NRC I Displacement, HLP and access to civil documentation in the south of the Syrian Arab Republic
Housing, land and property rights in
displacement
Nearly two thirds of respondents reported that they live with host
community members, with most of the remainder reported living in informal
settlements (23 per cent) or in collective accommodation (9 per cent).
Almost one in four reported living in a sub-standard accommodation type
– an unfinished building or a partially tented/plastic-sheeted structure.
Almost one in five reported paying some form of rent to the owner or
other party responsible for the property; almost all were paying less than
30 USD per month. Three per cent of the total sample reported paying
higher monthly housing costs of between 30 and 60 USD. FGDs and
KIIs identified even these low rental payments as a key burden on IDP
households, a cause of negative coping mechanisms and a source of
increased risk of sexual and gender-based violence.
The displacement profile of survey respondents shows high levels of
mobility and diverse drivers of displacement. Households reported an
average of four displacements since their initial displacement. Ninety-two
per cent of respondents stated that armed conflict and ensuing insecurity
was the main reason for their displacement. For 37 per cent of those
surveyed, access to better or more affordable housing was a reason for
their displacement. Almost a quarter of households cited eviction as one
of the reasons for which they had had to move residence; the proportion
affected by eviction was slightly higher in Quneitra, 29 per cent, compared
to 24 per cent in Dar’a. Reasons for evictions included accusations of
ethical or moral violations, failure to pay rent, and poor relationships with
local community leaders.
12 I NRC Assessment Report