What are some daily challenges and difficulties refugees face every day? Could you describe the daily life of a Syrian Refugee in the South of Turkey?
Context: Since Turkey and Syria are close countries, there are more than one type of Syrian people living in Turkey. There are ones who came for commercial reasons, before the war, and they often have a stable economic situation, some also came for university studies, aren’t really refugees. The majority came because of the war.
The ones who came because of the war struggle seriously, they live in camps, cannot go out and barely scrape by with resources. The ones who are admitted into Turkey, have a chance to restart life with studies, getting a job, etc.
Daily challenges depend on the lifestyle, of students who can’t speak Turkish, so their challenges are doubled.
These people have tiny support from NGOs but still have basic access to resources. They have financial support for food water, and electricity but very limited amounts. Furthermore, they are dependent on the NGOs until they get a job, and even once they have a job it’s hard to pay for resources.
How are the refugees displaced? Do they look to integrate into Turkey? Start a new life? Are they looking for something temporary?
Most of them have no houses and have children, Syrians looked for the nearest place to be safe, without bombing.
Once the war ends, most of the refugees want to come back. Often, if they integrate once they adjust to their jobs, some may want to stay for commercial reasons.
How could this be changed? What is your NGO trying to do and how?
Our NGO is focusing on developing the businesses and skills of the Syrian refugees. We teach them (depending on their level of development), skills such as in marketing, or how to apply Turkish law in your work, etc. This can range from high-level financing or being a vendor at a small shop.
By doing so, there is a commercial integration to integrate Syrian refugees and help them provide value.
Many NGO’s focus in relief, and work in the north of Syria.
What infrastructure issues do refugees and refugee camps face? How would you place this issue in terms of priority?
Syrian refugees don’t have concrete and proper housing, they have tents.
The structure of camps is pretty organized but again it depends on the NGO, some may be very organized in their relief and some may not.
It is very important to find housing and infrastructure and architecture that provides all the necessary features. I had a project in ITU (Istanbul technical university) to design a similar thing and it has developed into ideas.
What do you think of the concept of a self-reliant home for refugees that is easily displaceable and produces energy? → How do you feel about self-reliant homes that are easily moved and produce energy?
I support this idea, and my project even had aspects of that. When I tried to design those houses, I had to use renewable sources so in the long term it would be economically and resource-wise beneficial. In the winter, the snow will cover the housing and that is one issue we faced.
If other concepts could be implemented or existing ones redesigned with ingenuity, it would be great.
What is the feasibility of such an idea? → What challenges we would face if trying to deploy this concept? Have there been other similar ideas presented to you?
The geographic location (and the climate). People always move and creating a fixed house is impossible. It needs to be a commercial point, so they stay there and have work opportunities.
Transportation may be an issue, need to be able to displace themselves.
Snow, flood, and heat need to be considered.
Needs to adhere to integration
Shouldn’t be fancy and expensive. Practical, feasible, and efficient.
I have heard of redesign projects for infrastructure but they may lack holism and maybe had issues and thus weren’t implemented.
What avenues/processes are taken when there is innovation and funding needed for Syrian refugees?
You have to make an analysis for the project, and write a proposal to the NGO and go for collaboration (you cannot change their plan in the middle of the year), draw a work plan, timeline, how it will start, go, and finish either before or after collaborating with NGO (for proposal of funding, or proposal to collaborate with NGO).
To be frank, most of the time you need connections for the NGOs in Nothern Syria and south of Turkey.
What features would be especially useful to Syrian refugees?
In the winter southern turkey, it is extremely cold and there should be support for atmospheric challenges.
Education, mental health, rehabilitation are further factors that should be considered.