ABSTRACT
The vast majority of Syrian refugees reside in the neighboring countries of Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon (see Figure 2.1). This chapter examines each of these host states, looking at individual contexts, politics and policies toward Syrian refugees. It concludes by comparing and contrasting the differing responses from each. The chapter also engages with broader questions about responsibility. Certainly the international community bears great responsibility for helping refugees – indeed, as noted in Chapter 1, the global refugee regime of today, which emerged in the post-World War II era, is founded on the principle of responsibility-sharing, and the notion that it is in the interest of all states to work together to assist refugees. However, host states also bear immediate responsibilities toward refugees – first and foremost by upholding the principle of non-refoulement. The states are also ultimately responsible for protection and assistance, albeit with help from the international community when they are unable to do so. In reality, however, many of these states feel as though they are left with the bulk of the responsibility and that the assistance received does not come close to what is necessary for protecting and assisting the displaced. Many states, including host states like Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, insist that they have been stretched to their limits, and can only be expected to uphold international obligations to protect refugees if they are properly supported in doing so.
