(For details on Numidia and the crisis, see Numidia Fact Sheet and Numidia Map)
Numidia has experienced periods of significant instability, marked by violence and civil war, over the last seventeen years. Clashes between the ethnic majority, the Berbers, a highly religious group, and other Numidian ethnic minorities, have resulted in frequent refugee arrivals into Parthia.
Two months ago, a fragile peace broke down as members of the military joined forces with Berber armed groups to enact a coup and overthrow the democratically elected government. The fighting that has ensued throughout Numidia has caused thousands of Numidians to flee to Parthia seeking refuge.
Two months ago, Numidian refugees began to arrive in the South West Province of Parthia. These numbers increased at an alarming rate – with (on average) 3,000 individuals arriving daily. Most refugees initially entered through the two official border entry points (Aria and Darius). However, in recent weeks, many are crossing north of these entry points, and settling in or near Antioch.
In the early days of the emergency, some refugees were settling in host communities and informal settlements along the border; others moved further inland, and some were able to reach urban areas in the South East Province (see map in Registration Factsheet for current locations).
Refugees arriving in Parthia have significant needs. Those who have been forced to take circuitous routes into the country to avoid armed groups, and who have travelled great distances without sufficient food or water, are arriving dehydrated and malnourished. Many are suffering from acute exhaustion. Many refugees are arriving in Parthia without personal belongings, including clothing, mattresses, and household items. While all have experienced major challenges, many are showing signs of significant distress. Some are arriving with physical injuries and trauma resulting from the conflict. (For data on specific needs, see Registration Factsheet.)
Historically, the government of Parthia have welcomed Numidians seeking refuge in their country, providing assistance and supporting re-settlement, with UNHCR’s support. They imposed few restrictions on refugees once registered, allowing Numidian refugees to settle where they wished, and providing access to health and education services.
Likewise, Parthian citizens (for the most part) have welcomed refugees. There are cultural ties with Numidia and over the years, the participation of Numidian refugees in Parthian life has assisted in refugee acceptance amongst Parthian communities. Indeed, in 2018, UNHCR was in discussions with the government over its desire to create formal pathways to citizenship or local integration.
However, a rise in population since 2012, and a slower economy, has created some concerns within the community about Parthia’s ability to cope with such a large influx. In the last few years, there’s been a rise in tensions between refugee and host communities in some rural areas, particularly over unskilled labour, poor wages, and less employment opportunities. This has resulted in an increase in violent incidents involving and against refugees.
Last year, national elections brought in a new administration in Parthia who has been less accommodating of refugees than in previous years. Unhappy with the large numbers of refugees settling all over the two main provinces in Parthia, the new Prime Minister claimed it was putting too much pressure on host communities.
Within a few weeks, he publicly announced that all new refugee arrivals from Numidia would be accommodated in camps, provided for by the Ministry of the Interior, reversing a decade-long policy of not imposing accommodation restrictions on refugees. He argued this was necessary to reduce the economic burden and overcrowding on Parthia’s own citizens. Moreover, unhappy with some of the rights afforded to refugees under Parthian law (see section below), the new President has openly discussed reversing or revising aspects of the law granting certain rights to refugees, such as the right to work, and freedom of movement. Movement beyond the camps for refugees living there, has been increasingly restricted.
The Parthian government provided two sites (near Byzantium and Hatra) for 60,000 individuals each, with a promise to provide more sites if needed. They ordered refugees settling in Byzantium and Hatra counties to be relocated to the two camps, in addition to those in/near the Transit Centres. It has limited refugees’ movements in and out of the camps and restricted refugees from accessing basic social services, education, health institutions outside the camps.
(For further information on the Parthian government see Partnerships, Stakeholders and Coordination.)
Parthia is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention or 1967 Protocol. It has its own national law to address refugee issues, enacted five years ago.
