603'251

607'903
2'061

SL 2'078

Iraqi (incl. Kurds)

954000 - 1200000

8400

3'953
R in

IDPs

R in Refugee by hosting country

IDPs Internally displaced persons

SL

12525

several conflicts in the Kurdish area

of settlement

R from

2'734

total 38416

PC

ARMENIA

SL Stateless persons
* Palestinian Refugees in Gaza and West Bank
** Palestinian Refugees in ther countries
*** Palestinians refugees pass the refugee status on
to their offspring

SL

IDPs

R from Refugee by origin

Germany 15123
UK 10227
USA 6845
Canada 6221

16'336

975261 - 1221'261
11'103

Refugees in the country

PC Population of concern (includes R in, IDPs, SL)

36

62

PC

Germany 34731
Sweden 30423
UK 22021
Netherlands 19234
Danmark 8391
Norway 7744

699

Palestinians

3
5
15

any

Armenians

Refugees leaving the country

TURKEY

total 194497

Germ

a
re

OVERVIEW OF REFUGEES IN THE

MIDDLE EAST:

Refugee location and camps

R in

Germany 169616
France 10276
UK 9260
Switzerland 5345

Kurdish

R from

The term internally displaced person is not

specifically covered in the UN Convention; it
is used to describe people who have fled their
homes for reasons similar to refugees, but who
remain within their own national territory and
are subject to the laws of that state.

Armenian Genicide 1914 - 1918

IDPs

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine

Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has a different
operational definition for a Palestinian refugee:
a person whose normal place of residence was
Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May
1948 and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict.

214'378

a person who is outside his/her country of

nationality or habitual residence; has a wellfounded fear of persecution because of his/
her race, religion, nationality, membership in a
particular social group or political opinion; and is
unable or unwilling to avail himself/herself of the
protection of that country, or to return there, for
fear of persecution.

16'319

AZERBAIJAN

PC

The definition of a refugee according to a United

Nations Convention is:

R from

USA 8400

R in

Refugees of the Middle East

230'000

1930

1940

70'000

1950

SL 0

IDPs 0

981'911

980'109

ralia

58

51

Refugees By
Hosting Country

1 Mio

92000

1960

1970

1980

1990

200

100

Palestinian

refugees

2003 Third Gulf War, today there are

2 Mio Refugees and nearly 3 Mio IDPs
from 2003 crisis in the Gaza Strip
2006 Second Lebanon War
Israel against Hezbollah
2008 Gaza War
after terror attacs of Palestinian militants
invades Israel Gaza

50

2000 - 2005 Second Intifada, Palestinian uprising

against Israeli in occupied Palestinian territory

1990 Second Gulf War

Iraq invades Kuwait

30131

1986 - 1989 al-Anfal Campaign against the

Kurdish and Shiite population of Iraq:
180000 deaths
1987 First Intifada, Palestinian uprising against
Israeli
1988 - 1994 Nagorno-Karabakh War, between
Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan
Nagorno-Karabach is populated by Armenians:
500000 IDPs and refugees

1973 Yom Kippur War

Israel against Egypt and Syria

1982 Lebanon War, Massacre of Kataib

at a Palestinian refugee camp in Beirut
2500 deaths

600

1979 Saddam Hussein: Iraqi President: tensions

between leading Sunnis and the Shiite majority
1981 First Gulf War, Iraq invades Iran

SL

IDPs 0

122131

30131
R in

R from

km

1967 Six-Day War

Israel against many Arabic countries

un

wn
kno

1958 Iraqi Revolution, era of the Iraqi Republic

(sozialist Baath Party), first tensions between
the different ethnics of the country

SL

KUWAIT

PC

240'572
0
R in

PC

712 R from

IDPs

0
SL

310'764

1'903'519
1939 - 1945 Second World War

0
IDPs

R in

R from

1920

240016

Aus
t

11135

0.5 Mio

1948 declaration of the State of Israel,

first ArabIsraeli War, occupation of Palestinian
territory: 900000 refugees
(see atlas topic Arab-Israeli Conflict)

2431816

1910

from 1918 first mass immigration of european

Jews to Palestine

1914 - 1918 First World War

1915 Law of Deportation, Armenian Genocide:
1.5 Mio deaths and 600000 refugees

1894 - 1896 Hamidian Massacre against

Armenians in the Ottoman Empire:
80,000 to 300,000 deaths

fro
fro m
m So
Su ma
da lia
n 5
10 13
4 9
99

1901 Adana Massacre against Armenians in the

Ottoman Empire:
15,000 to 30,000 deaths

1900

00

SAUDI ARABIA

PC

JORDAN

120ETH Studio Basel

2431116

64
SL

5000

IDPs

112'605

97'861

PC

584

102
7

DRAFT

PC

57414

59

R in

6'780 R from

EGYPT

Refugees By
Country of Origin

SL

39'503

70

IDPs

30

PC

19

R in

R from

IRAQ

10

13

R in

2842491

69'061

IRAN

R from

000

3'140'345

433000

300'000

1500

SL

IDPs

R in

2233008

PC

R from

1956983

2689991
0

Kurdish area

imigration of jewish
refugees from 1918

70

906701

SL

IDPs

15'211

90000 - 390000

507027 - 857551

467027

150000 - 420000

PC

R in

anistan

from Afgh

14937

456983

08

9'137

50000

area

4166

SL

IDPs

164870 - 434870
PC

SYRIA

Civil War
in Lebanon
1975

R in

75426

ISRAEL

1'494 R from

3135460*

12'967

LEBANON

R from

SL 0*

R in

an
y9

48

IDPs 0*

2431116*
R from
PC

rm

GAZA &
WEST BANK

Ge

is
rd
Ku

2431116*

total 122544

***

4 Mio
3 Mio
2 Mio
1 Mio

2000

REFUGEES OF THE MIDDLE EAST Patrick Jaeger 121

Armenians refugees
Armenians refugees
Palestinians refugees
Palestinians refugees
Iraqi refugees
Iraqi refugees
C

Refugee Camps
Refugee Camps

Urban Imigration
Urban Imigration

C
U

Refugee Population
Refugee Population
*

approximate number.
approximate
number.
Iraqi refugee
population increased
Iraqi
refugee
population
rapidly
the last
years. increased
rapidly the last years.

C
C

MAR ELIAS REFUGEE CAMP

MAR ELIAS REFUGEE CAMP

ANTELIAS
ANTELIAS

JARAMANA REFUGEE CAMP

JARAMANA REFUGEE CAMP

official Palestinian refugee camp

official Palestinian refugee camp
1956 established for P. refugees
1956 established for P. refugees
4,048 Palestinians
4,048 Palestinians

1920 fondet by Armenians

1920 fondet by Armenians
4000 Armenians
4000 Armenians

official Palestinian Refugee Camp

official Palestinian Refugee Camp
1948 established for P. refugees
1948 established for P. refugees
18,740 Palestinians
18,740 Palestinians

The inhabitants are mainly

The inhabitants are mainly
Christians and include Maronites,
Christians and include Maronites,
Greek Catholics, Greek Orthodox
Greek Catholics, Greek Orthodox
and Armenians. Antelias is the seat
and Armenians. Antelias is the seat
of the Catholicos of Cilicia of the
of the Catholicos of Cilicia of the
Armenian Catholicosate of the
Armenian Catholicosate of the
Great House of Cilicia.
Great House of Cilicia.

official Palestinian refugee camp

official Palestinian refugee camp
1952 established for P. refugees
1952 established for P. refugees
615 Palestinians
615 Palestinians
The smallest camp in Lebanon.
The smallest camp in Lebanon.
The camp accomondate mainly
The camp accomondate mainly
Christian Palestinians.
Christian Palestinians.
There is a high incidence of
There is a high incidence of
chronic disease in this camp, with
chronic disease in this camp, with
many refugees suffering from
many refugees suffering from
hypertension, cancer and diabetes.
hypertension, cancer and diabetes.
Its infrastructure needs compreIts infrastructure needs comprehensive rehabilitation.
hensive rehabilitation.

Jaramanas main problem and

Jaramanas main problem and
concern is the demolition of
concern is the demolition of
shelters by the Government due to
shelters by the Government due to
construction of a highway to
construction of a highway to
Jaramana. Moreover, a large
Jaramana. Moreover, a large
number of refugee families
number of refugee families
relocated.
relocated.
Many of the refugees are street
Many of the refugees are street
vendors, while others work in
vendors, while others work in
nearby industrial plants. Some
nearby industrial plants. Some
inhabitants find work in the
inhabitants find work in the
informal sector through collecting
informal sector through collecting
garbage for recycling.
garbage for recycling.

U
U

immigration since 2003

immigration since 2003
10000* Iraqis
10000* Iraqis

DAMASCUS
DAMASCUS
BAB SHARKI AND BAB TOUMA
BAB SHARKI AND BAB TOUMA

Refugees belong, for their majority,

Refugees belong, for their majority,
to the middle class, because the
to the middle class, because the
rental prices are more expensive.
rental prices are more expensive.

immigration after 1915

immigration after 1915
7000* Armenians
7000* Armenians
Most Armenians lived within the
Most Armenians lived within the
high walls of Old Damascus in the
high walls of Old Damascus in the
Christian neighbourhoods.
Christian neighbourhoods.

U
U

BEIRUT
BEIRUT

JARAMANA
JARAMANA

BOURJ HAMMOUD
BOURJ HAMMOUD
AND KARM EL ZEITOUN
AND KARM EL ZEITOUN
(AND FORMER SANJAK, KHALIL
(AND FORMER SANJAK, KHALIL
BADAWI AND QARANTINA)
BADAWI AND QARANTINA)
1915 foundet by Armenians
1915 foundet by Armenians
100000 Armenians
100000 Armenians

C
C

BOURJ EL-BARAJNEH REFUGEE

BOURJ EL-BARAJNEH REFUGEE
CAMP
CAMP
official Palestinian refugee camp
official Palestinian refugee camp
1948 established for P. refugees
1948 established for P. refugees
16066 Palestinians
16066 Palestinians
The camp suffered heavily
The camp suffered heavily
throughout the Lebanese Civil
throughout the Lebanese Civil
War. Refugees propety was
War. Refugees propety was
heavily damaged and nearly a
heavily damaged and nearly a
quarter of the camps population
quarter of the camps population
was displaced.
was displaced.

C
C

SHATILA REFUGEE CAMP

SHATILA REFUGEE CAMP

The environmental conditions in

The environmental conditions in
the camp are especially poor.
the camp are especially poor.

official Palestinian refugee camp

official Palestinian refugee camp
1949 established for P. refugees
1949 established for P. refugees
8,645 Palestinians
8,645 Palestinians

U
U

SOUTHERN SUBURBS
SOUTHERN SUBURBS
immigration since 2003
immigration since 2003
30000* Iraqis
30000* Iraqis

122ETH Studio Basel

MASSAKEN BARZEH
MASSAKEN BARZEH
(AND OTHER NEIGHBOURHOODS
(AND OTHER NEIGHBOURHOODS
IN CENTRAL DAMASCUS)
IN CENTRAL DAMASCUS)

DAMASCUS
DAMASCUS

DRAFT

DBAYEH REFUGEE CAMP

DBAYEH REFUGEE CAMP

Due to its location, the camp

Due to its location, the camp
suffered a great deal of violence
suffered a great deal of violence
and destruction during the civil
and destruction during the civil
war. In 1990 alone, 25% of its
war. In 1990 alone, 25% of its
shelters were destroyed or
shelters were destroyed or
severely damaged and over 100 of
severely damaged and over 100 of
its principally Christian Palestine
its principally Christian Palestine
refugee families were displaced. It
refugee families were displaced. It
is the only remaining Palestinian
is the only remaining Palestinian
refugee camp in the East suburbs
refugee camp in the East suburbs
of Beirut. Large unemployment.
of Beirut. Large unemployment.

first refugee
camps were
t refugee
located
oufirs
camps were
tside
the boun
daries of celoc
outside
d
the boun
ntrate
al Be
daries of ce
irut
ntral Be
irut

REFUGEE LOCATION IN
REFUGEE LOCATION IN
BEIRUT AND DAMASCUS:
BEIRUT AND DAMASCUS:

Most of the iraqi refugees in

Most of the iraqi refugees in
Lebanon have settled in the
Lebanon have settled in the
southern suburbs of Beirut. Most
southern suburbs of Beirut. Most
of them are shias.
of them are shias.

The camp was devastated during

The camp was devastated during
the 1982 Israeli invasion of
the 1982 Israeli invasion of
Lebanon and was frequently
Lebanon and was frequently
targeted during the Lebanese Civil
targeted during the Lebanese Civil
War, which resulted in the
War, which resulted in the
destruction of property and
destruction of property and
displacement of refugees.
displacement of refugees.
Environmental health conditions in
Environmental health conditions in
Shatlia are extremely bad. Shelters
Shatlia are extremely bad. Shelters
are damp and overcrowded.
are damp and overcrowded.
Shelters often have open drains,
Shelters often have open drains,
and the sewerage system needs
and the sewerage system needs
considerable expansion.
considerable expansion.

Bourj Hammoud is an industrious

Bourj Hammoud is an industrious
area and is one of the most
area and is one of the most
densely-populated districts in the
densely-populated districts in the
Middle East. It was founded by
Middle East. It was founded by
survivors of the Armenian Genocide
survivors of the Armenian Genocide
of 1915 and expanded mostly
of 1915 and expanded mostly
during the 1930s. they were given
during the 1930s. they were given
the right to construct shacks in the
the right to construct shacks in the
North-East of the city, what was
North-East of the city, what was
then only a swamp. They were then
then only a swamp. They were then
allowed to erect houses and
allowed to erect houses and
buildings which stand to this day.
buildings which stand to this day.
During its founding and early
During its founding and early
settlement, Bourj Hammoud was
settlement, Bourj Hammoud was
the focus of a rivalry between two
the focus of a rivalry between two
Armenian political parties, the
Armenian political parties, the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Armenian Revolutionary Federation
and the Social Democrat Hunchaand the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party, who struggled to control
kian Party, who struggled to control
the newly established shanty-town.
the newly established shanty-town.

immigration since 2003

immigration since 2003
60,000* Iraqis
60,000* Iraqis

U
U

YARMOUK
YARMOUK
unofficial Refugee Camp
unofficial Refugee Camp
1957 established for P. refugees
1957 established for P. refugees
144312 Palestinians
144312 Palestinians
Yarmouk camp is home to the
Yarmouk camp is home to the
largest Palestine refugee
largest Palestine refugee
community in Syria. Yarmouk
community in Syria. Yarmouk
resembles an urban quarter, and it
resembles an urban quarter, and it
looks very different from the other
looks very different from the other
Palestine refugee concentrations
Palestine refugee concentrations
in Syria. It accommodate refugees
in Syria. It accommodate refugees
who were scattering in mosques,
who were scattering in mosques,
schools and other public places.
schools and other public places.
Over the years, the refugees have
Over the years, the refugees have
improved their shelters and added
improved their shelters and added
more rooms to them. Today, the
more rooms to them. Today, the
camp is crowded with cement
camp is crowded with cement
block homes, and is densely
block homes, and is densely
populated.
populated.
Many of the refugees in Yarmouk
Many of the refugees in Yarmouk
are professional, working as
are professional, working as
doctors, engineers and civil
doctors, engineers and civil
servants. Others are employed as
servants. Others are employed as
casual labourers and street
casual labourers and street
vendors. Overall, living conditions
vendors. Overall, living conditions
in Yarmouk are far better than
in Yarmouk are far better than
those of the other Palestine
those of the other Palestine
refugee camps in Syria.
refugee camps in Syria.

C
C

U
U

SBEINEH REFUGEE CAMP

SBEINEH REFUGEE CAMP

SAYDA ZAYNAB
SAYDA ZAYNAB

official Palestinian Refugee Camp

official Palestinian Refugee Camp
1948 established for P. refugees
1948 established for P. refugees
21210 Palestinians
21210 Palestinians

immigration since 2003.

immigration since 2003.
80000* Iraqis
80000* Iraqis

The majority of refugees work in

The majority of refugees work in
Sbeineh's factories and industrial
Sbeineh's factories and industrial
plants. Women often work as
plants. Women often work as
housemaids in Damascus to
housemaids in Damascus to
supplement family income.
supplement family income.
As in other camps, water and
As in other camps, water and
sanitation management remains
sanitation management remains
one of the biggest problems.
one of the biggest problems.

Inhabitants belong to lower middle

Inhabitants belong to lower middle
class and poor refugees.
class and poor refugees.
Jaramana hosts numerous internal
Jaramana hosts numerous internal
migrants, like Syrian families and
migrants, like Syrian families and
students, because of the relatively
students, because of the relatively
low level of the rents and ist
low level of the rents and ist
rapidly growing. The arrival of high
rapidly growing. The arrival of high
numbers of Iraqis since 2003
numbers of Iraqis since 2003
strongly contributes today to this
strongly contributes today to this
development. New irregular
development. New irregular
buildings appear everyday. In
buildings appear everyday. In
parallel, small shops open along
parallel, small shops open along
the main roads. Whereas the
the main roads. Whereas the
presence of Iraqis is very
presence of Iraqis is very
important in Jaramana, their
important in Jaramana, their
visibility through the development
visibility through the development
of many shops and restaurants on
of many shops and restaurants on
the main street, have generated
the main street, have generated
some tension with the local
some tension with the local
population.
population.

Inhabitants belong to lower middle

Inhabitants belong to lower middle
class but mainly poor refugees.
class but mainly poor refugees.
Is home to the largest mainly
Is home to the largest mainly
shiite Iraqi refugee community in
shiite Iraqi refugee community in
Damascus. Sayda Zaynab was
Damascus. Sayda Zaynab was
always dominated by Syrian Shias.
always dominated by Syrian Shias.
57% of all Iraqi refugees in Syria
57% of all Iraqi refugees in Syria
are shiite.
are shiite.
km
km

Source: UNHCR Refugee Statistics: Global Trends 2008, www.unhcr.org, 30. 09. 09; UNRWA Palestinian, www.un.org/unrwa/refugee, 05.10.09; www.wikipedia.org, 05.10.09; Armanian, www.press.uchicago.edu, 04.10.09, The case of Beirut, Mona Fawaz and Isabelle Peillen, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
2003; Iraqi Refugees in Syria, Mohamed Kamel Dora, The American University in Cairo, Egypt, 2007; Iraqi Refugees: Seeking Stability in Syria and Jordan,
Patricia Weiss Fagen, Institute for the Study of International Migration (Georgetown University) and Center for International and Regional Studies (Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar), 2007; Werner Ende and Udo Stienbach, Der Islam in der Gegenwart, Bonn, 2005; Ulrich Haarmann,
Geschichte der Arabischen Welt, Mnchen, 2004; Assessment on the Situation of Iraqi Refugees in Syria, UNHCR, 2006; Armenien: Es war kein Vlkermord,
Weltwoche, Ausgabe 43/06, Zrich, 2006; Iraqi Population Survey in Lebanon: A Report, Danish Refugee Council, Beirut, 2007

REFUGEES OF THE MIDDLE EAST Patrick Jaeger 123