Syrians sail for Cyprus in the thousands as island seeks to stem the tide
The number of Syrians making treacherous sea crossings to Cyprus has spiked, prompting the island nation to announce it will no longer process Syrian asylum applications. Many fleeing Lebanon and Syria are not deterred.
‘The most expensive coffee of my life’: Syrians’ thousand-dollar entry to Egypt
Since 2013, Syrians entering Egypt must apply for a special security clearance that costs $1,050-1,500 each time. The costly requirement has limited Syrian migration to Egypt, prevented many refugees from reuniting with their relatives outside the country and birthed an opaque industry of brokers.
Why Syria matters as Israel and Iran’s shadow war moves into the open
While the immediate threat of open war between Iran and Israel has receded in the wake of this month’s unprecedented escalation, the risk of renewed conflict lingers. Syria—fertile ground for another spark—remains a place to watch.
Syrians arrested amid Gaza protests face deportation from Jordan
Atia Abu Salem, a Syrian refugee in Jordan arrested on his way to a pro-Gaza demonstration this month, is facing deportation. The families of “many Syrians” among the more than 1,500 people detained amid recent protests are keeping quiet, afraid of “escalation.”
Syrians at a loss after Erbil stops issuing visas
Erbil’s April 4 decision to stop issuing visas to Syrians has been a disaster for those for whom the Kurdistan Region of Iraq was a safe haven from conscription or a place to reunite with family members after years of separation.
Fear grips Syrian communities as violence surges in Lebanon
The killing of a member of a right-wing Christian political party in Lebanon last week, attributed by the army to Syrian carjackers, unleashed a torrent of violence and threats against refugees, leaving many afraid to leave their homes.
Living and working as a Syrian in Egypt: A constant balancing act
Syrians, like other refugees in Egypt, face a host of barriers to residency and work permits. Pushed into the informal sector, they face exploitation and abuse. Their plight points to the darker side of Egypt for millions of foreigners.
In Egypt’s ‘Little Syria,’ a golden age dims
Egypt is home to 1.5 million Syrians, thousands of whom have opened successful businesses in the country. Many consider Egypt a safe haven compared to other states in the region, where anti-refugee sentiments are on the rise. However, amid a worsening economic crisis, this golden age may be nearing its end.
A generation left behind: Poverty puts northwestern Syria’s children to work
Grinding poverty keeps thousands of children out of school and on the job in northwestern Syria. Across the country, more than 43 percent of children do not go to school, raising fears of a generation left behind.
Aid cuts leave Ramadan tables sparse in Jordan’s Zaatari camp
Syrians in Zaatari, the world’s largest Syrian refugee camp, are struggling to make ends meet this Ramadan after the World Food Program cut their food assistance by about a third last year due to funding shortfalls.