Displaced Population: A Case Study of the Syrian Forced Migrants in Qatar

Abstract

Since the outbreak of the Syrian conflict in 2011, roughly 5.6 million Syrians have fled the country as a result of the ongoing conflict in the region. Many of them have crossed into Gulf nations such as Qatar, even though this nation was not a signatory to the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention. This study aims to explore the efforts made by the Qatari government to improve the situation of Syrian forced migrants in Qatar as well as refugees elsewhere. Interviews were carried out with Syrians who entered Qatar since 2011, recording narratives of their experiences in the country. The findings revealed that visa status had a strong influence on whether the experiences of Syrian forced migrants were positive or negative, and suggest that the Qatari government should do more to ensure that the human rights of the Syrian forced migrants within its borders are upheld.