Seasonal Labor Migration Among Syrian Refugees and Urban Deep Map for Integration in Turkey

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of the data analysis and visualization steered under “An Urban Deep Map for Integration in Turkey” (UDMIT) project, which uses mobile call data records of Syrian refugees under temporary protection provided by Data for Refugees: The D4R Challenge on Mobility of Syrian Refugees in Turkey (Salah et al. Data for refugees: the D4R challenge on mobility of Syrian refugees in Turkey (2018) [25]). First, to examine Syrian refugees’ temporal and spatial dimensions of mobility, the chapter concentrates on their interprovincial migration patterns within Turkey. Based on an analysis of these patterns, the study offers insights on the potential motivations for regular and seasonal interprovincial mobility, especially regarding access to services and employment opportunities in the formal and informal labor market. The findings are also complemented by policy recommendations on how the D4R data can be of use to central and local authorities on providing occupational health and safety services and on improving refugees’ access to information. Second, the current study delivers a web-based deep mapping platform that allows generating and reporting a visual representation of refugee population densities and mobility across Turkey on a real-time basis. The interface enables examining the spatio-temporal D4R data at three scales (country, province, and district level) together with other layers of data, including (a) demographic information at the province and district levels, (b) service providers (nongovernmental organizations, schools and healthcare services), (c) media analytics, and (d) public discussion. Within the scope of this limited study, the deep mapping platform has been developed as an early-version prototype to demonstrate the potential of opening the data to the use of experts and public with a multilayered, visual, and interactive tool.