Research published today by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) carried out among both refugee, displaced and local youth across Syria's neighbouring countries shows how lack of opportunities, harassment, exploitation, discrimination and movement restrictions dominate the lives of young people with little help from the authorities and the humanitarian responses to the ongoing crises.
While young refugees from Syria face the greatest challenges with hundreds of thousands forced to live without valid legal documents, youth in refugee-hosting countries are also struggling on their own to survive immense local pressures exacerbated by the crisis. Youth in the region experience the highest rates of unemployment in the world, according to the International Labour Organisation. At the same time the Middle East has a disproportionately young population with over 50 per cent of the population under 18. From Syria to Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, the future of the region's youth, and thus the region itself, is in the balance.
"What we found is not surprising, but if ignored, the consequences will be shocking," said Laura Marshall, who heads NRC's Youth and Education Programme in Jordan. "An entire generation of refugee, displaced and local youth across the Middle East is quickly losing all hope in the future. Trapped in a protracted crisis, young people are facing increasing barriers to education and economic opportunities with minimal chances to engage in social and civic life. They are being pushed further into the shadows, feeling disempowered and frustrated, and we all risk losing the vast human capital of this generation."
The study, A Future in the Balance, drew on the experiences of over 500 youth in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq, through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. The prevailing concerns of youth across the region showed widespread loss of hope in the future and readiness to take the risky route to Europe in search of a better life.
"Back in Syria, we used to think about the future," a 17-year-old Syrian refugee in Turkey told NRC. "We used to think about being doctors or teachers. Now all we think about is how to feed our families. We're carrying a heavy load on our shoulders. It's beyond our age."
In spite of all the challenges and countering the often negative portrayal of young people as potential trouble makers, the vast majority of youth interviewed are desperately trying to fulfil their potential and contribute to their communities.
"My dream is to return to Syria and re-build my country," as 17-year-old female refugee in Jordan told NRC.
"We owe it to more than half the region's population that they have a future, that their dreams are not dashed by the violence, the poverty and the failed policies that keep letting them down," Marshall said. "There is an immediate need to invest across the board to ensure that the youth of the Middle East are supported to live out their potential. Youth across the region aspire to be positive members of their communities. They will be instrumental to rebuild and reshape the region.”
In the report, NRC makes specific recommendations to host governments,, aid agencies and international donors for urgent measures that would help to reverse the depressing wave of hopelessness gripping the youth in the region. Aid agencies need to prioritise youth programmes, which are often neglected and under-funded, while countries hosting refugees need to adopt enabling policies that would allow local and young people to flourish and contribute. International donor governments need to step up their support for Syria's neighbouring countries, scaling up education funding and economic opportunities programmes for youth.
Press Contact:
Martin Hartberg, Regional Advocacy Advisor in the Middle East
+962 79577 8698
martin.hartberg@nrc.no
