Despite the prospect of peace from a 60-day ceasefire, Lebanon’s agricultural sector has already suffered huge losses that have left a mark on the sector and those who rely on it—Syrians and Lebanese alike.
Killings fueled by swelling anti-refugee sentiment claim Syrian lives in Turkey, despite limited efforts to stem the tide.
With scant resources available to help 1.2 million displaced people in Lebanon, tensions are rising and Syrians are a low priority. Abandoned to sleep in the street as Israel’s violent escalation deepens, for many it feels like history repeating itself.
While tens of thousands have fled Lebanon for Syria this week, many Syrians are taking their chances with Israeli bombing rather than face the risks of return.
As pressure on Syrians in Lebanon grows, Palestinian refugee camps have become a haven for refugees seeking lower rents and relative safety from eviction, street violence and the threat of deportation.
As Lebanon deports and evicts Syrian refugees, pressure on journalists and advocates working to bring violations to light is also increasing, forcing some to leave the country or stop their work, just when it is needed most.
While Ankara condemns anti-refugee riots and makes arrests in the wake of “the most violent wave of hatred” to date, Syrians in Turkey say the attacks indirectly serve the government’s goal of refugee returns as it signals normalization with Assad.
In April, Turkey tightened conditions for renewing tourist residencies, requiring Syrians to show bank deposits of 1.5 times the minimum wage per family member or obtain work residency instead. The requirements are beyond the reach of many.
The fates of thousands of asylum seekers, including Syrians, hang in the balance in the UK's July elections. The vote will decide the future of the government's Rwanda deportation plan—touted as an “indispensable deterrent” even as boats continue to arrive.
Erbil indicated it would again allow Syrians to renew their residency permits without conditions on Tuesday, reversing a prohibitive social security registration requirement and bringing relief after weeks of uncertainty.
