Syria & Lake Chad Basin

Forced Movements due to Environmental/Political push Factors and the consequences for the people and place

Political reasons for Migration in the Lake Chad

• Poor Governance from the neighbouring countries worsening the events since the 1960s

• Overuse of water resources due to the expansion of agriculture and an increase in water demand

Environmental reasons for Migration in the Lake Chad

• Climate Change causing irregular rainfall and rising temperatures

• The surface area of the lake has gone from 25,000km2 to 1,500km2 (Lost over 90% of its area)

Conflict in the Lake Chad Basin and it’s effects

The Boko Haram - A terrorist group leading

• Displacement (3million)

• 40,000 people killed

Lake Chad Location

Transboundary lake in sub-Saharan Africa (Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, Chad)

Climate - Semi arid (Wet and dry season)

How is the drying of this river causing poverty?

• 50% of Agricultural land unusable due to desertification

• Fishing industry down by 60%

• 70% of the population live below the poverty line

• 1.5 million face acute food shortages

• 5 million affected by food insecurity.

Impact on Women

• They are 80% of the displaced population

• Subjected to gender based violence

Effect on Children

• 3 million children out of school limiting future opportunities

• 12% of children displaced suffer from acute malnutrition

Economic Hardship caused by the displacement

Potential increase in poverty, unemployment as people who found work on lake Chad don’t have that anymore.

Loss of Jobs in Agriculture damaging economies

What will desertification in the region lead to?

More soil degradation, droughts that will lead to more desertification (Positive feedback loop)

Where do Syrian Migrants migrate to?

Türkiye - 3.6 million people

Lebanon - 1 million people

Jordon - 1.3 million people

Proxy War

Characterised by indirect involvement where major powers back local groups rather than engaging directly.

Political causes of migration

• Authoritarian Rule and Economic Inequality

• Freedom of speech suppression ( Arbitrary arrests, torture, crackdowns, extrajudicial killings)

• The Arab Spring and Escalation to Civil war 2011 (Foreign involvement

• ISIS

Water Scarcity as a cause of Migration.

• Over extraction of groundwater (Wells dried up, inefficient agricultural practices)

Droughts as a cause of Migration

• 2006-2011 - most severe in syria’s recorded history.

• Wheat and barley production down 50%

• 80% of livestock lost

• 1.5 million forced to leave

Syria Location

In the Middle east bordering Turkey, Iraq and Lebanon by the Mediterranean.

Semi arid (Cooler months)

Consequences for Lebanon

• has a population of 6 million while hosting 1 million Syrian refugees

• Has a fragile infrastructure many living in makeshift camps without decent access to sanitation, healthcare and education

• Lebanon in a financial crisis leading to high unemployment and tension between the Lebanese and the Sunni refugees

Consequences for Jordon

• has been struggling with added pressure on it’s already limited resources

• Extremely water scarce

• Rise in Job competition

Consequences for Türkiye

• Social services and economy are stressed

• Accommodating 3.6 million refugees.

Consequences for UK

• In 2021, 27 people died trying to pass the English Channel

• Increased Xenophobia

• Diplomatic disputes between the UK and France due o increased anti-immigration sentiment

• Increased debates on boarder control

• Plans to deport asylum seekers to 3rd world countries

Consequences for Mediterranean

3,700 migrants died while trying to cross the Mediterranean (often operated by smugglers.