t t#e >U nd its member sttes em(+o' to


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n' re$u"ees $rom &'ri -#o #e ttem(ted dn"erous bot ourne's to rec# It+' #edied)

LIBYA

As of *( !ovember, some )0,2/2 Syrian refugees were registered with !"#$ in 4ibya,5*

although the Syriancommunity in 4ibya estimates the actual number at &((,(((.56Access into 4ibya for Syrians had been gradually

restricted since the September &()& attack on the S #onsulate in 7engha8i, following which single Syrian men

without a visa were barred from entering 4ibya.50$estrictions were further tightened in 9anuary &()*, when visa

reuirements were imposed on all Syrians, forcing hundreds of refugees to seek entry into the country through

unofficial routes, and e:posing them to danger and e:ploitation by smugglers and various militias operating in the

country.

4ibya does not have a national asylum system; the maassport 'ffice. ?hile the move to regularise the status of refugees from Syria is positive, in practice refugees

continue to face serious difficulties in 4ibya. According to Syrian refugees in 4ibya interviewed by Amnesty

International in !ovember &()*, residence permits are not always recogni8ed by local authorities or the variousmilitias which have operated in the country since the end of the &()) armed conflict and in some cases Syrian

refugees have been arbitrarily detained in immigration detention centres for irregular stay in 4ibya.

Syrian refugees, who have sought refuge in 4ibya in the hope of finding uro(e $rom Nort# A$ric)?9rom 1 nur' to31 Bctober 2013, n estimted 10,*0 re$u"ees $rom &'ri re re(orted to #e rried +on"It+'s cost $rom (orts in >"'(t nd ;ib', s -e++ s Tur


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A-d, 1? 'ero+d bo' o$ J+estinin ori"in $rom Mrmou< cm( in Dmscus, described #o-#e -s (u++ed do-n -it# t#e bot but mn"ed to s-im t#rou"# -indo- u( to t#e sur$ce)Bn t#e sur$ce o$ t#e -ter #e s- (eo(+e c+in"in" to ded bodies nd bot -rec


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nd se, dro((in" $rom 2,000 (er -ee< in er+' Au"ust 2012 to +ess t#n 10 (er -ee< t t#eend o$ Bctober 2012)?*

T#e +test $i"ures s#o- s#r( decrese in t#e number o$ entries i t#e Gree


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nd A$"#nistn, in tents, continers nd di+(idted bui+din") A+t#ou"# t#ere re $ourtoi+ets in bui+din" t t#e entrnce o$ t#e centre, t#e' re $re=uent+' b+oc


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Syrian refugees: A share res$onsi&ility

")t is !ery important that -uropean countries all o!er the continent eep their borders

open and &pro!ide( adeuate assistance."UN !i"# Commissioner $or %e$u"ees Antnio Guterres, 22 Noember 2013).1

As t#e numbers o$ re$u"ees $rom &'ri continues to "ro-, t#e >U nd its ember &ttes mustdo more to (roide ssistnce nd (rotection to t#ose -#o rrie in >uro(e, nd to s#re t#eres(onsibi+it' $or #ostin" re$u"ees more e=u++') %e$u"ees $rom &'ri, inc+udin" t#ose see


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Ne- s'+um ((+icnts o$ &'rin citiens#i( $rom Noember 2012 to Bctober 2013, source:>urostt, on+ine t #tt(://e(()eurostt)ec)euro()eu/

@'TI=@ )&=)) )&=)& )*=() )*=(& )*=(* )*=(6 )*=(0 )*=(5 )*=(B )*=(2 )*=(/ )*=)(

@uropean nion

&2 countries *,(50 &,00( &,/20 &,&B0 &,*60 &,6)( &,600 &,500 *,&2( *,B&( 0,B/0 6,/0(

7elgium ))0 )*( E E E E E E E E E E

7ulgaria 0( /0 20 6( )2( )(( ))0 &(( ))( 0(0 5B( E

#8ech $epublic )( ( )( 0 0 0 )( 0 0 0 0 E

Denmark /0 50 ))( B( 2( /0 20 )&( )50 )0( )/( &0(

ermany ),((( 0/( ),(5( B)( 00( 5/( B*( B*0 ),((( ),(&( ),&B0 ),5*(

@stonia ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( 0 ( ( (

Ireland ( ( 0 )( )( ( ( ( ( ( 0 E

reece 60 &( *0 60 50 0( *( *0 *0 *( E E

Spain &0 &( 60 B0 *0 5( 00 2( 50 0( 50 E

3rance 20 )(( 2( ))( )&( /( /0 /( /( B( /( E

#roatia E E E E E E E E E E E E

Italy /( 6( B( 0( 20 6( 60 5( B( 60 50 E

#yprus 00 *( *( 60 &0 &0 6( E &( 5( E E

4atvia 0 0 ( 0 ( ( 0 ( ( ( ( E

4ithuania ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( E

4u:embourg ( ( ( ( 0 ( ( 0 0 ( 0 E

"ungary E E E E E 50 2( /0 B0 B( /( E

=alta )0 *0 )( )0 6( &( 0 *( *0 )( )0 E

!etherlands /0 50 ))( )(0 )&0 )&0 )&0 )50 )/0 &)( *&( *B(

Austria E E E E E E E E E E E E

>oland *( &( 0( )0 &( )( )0 *0 *0 )( &0 )0

>ortugal 0 ( 0 )( 0 60 ( ( ( ( E E

$omania *0 &0 B( 5( 2( 20 /0 B0 )*( 5( E E

Slovenia 0 0 )0 0 ( ( )0 )0 ( ( ( (

Slovakia ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( E

3inland )( )( 0 )( 0 )0 0 0 )( &( &0 E

Sweden ),)5( ),)5( ),(&0 B00 BB0 B&( B2( B6( ),((( ),&(( &,B60 &,52(

nited Fingdom )6( )*0 )5( )*0 )&0 )5( )&0 )B( &&0 &(( &(0 E


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A$$eni* ;J+ed"es $or resett+ement, #umnitrin dmission nd (rite s(onsors#i( b' countr'

Country 7lege 8$ersons9

Austr+i

00 resett+ementAustri >U 00 #umnitrin dmission

Cnd 1,300 200 resett+ement nd 1,100 (rite s(onsors#i(5

9in+nd >U 00 resett+ement

9rnce >U 00 #umnitrin dmission

Germn' >U b 10,000 #umnitrin dmission

!un"r' >U 10 resett+ement

Ire+nd >U .0 resett+ement

;ic#tenstein c 4 resett+ement

;uxembour" >U 0 resett+ement

o+do 0 resett+ement

Net#er+nds >U 20 resett+ement

Nor-' 1,000 resett+ement&(in >U 30 resett+ement

&-eden >U 400 resett+ement

&-iter+nd 0 resett+ement

U&A B(enended number on resett+ement

>U tot+ 12,340

>U tot+ exc+udin" Germn' 2,340

Tot+ 1,244 (+us n ddition+ number to t#e U&A

source: UN!C%, /inding solutions for Syrian refugees esettlement 2umanitarian $dmission and/amily eunification1* Bctober 2013, i+b+e t: #tt(://---)un#cr)or"/24.2*2c)(d$b inc+udin" n ddition+ ,000 (+ces nnounced in er+' December 2013) &ee: UN!C%, /inding

solutions for Syrian refugees esettlement 2umanitarian $dmission and /amily eunification1*Bctober 2013, i+b+e t: #tt(://---)un#cr)or"/24.2*2c)(d$ nd ;Qnder $ordern me#r &o+idritQtund >in#eit in der >U9+Rc#t+in"s(o+iti


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1UN!C%, 3425 Two million Syrians are refugees, 3 &e(tember 2013, on+ine t:#tt(://---)un#cr)or"/224*4$c.)#tm+)

2sed on UN!C% $i"ures $or re$u"ees $rom &'ri in nei"#borin" countries nd Nort# A$ric, -#ic# stood

t 2,2.2,1. s o$ . December 2013, on+ine t #tt(://dt)un#cr)or"/s'rinre$u"ees/re"ion+)(#() Inddition, ,000 &'rins #e sou"#t s'+um in t#e >U bet-een Noember 2011 nd Bctober 2013 see((endix 25K sm++er numbers #e sou"#t s'+um e+se-#ere) T#e ctu+ number o$ &'rin re$u"ees is+i


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1.Amnest' Interntion+ #s (ub+is#ed number o$ re(orts on #umn ri"#ts issues $cin" re$u"ees $rom&'ri in #ost countries, see Amnest' Interntion+,'rowing restrictions tough conditions The plight ofthose fleeing Syria to 7ordan D> 1/003/20135, Bctober 2013, on+ine t#tt(://---)mnest')or"/en/+ibrr'/in$o/D>1/003/2013/enK Amnest' Interntion+, 8,e cannot li!e hereany more# efugees from Syria in -gyptD> 12/00/20135, Bctober 2013, on+ine t

#tt(://---)mnest')or"/en/+ibrr'/sset/D>12/00/2013/en/*4e.$c?c44eb.bd.e.*43$c2/mde12002013en)(d$K Amnest' Interntion+, Turey 4ational authorities and theinternational community must act in partnership to meet the needs of Syrian refugees >U%44/00./20135 A(ri+ 2013, on+ine t#tt(://---)mnest')or"/en/+ibrr'/sset/>U%44/00./2013/en/2$4.14000.4dd1*22$4.cd2?*d$?/eur4400.2013en)(d$)

20T#ese $i"ures -ere: >"'(t: 12.,1?4 s o$ * December5K Ir=: 20?,03 s o$ 4 December5K ordn:,303 s o$ . December5K ;ebnon: *3,?3 s o$ December5K TurU bet-een Noember 2011 nd Bctober 2013see ((endix 25K sm++er number #e sou"#t s'+um e+se-#ere)

22C, Syria death toll now abo!e 100000 says 34 5hief 9an2 u+' 2013, on+ine t#tt(://---)bbc)co)u 24/041/20125, une 2012K Amnest' Interntion+, $ll6out repression urging dissent in $leppoSyriaD> 24/01/20125, Au"ust 2012K Amnest' Interntion+, 'o!ernment bombs rain on ci!iliansD> 24/00./20135, rc# 2013K ++ on+ine t #tt(://mnest')or"

24UN B$$ice $or t#e Coordintion o$ !umnitrin A$$irs, on+ine t #tt(://s'ri)unoc#)or")

2United Ntions Ne-s Centre, 34 announces largest e!er humanitarian appeal for conflict6torn Syria,on+ine t #tt(://bit)+'/1i9WtBX

2T#e ((e+ is $or H2,.*1,40,112, o$ -#ic# H1,.11,.?*,1? -ere receied)9undin" dt i+b+e

on+ine t #tt(s://docs)"oo"+e)com/s(reds#eet/(ubs water woes, ' 2013#tt(://---)+eer)com/inde(t#/$etures/2013/0/20132*0213*1)#tm+


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3Interntion+ Crisis Grou(, Too 5lose for 5omfort Syrians in 12/00/20135, Bctober 2013, on+ine t: #tt(://---)mnest')or"/en/+ibrr'/in$o/D>12/00/2013/en)


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*9or exm(+e: 7++, /rom the beginning of the conflict %00 Syrian in@ured ha!e been treated in )sraelin !ebre-5, 30 &e(tember 2012 #tt(://ne-s)-++)co)i+/-P/./2*10?5K nd NJ%, $n unliely refugeSome wounded Syrians treated in )srael, 13 &e(tember 2013, on+ine t#tt(://---)n(r)or"/b+o"s/(r++e+s/2013/0./13/221..123/nun+iU%2/00*/2013/en

3UN!C% ;ib', -=ternal 3pdate 4o!ember *01%, on+ine t #tt(://re+ie$-eb)int/re(ort/+ib'/un#cr+ib'extern+u(dtenoember2013

4&ee #tt(://$r-'s'ri)or")

Amnest' Interntion+, Scapegoats of /ear ights of efugees $sylum6Seeers and Aigrants $busedin 1./00?/20135, une 2013, on+ine t#tt(://---)mnest')or"/en/+ibrr'/in$o/D>1./00?/2013/en

9or more in$ormtion on t#e sitution o$ re$u"ees nd mi"rnts in ;ib', see Amnest' Interntion+,Scapegoats of /ear ights of efugees $sylum6Seeers and Aigrants $bused in

1./00?/20135, une 2013, on+ine t #tt(://---)mnest')or"/en/+ibrr'/in$o/D>1./00?/2013/en?In t#e $irst o$ t#ese incidents, t +est 30 (eo(+e died -#en bot $rom ;ib' crr'in" #undreds sn"'(t5) Bne t#e sme d' not#er bot sn< $ter it +e$t ;ib' $or ;m(edus It+'5Kestimtes r' considerb+' bet-een o$$ici+ $i"ures bsed on bodies retrieed nd testimonies o$suriors) >stimtes o$ det#s $or t#is (rticu+r incidents rn"e bet-een 33 nd 2*) %e$u"ees -#o-ere on t#t bot sid t#e' -ere 4000 (eo(+e on t#e bot) 9or more in$ormtion see $or exm(+e:C Ne-s, Aigrant boat shot at as it left


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?4Interie- conducted b' Amnest' Interntion+ reserc#ers in i+n, It+', Noember 2013)

?&ee uro(en Commission, on+ine t #tt(://ec)euro()eu/d"s/#ome$$irs/$inncin"/$undin"s/m((in"$unds/countries/"reece/indexen)#tm

??>uro(en Commission, on+ine t #tt(://ec)euro()eu/d"s/#ome$$irs/$inncin"/$undin"s/m((in"$unds/countries/"reece/indexen)#tm

?*9rontex, $nnual is $nalysis *01% A(ri+ 2013, (") 20, on+ine t#tt(://$rontex)euro()eu/ssets/Jub+ictions/%isde gDEmen tenesi battF *G DlH 31 u+' 2013, on+ine t#tt(://---)cnnturU%2/00*/2013/en

*4UN!C%, 3425 chief urges -urope to help 9ulgaria cope with Syrian refugee influ= 22 Noember2013, on+ine t #tt(://---)un#cr)or"/2*$**0)#tm+

*UN!C%, 3425 chief urges -urope to help 9ulgaria cope with Syrian refugee influ= 22 Noember2013, on+ine t #tt(://---)un#cr)or"/2*$**0)#tm+

*Interie- -it# Amnest' Interntion+, 12 Noember 2013)

*?eetin" -it# Amnest' Interntion+, i+n, 2? Noember 2013)

**>mi+ sent to Amnest' Interntion+ on 2 December 2013)

*.>mi+ sent to Amnest' Interntion+ on 2 December 2013)

.0Interie- -it# t#e $mi+', i+n, 2? Noember 2013)

.1UN!C%, 3425 chief urges -urope to help 9ulgaria cope with Syrian refugee influ= 22 Noember2013, on+ine t #tt(://---)un#cr)or"/2*$**0)#tm+

an international failure the syrian refugee crisis

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