In 2016, NRC interviewed 580 Syrian refugee households in Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq to assess their rights to legal identity as well as their housing, land and property situation inside Syria.
The research found that, due to the nature of displacement and complex legal frameworks both in Syria and host countries, thousands of refugees lack basic identification and property ownership documents. This will impact their ability to claim a range of rights and protection needs, both in their host countries and inside Syria if and when they choose to return.
Refugees
70%
of refugees lack basic identity documents
Children
24%
of refugee kids below the age of five are not properly registered
Marriage
50%
of married Syrian refugees do not have marriage documentation
Loss of legal identity
In the briefing note Syrian Refugees’ Right to Legal Identity: Implications for Return, NRC demonstrates the implications of the loss of identification and legal documents among Syrian refugees in the region, particularly for thousands of refugee children who are at risk of becoming stateless.
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Loss of Property Rights
With regards to housing, land and property rights, the survey shows a prevalence of ownership claims¬ that are not supported by legal documents for a variety of reasons. These include loss of documentation due to displacement, as well as historical and cultural practices governing the transfer of titles within families. The briefing note Reflections on Future Challenges to Housing, Land and Property Restitution for Syrian Refugees illustrates how future restitution and compensation processes will need to take into consideration the complex legal framework and customary and cultural practices prior to the conflict as well as the impact of displacement on them in order to support durable returns.
