Years of conflict and instability in Syria have driven large numbers of Syrians to seek refuge in the neighboring Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). Most have settled in the capital, Erbil, dispersed across urban neighborhoods rather than confined to formal camps. Over the years, Syrian refugees have navigated the complexities of urban life, adjusting to the city’s social, economic, and institutional landscapes. Yet, despite their visible presence and the duration of their stay, little is known about how they have integrated into local communities, how they perceive and negotiate their identities, sustain their livelihoods, or engage with Erbil’s administrative and service systems.
Drawing on qualitative and quantitative fieldwork conducted in 2020, including in-depth interviews and ethnographic observation and survey, the study explores how refugees negotiate identity, access livelihoods, and advance a sense of belonging in a politically unique and administratively semi-autonomous setting.
While the KRI has provided a measure of stability and openness—particularly compared to other parts of Iraq or the broader region—refugees continue to traverse a complex legal and social terrain. Their presence is characterized not by formal integration, but by a form of conditional inclusion: recognized, tolerated, and in many ways accommodated, yet still subject to regulatory uncertainty and without clear long-term pathways to rights or citizenship.
The research highlights the diverse strategies refugees adopt to make life possible in Erbil. Many engage in informal employment in sectors such as construction, services, and small retail, often relying on intra-community networks for support. Kurdish-speaking Syrians in particular are able to leverage shared language and cultural affinity to find limited social and economic footholds. However, even those who integrate more visibly, reportedly often experience subtle forms of exclusion or differentiation, especially in moments of institutional interaction.
Rather than framing refugee identity as fixed or passive, the chapter emphasizes the fluidity and situational nature of how people self-identify. Some highlight their Syrian-ness in public and political contexts, while others draw on ethnic or linguistic proximity to Kurds in Iraq to ease social relations or improve access to services. These identity shifts are not purely instrumental, but reflect real tensions between past affiliations, present needs, and future uncertainties.
The chapter acknowledges the structural challenges many refugees face, particularly in terms of economic insecurity, lack of legal clarity, and limited institutional access. These constraints are not uniformly experienced; they vary by gender, ethnicity, language, and class. For example, women’s opportunities for income generation and public participation are often more restricted, while Arabic-speaking or non-Kurdish minorities may encounter greater barriers to social acceptance.
Ultimately, the chapter presents a layered account of displacement in the KRI, one that avoids binary narratives of integration versus exclusion. It argues for more nuanced approaches to refugee policy that are sensitive to local governance dynamics, the diversity of refugee experience, and the blurred boundaries between protection, informality, and belonging. In doing so, it sheds light on how people rebuild lives within the constraints of displacement—not simply as passive recipients of aid, but as actors navigating a complicated and evolving urban landscape.
Citation:
Wirya KM, Smail F and Gade F (2024). Here, I’m a Syrian in Erbil: Identities and Livelihoods of Syrian Refugees in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. In: Urban Displacement in the Middle East: After the Syrian Exodus. P77-98. Editors: Berg KG and Knutsen MB. Publisher: Berghahn Books.