Decoding the Impact of Covid-19 on Everyday Life Practices of Syrian Refugees: an Investigation at the Neighbourhood Level

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic at the neighbourhood level on the everyday life practices of Syrian refugees and the potential reasons for virus transmission in their settlements. It is based on fieldwork in an ethnic enclave of Ankara, which revealed comparative insights into everyday life practices of Syrians before and after the outbreak, their perceptions, reactions and strategies towards the pandemic and its countermeasures. Their religious beliefs, socio-cultural structure, social networks and economic struggles have significant effects on their perceptions and practices in pandemic times; together with their living and working conditions, this may create risks of virus transmission. The degradation in their employment status, interruptions in donations and increase in expenditures resulted in decreases in living standards. The outbreak, negatively influencing their use of public services and some parts of social life created new inequalities and stressors but empowered their social support system and virtual networking capacities.