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Syrian Refugees in Kazakhstan are in need of Solutions

The Syria crisis has entered its fifth year. The scope and duration of the conflict are devastating. It resulted in almost four million people, who had to leave their houses and move to neighbouring countries, saving their lives and seeking asylum. Turkey gave asylum to 1,700,000 Syrian refugees, Lebanon - to 1,500,000, Iraq – to 250,000, and Egypt accommodates 120,000 refugees. With such large numbers, governments and UNHCR in these countries are focused on providing live-saving humanitarian assistance to refugees. The crisis has been intensified by crossings of the Mediterranean, with thousands of fatal cases. As the conflict persists, millions of refugees continue to flee Syria.

Some of them found asylum in Kazakhstan, which currently hosts 25 refugees from Syria. “Being geographically located far from the zone of the conflict, Kazakhstan allocates a small number in comparison with other countries. However, these people are also in need of not only humanitarian assistance and international protection, but in finding solutions to their situations” – says Eduardo Yrezabal, UNHCR Deputy Representative for UNHCR Representation for Central Asia.

Some of asylum seekers from Syria were recognized as refugees in Kazakhstan, some of them not. However, both categories face drastic difficulties in accessing employment, medical services, and education in the country.

Usama came to Kazakhstan two years ago. He had to save his family with three minor children from the never ending war. Being married to a Kazakhstani citizen, he decided to come to Kazakhstan and applied for asylum. Now, having been recognized as a refugee, he still does not have access to legal employment. “I have to work here and there to earn something to sustain my family. No employer is willing to take me for legal work with my one- year refugee certificate. As soon as they get to know that in one-year time I will have to confirm it, they refuse to take me for the job”.

In accordance with the national legislation, refugees have the right to employment, except the right to engage in individual entrepreneurship. However, in practice, refugees still face difficulties in accessing the labor market legally due to lack of awareness of the local employers on refugees’ rights and validity of the refugee certificate. Refugee status, which is valid for one year and is subject to renewal every year, does not allow them to apply for nationality even after permanently residing in the country for more than five years. Children of refugees born on the territory of Kazakhstan do not have the right to nationality and are at risk of statelessness if according to the legislation of the country origin the nationality of their parents cannot be to be confirmed or if parents are not able to transmit their nationality

Yasser, who also came to Kazakhstan several years ago, with three children, and is disabled from childhood, is facing problem with surviving. He applied for the refugee status in 2011, but was rejected. Now he and his family are awaiting for the solution of their situation. Situation of Yasser shows other remaining gaps in the legislation of Kazakhstan, which lacks provisions on providing refugee status to those fleeing the situation of armed conflict and generalized violence. Asylum seekers need to confirm that they flee from conflicts. Moreover, the national refugee legislation lacks provisions on treatment of asylum-seekers and refugees with specific needs. Refugees have no access to any social benefits and allowances, such as pensions for the loss of breadwinner or disability. Social insecurity and limited protection from the government poses challenges to their successful integration into the society.

Problems are exacerbated by status of refugees as “temporarily residing aliens”, which goes against the full range of rights guaranteed by the 1951 Convention and the Refugee Law.
However, despite the difficulties refugees face in Kazakhstan, they express gratitude for being hosted in the country.  “I am very grateful to people of Kazakhstan for hosting me and my family. However, you know, as refugee, I should say that my only dream is to return home. I am dreaming that one day the conflict in Syria will be over, and my children and I will be able to return to Syria and start a new life. Nobody wants to be a refugee” – says Yasser.

UNHCR’s role is to provide its technical expertise in area of refugee protection and work in close cooperation with the Government of Kazakhstan to fulfil its international obligations and to find solutions to the refugees’ problems in Kazakhstan. “We have been advocating the Government of Kazakhstan to amend its legislation which will allow removing the current restriction of “temporary” refugee legal status and also will provide protection to persons fleeing the wars and armed conflicts” – added Eduardo Yrezabal.