Spatial Analysis of Syrian Refugees: The Sanliurfa Case

Abstract

Even though the phenomenon of migration is moving from one geographical location to another, it has a significant impact on societal change and transformation. The internal unrest in Syria which began in 2011 has escalated into a civil war in the course of time. Turkey, among other bordering countries with Syria, is the one which is affected most by the war. Due to the "Open Door Policy" adopted by our country, the number of Syrian refugees has soared in Turkey, especially in our provinces on the Syrian border. Sanliurfa is one of these provinces affected most by this situation. This study covers the Sanliurfa Province located in the Middle Euphrates Region in Southeastern Anatolia, a large part of which is composed of plateaus. The relationship between the areas where the distribution is intense and the socioeconomical structure was examined. In order to understand the situation, in-depth interviews were made with 20 Syrian families. The questions were prepared for participants in advance, but additional questions were also asked in the course of interviews. Unique contents of the obtained data were adhered to, and the analyses were made based on the citations from the statements of participants.