Thesis access to social work practices of disable and elderly Syrians with temporary protection status: an etnographic examination in Tekirdağ

Anatolian geography has witnessed various migration movements since ancient times due to its location. With the changing migration movements as a result of the impact of globalization, Turkey has become a target country and there is a need to revise policies on migration management. Syrians who entered Syria through border gates due to the mass migration caused by the political instability and conflicts in Syria in 2011 were admitted to our country with an open door policy and taken under temporary protection. The various problems migrants experience during and after the migration process increase their vulnerability if they have special needs. In this study, the status of disabled and elderly Syrian migrants who were admitted to our country with the forced migration movement from Syria and who have special needs due to their location, the problems they experienced during and after the migration process, and their access to social service practices were evaluated through in-depth interviews using qualitative research method. In the study, in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 disabled Syrian individuals over the age of 18 under temporary protection and 9 Syrian individuals over the age of 60 under temporary protection living in Tekirdağ province through semi-structured interview forms and observation technique was utilized. The data obtained were analyzed with an ethnographic approach on the themes of socio-demographic characteristics, forced migration experience, employment and economic problems, housing, family relations, daily life, health, language problem, social networks, participation in social life, access to social services, socio-cultural adaptation and return thoughts. Since disabled and elderly migrants, who represent a vulnerable group in the face of change and various problems that occur during and after the migration process, experience intersectional disadvantages and there are not enough studies on the subject in the literature, it is aimed that the findings obtained in this context will contribute to the literature by addressing the dimension of being disabled and elderly in migration in terms of social work practices. In the study, interviews were conducted with the help of an interpreter due to language problems and with the help of relatives who speak Turkish. The limitation of the study is that the sample group was formed depending on the disability and age status.