Engaging Syrian Communities: The Role of Local Government in Istanbul

Introduction

The Syrian population living in Istanbul is increasing day by day. 418,000 Syrians are registered in the city, and it is estimated that at least 100,000 more reside unregistered. Istanbul's size, complexity, and urban fabric make it difficult for this large Syrian population to participate in the workforce. This study cannot encompass the numerous activities conducted between state institutions and Syrians in Istanbul. This report primarily aims to reveal how the 39 local government districts of Istanbul respond to Syrians and the many issues that arise with them. Our study aims to address the bureaucratic mechanisms within Istanbul's local governments (municipalities and district administrations) responsible for addressing the needs of refugees, their perceptions of the problems faced by Syrian communities in these areas, the relationships of Syrians with state institutions and other critical actors such as Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and the information they currently possess. The quality of information that local governments have about refugees is crucial for understanding their role in the refugee issue. In short, exploring the quality of knowledge and perception that both refugees and local government units have about each other is essential for ensuring quality communication and process management for both sides. To achieve this goal, our research, which first attempts to determine the current situation, preferred telephone interviews instead of individual face-to-face interviews as a methodology.

Conclusion

This research examined the role of Istanbul's local administrations in interacting with Syrian communities. Istanbul is the city hosting the largest number of Syrians in Turkey. As of December 2016, over 418,000 Syrians officially lived in the city. This number is even higher when unregistered and those registered in other cities are considered. This report is based primarily on information obtained from telephone interviews with district governorships and municipal units in Istanbul's 39 districts. The analysis included certain bureaucratic mechanisms (both municipal and district governorship units) within Istanbul's local administrations that are likely to deal with refugees, as well as their relationships with other critical actors such as NGOs, international organizations, and state institutions. While the experiences of local administrations in Istanbul show significant differences, this can be attributed to the size of the Syrian population in their regions and the individual tendencies of district administrators and officials. Nevertheless, some general patterns and issues can be mentioned.