Strategies for transforming war zones into magnets for a new population – An applied study on Northern Syria region

All countries in which Syrians sought refuge after the outbreak of the Syrian conflict seek to return Syrians to their homeland. According to the UNHCR database accessed on December 23, 2021, the number of Syrian refugees in Turkey was 3.685.839, in Lebanon 851.718, and in Jordan 668.332. As a result of the high number of Syrian refugees, these countries consider that a high number of Syrians can return to the northern region of Syria. But the Northern Syria region is not fully qualified for the return of Syrians due to the lack of services, infrastructure, and security there. This research aims to study the current situation in northern Syria in all aspects of life, including food, health, schools, electricity, water, security, and job opportunities. Then study the most important strategies to encourage the Syrians to return, by transforming the efforts of the supporting countries and organizations to establish the region for the return of the Syrians, then transforming the region into a magnet area by achieving quality of life indicators similar to European standards. To achieve this, we will collect data through questionnaires of the indigenous people and the displaced of the region to determine the current situation and conduct focused interviews with them. Then we will collect data from a sample of Syrians in Turkey to determine the considerable needs they need in the area to encourage them to return. Thus, we will obtain data that determines the current situation in northern Syria, and data that consider the needs of Syrians outside Syria. To encourage them to return, and thus we will be able to compare the current situation with the required one, by achieving quality of life indicators similar to European and American standards. The study makes an original contribution to understanding the reality in northern Syria, and identifies the strategies that must be applied to encourage Syrians to return, informing decision makers to take measures in the region that would encourage Syrians to return in a way that guarantees their security, safety, and a decent life.

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