REPORT: Syrian refugees bring problems, advantages to Turkey

Over three million Syrians have come to Turkey since the Syrian civil war broke out over six years ago. The newcomers bring not only problems to the local society, but also advantages for the Turkish government in the negotiation with the European Union (EU).

Recent official figures reveal over 200,000 Syrian refugee children between five and nine are in Turkey. Offering education for these children has become a priority for Turkey, said Ulas Sunata, founding chair of the Center of Migration and Urban Studies under the Bahcesehir University.

“We try to develop some new mechanism for schools, for teachers, because this is a new inter-cultural education model so we try to find some new solutions for them,” said Sunata.

Some Turkish analysts said because there are many Syrian refugees and the Turkish government does not perform well in managing the refugee issue, the Syrian refugee flow brings terrorism to the country and Turkey suffered terrorist attacks over the past two years. The Turkish people also have bias on the refugees who lower the labor costs, enjoy medical resources and social welfare of the local people, said analysts.

“This is really a danger in our society, because then comes perhaps as a lynch culture or this kind of xenophobia, systematic discrimination, is possible. We also observe in our field works, there is a new 'Syrian-phobia.'” said Sunata.

However, refugees also add strength to the Turkish government on the negotiation table with the EU.

Turkey and the EU reached a refugee deal to halt the influx of refugees into the EU in exchange of economic aid and a promise for visa-free travel to Turkish citizens within the Schengen zone in 2016. As the EU-Turkey relations are worsening, Turkey has threatened to end the deal.

Some experts said the government should not take advantage of the refugees after receiving them out of humanitarianism.


REUTERS

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