S Y R I A

S Y R I A

Imprint
Published by
Mathias Vogl, Peter Webinger, Wolfgang Taucher I Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior
Herrengasse 7 I 1014 Vienna I Austria I www.bmi.gv.at I BMI-III-B@bmi.gv.at
Walter Feichtinger, Friedrich Teichmann, Wolfgang Wechselberger I Austrian Federal Ministry of Defence and Sports
Rossauer Laende 1 I 1090 Vienna I Austria I www.bundesheer.at I lvak.ifk@bmlvs.gv.at I img@bmlvs.gv.at
Editors
Alexander Schahbasi, Thomas Schrott, Sebastian Bauer I Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior
Elvis Culjak, Walter Posch, Jasmina Rupp I Austrian Federal Ministry of Defence and Sports
Martijn Pluim, Albert Kraler, Daria Huss I International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD)
Cartography
Andreas Stummvoll I Austrian Federal Ministry of Defence and Sports
Layout
Martin Angel I Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior
Cover
Design: Martin Angel I Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior
Map: Made with Natural Earth. Free vector and raster map data @ naturalearthdata.com
Disclaimer
The content of this publication was researched and edited with utmost care. Liability for the correctness,
completeness and up-to-dateness of contents cannot be incurred. The Austrian Federal Ministry of the
Interior, the Austrian Federal Ministry of Defence and Sports, the editors and individuals involved in the
publication do not assume any liability for possible damages or consequences arising from the usage,
application or dissemination of the contents offered. The responsibility for the correctness of information
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editors of this volume.
The contents of this publication do not represent positions of the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior,
the Austrian Federal Ministry of Defence and Sports or the editors. The boundaries on the maps used in this
publication do not imply official endorsement of acceptance. The publication does not claim completeness
and is based on the quoted sources.
Copyright
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to the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Defence and Sports.
Reproduction and distribution in any possible way for commercial and non-commercial usage are
prohibited without prior written permission by the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior and the Austrian
Federal Ministry of Defence and Sports.
2015 Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior & Austrian Federal Ministry of Defence and Sports

Contents

Forewords............................................................................................................................................... 5-6
Middle East: Topography...........................................................................................................................7
Syria: Topography and administrative divisions.........................................................................................8
Syria: Physiography..................................................................................................................................9
Damascus: Satellite image map................................................................................................................10
Syria: Control of territory January 2014.....................................................................................................11
Syria: Control of territory January 2015.....................................................................................................12
Syria: Major clashes January 2014 - January 2015..................................................................................13
Syria: Religious and sectarian groups March 2011...................................................................................14
Syria: Ethnic and linguistic groups March 2011.........................................................................................15
Kurds in the Middle East ..........................................................................................................................16
Camps for Syrian refugees 2015...............................................................................................................17
Syrian citizens and Syrian-born population 2014......................................................................................18
Asylum applications of Syrian citizens 2014.............................................................................................19
Syrian refugees, asylum seekers and IDPs 2014/15................................................................................20

Foreword

The civil war in Syria is certainly one of the gravest humanitarian crises of

our times. Having a severe regional impact, refugees fleeing from war

and persecution are also applying for asylum in Europe. Austria has

responded to this with a resettlement initiative in cooperation with UNHCR

to grant asylum to the most vulnerable victims of war. On the EU level we

are working on the Save Lives initiative with our European partners,

aiming to protect those attempting to enter the EU via the Mediterranean

Sea or the Western Balkans at the mercy of traffickers.

While the Country of Origin Information Unit of the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum is monitoring
the humanitarian situation in Syria closely, cooperation with the Austrian Ministry of Defence and the
International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) made it possible to enhance the analytical
framework and visualize the according data in this ATLAS.
The publication is a further step towards understanding Syria, particularly regarding the ethno-linguistic
and religious composition of the population predating the beginning of the unrest, the security situation
as well as refugee flows. Considering the situation in the region and the ongoing flows of refugees, an
in-depth analysis of the situation on the ground is paramount to maintain the high quality standards of our
asylum procedures and an informed policy debate.

Johanna Mikl-Leitner
Austrian Federal Minister of the Interior

Foreword

Mass migration and waves of refugees are currently one of the biggest

challenges for security in Europe. From top level international news

agency reports to everyday discussions in the coffee houses of Vienna,

the difficulties of refugees, especially those of Syria, have dominated all

other topics.

Who are these people? Why are they fleeing? What is their background?

Their ethnicities? Religion? Language? Not all of these questions can

be answered. This atlas, which is a comprehensive product including 14 separate theme maps based
on excellent interdepartmental cooperation, covers these topics. The explicitly selected combination of
subject maps helps us to better understand the circumstances of the Syria crisis, the outcome of which
greatly will influence our everyday lives in terms of economy, politics and security.
Knowledge is Power is supposedly a quote by Francis Bacon (1561-1626). This quote still holds true,
because for every mission or operation conducted a clear understanding of the overall situation in the area
is necessary. Geo-related information, such as this Atlas, is at the core of every decision-making process at
both the strategic and the interdisciplinary levels. If we want to succeed in providing security in Europe and
Austria in particular, we need to comprehend all essential aspects and apply a comprehensive approach.
This Atlas in combination with other supporting products provides the crucial background information about
Syria for the decision makers. As a result the best possible decisions can be made.
In this way, the Atlas is an excellent resource and prime example for interdepartmental cooperation of
highly competent offices pertaining to the Ministry of the Interior with two innovative institutes within my
Ministry, the Institute for Peace Support and Conflict Management (IFK) of the National Defence Academy
(LVAk) and the Institute for Military Geography (IMG) of the HQ, Command and Support Centre (FUZ).

Gerald Klug
Austrian Federal Ministry of Defence and Sport

Sofia

Middle East: Topography

Nal chik

Varna

Plovdiv

BUL

30 E

35 E

Sea of Marmara

Izmit

Adapazar

ARMENIA

Bursa

40 N

K z

Bornova

Izmir

lr

ma

TURKEY

Sivas

Kayseri

Adana

GREECE

Hama

NICOSIA

35 N

BANK

Alexandria

Port Said
Tanta

Giza CAIRO
Shubra El-Kheima

GAZA

ISR AEL

Ismailia

Karaj

DAMASCUS

Irbid
Zarqa

Borujerd

Arak

BAGHDAD
Karbala

Isfahan

Hillah

Dezful
Yazd

Al Diwaniyah
Amarah

Ahvaz

Nasiriyah

JORDAN

Basra

30 N

aba

Shiraz

KUWAIT

KUWAIT

of Aq

fS

N ile

fo
ue

Tabuk

Re d Sea

35 N

Kermanshah

Jahra
Gul

30 E

Qom

Khorramabad

Najaf

AMMAN

Rey

Hamadan

Ramadi

IR AQ

TEHRAN

IR AN

Sanandaj

Kirkuk

Suez

Faiyum

EGYPT

JERUSALEM
Gaza

Gulf

30 N

Mansoura

Zagazig

te

Haifa
Tel Aviv WEST

Qazvin

Sulaymaniyah
ra

Sari

Erbil

Al Muqdadiyah

LEBANON

Mediterranean Sea

SYRIA

ph

Gorgan

Zanjan

is

BEIRUT

Rasht

Tig

Homs

CYPRUS

Caspian Sea
Ardabil

Urmia

Ar-Raqqah
Eu

40 N

BAKU

as

Tabriz

Mosul

TKM

Sumqayit

A ZERBAIJAN

anlurfa

Aleppo

Latakia

Van

Batman

Diyarbakr

Gaziantep

Mersin

Van

Malatya

Kahramanmaras
Antalya

Ganja

Ar

Elazig

KAZ

50 E

NAGORNOKARABAKH

Erzurum

Konya

Denizli

Ku r a

YEREVAN

ANKARA

Eskiehir

Athens
Athina

TBILISI

GEORGIA

Samsun

Istanbul

RUSSIA

SOUTH OSSETIA 45 E

40 E

Black Sea

Thessaloniki

Makhachkala

Vladikavkaz
Ordzhonikidze

35 E

SAUDI AR ABIA
40 E

Hail

Pe r s i an G u l f
0

45 E

Asyut
Source: Collins World Explorer Premium, Natural
Earth
Buraydah

100

200

300

400

500 km

50 E

Ad Dammam

Al Hufuf

Ad
Dawhah
Doha

Syria: Topography and administrative divisions

AtatrkTalsperre

Kozan

34 E

yh
Ce

an

36 E
Kadirli

Ceyhan

Tarsus

38 E

Osmaniye

Adana

36 N

Kzltepe

Tig

Al-Qamishli

Ayn al-Arab (Kobane)

Zakho
r is

Dahuk

ra

Deir ez-Zor

ph
te
s

O rontes

e
S
M e
d i
t e
r r
a n
e a
n

Al-Mayadin

SYRIA

Abu Kamal

Homs

Lake Qadisiyah

Haditha-Dam

An-Nabk

34 N

Zahl

IR AQ

Douma

DAMASCUS
Mt. Hermon
Damascus
2814
Rif Dimashq

UNDOF
UNIFIL Al-Quneitra
Golan Al-Quneitra

Nazareth

Deraa
Deraa

Jordan

WEST
BANK

Ash Sharqat

Deir ez-Zor

Palmyra
(Tadmur)

Baalbek

Sea of
Galilee Heights

Nablus

36 N

Ar-Raqqah

Homs

LEBANON

Tulkarm

Mosul

Ar-Raqqah

Hama

Tripoli

ISR AEL

Tal Afar

Eu

Tyre

Aleppo

Salamiyah

Tartus

Sidon

Tabqa-Dam

Khan Shaykhun

Tartus

BEIRUT

Al-Hasakah

bu r

Al-Hasakah
Sabkhat
al-Jabbul

Hama

Famagusta

Al-Bab

Idlib Maarrat al-Numaan

Latakia

Latakia

CYPRUS

K ha

As-Safira

Idlib

Tel Aviv

42 E
Cizre

Mardin

Manbij

Aleppo

Antakya

Netanya

40 E
Viranehir

Kilis

Silifke

Hadera

Nizip

Kirikhan

Iskenderun

Haifa

anlurfa

Gaziantep

TURKEY

Mersin

34 N

AtatrkStausee

Ar Rutbah

As-Suwayda
As-Suwayda

Irbid
36 E

Amman
Zarqua

Source: Collins World Explorer Premium, Shuttle Radar Topography Mission

JORDAN

38 E

40 E

50

100

150

200 km

42 E

SAU

Syria: Physiography
s .
M t
s
r u

36 E
Kadirli
n
ha
ey

Adana

Mersin

O rontes

e
S
M e
d i
t e
r r
a n
e a
n

.
ts
M
n

WEST
Nablus BANK

no

ba

Le

Golan
Jordan

Tulkarm

Le

Ja

m
al

d
ri

lt

Ash Sharqat

Al-Mayadin

Abu Kamal

Lake Qadisiyah

Haditha-Dam

34 N

IR AQ

Ar Rutbah

Al-Quneitra

Irbid

Deir ez-Zor z a
i r

DAMASCUS

Hauran

Douma

Mt. Hermon
2814

Nazareth

ISR AEL

i-

a
al

R
r-

Sea of
Galilee

nt

ba

An-Nabk

a
uw

ta

36 N

te

Tel Aviv

Palmyra
(Tadmur)

in

l B

Mosul

ra

Hadera

mayn
l Abu Ruj

a
ab

i
ishr

r M t s . Tal Afar

ph

Tyre

Zahl

n
no

Dahuk

Eu

LEBANON

Sidon

Netanya

Jaba

s.
Mt

SYRIA

Salamiyah

Homs

Baalbek

Khan Shaykhun

Tripoli

BEIRUT

Haifa

Tabqa-Dam

Hama

Sinja

Ar-Raqqah

Sabkhat
al-Jabbul

ey

34 N

Tartus

Zakho
r is

Al-Hasakah

bu r

Jabal
Abd al-Aziz

Famagusta

Al-Bab

Maarrat al-Numaan

l
Ghab val

e
Coastal Mt. Rang

CYPRUS

K ha

As-Safira

Idlib

Latakia

Ayn al-Arab (Kobane)

Manbij

Aleppo

Antakya

36 N

Tig

Al-Qamishli

Kilis

Kirikhan

Silifke

Iskenderun

42 E
Cizre

Mardin
Kzltepe

Harran

Nizip

Tu r A b d i n

40 E
Viranehir

anlurfa

Gaziantep

Osmaniye TURKEY

Ceyhan

A tAtatrka t r k S tStausee
a u s e e

38 E

u
a Tarsus

Kozan

t s
.

34 E

AtatrkTalsperre

As-Suwayda

Deraa
Jabal al-Druze

36 E

Amman
Zarqua

Source: NASA Blue Marble Next Generation, Shuttle Radar Topography Mission

JORDAN

38 E

40 E

50

100

150

200 km

42 E

SAU

At Thawra

Damascus: Satellite image map

3618 N

DAMASCUS

an

o
Umayyad
Square

Shoukr y Al-Qouwatly
National Museum

University

Ab
bn

ahe d

bas

Al
or t
Mo
tor
wa
y

2000 m

3616 N

3618 N

Rawdat Al

Midan

Hafez Al Assad

1500

3330 N

irp

Al-Midan
Hafez Al Assad

1000

es

b
Ha

la
Ib

a ke

sA

Kafr Sousa

Al Mojt

ss
nA

scu

Sita Ay yar (6 th

Bab Tuma
Umayyad
Mosque

ma

May)

W
ali
Al

ama

Da

3614 N

500

di

ed

Airport
Hospital
Embassy

sS

ur

rA

e
Fa

so

17th April

ke

dI

Ba

Mezzeh

A l Man

Citadel

Al-HejazStation

ou

Prime Ministers
Complex

3330 N

n
Ma

Fa
r

wra

zM

hr

e
Fa

u
so

Na

Ab

dM

ale

s an
Nisril)
a
ba p
Sa (7th A

al

B a ghda

i
hd h
M a r a ke
l
A Ba
Ibn

n Al Wali

Beirut

rL

Khaled Ib

he

sera

Presidential Palace

wa

Abbasiyyin
Stadium

A n Na

Ja
Tishreen Palace

At T h a

Ibn Al Ab

aba

Al-Qabun

alki

en J

n Al M

az B

Adna

M oa

T is

Kh

Muhajreen

Unknown Soldier Monument

ou

6t

3332 N

Bus Terminal North

(Al-Qabun)

n
ree

ri

3616 N

3332 N

Berze

Al Mothana
Ibn Al Haretha

Rukn ad-Din

Qasyun

Dummar

Hafez Al

Assad

Al-Shaghour

Damascus
International
Airport

Source: OpenStreetMap

10

Syria: Control of territory January 2014

AtatrkTalsperre

Kozan

34 E

yh
Ce

an

36 E
Kadirli

Tarsus

38 E

Adana

Mersin

Nizip

40 E
Viranehir

42 E
Cizre

Mardin
Kzltepe

Kirikhan

Iskenderun

K ha

Manbij

bu r

36 N

O rontes

e
S

Ash Sharqat

Deir ez-Zor

Salamiyah

Al-Mayadin
ra

Homs

te
s

Palmyra (Tadmur)

Tripoli

Baalbek

Lake Qadisiyah
Rebels
Free Syrian Army and other rebel groups
Islamic Front
Haditha-Dam
Moderate rebel controlled countryside
34 N
Mixed rebel controlled countryside
Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS)
Jabhat al-Nusra
Jihadi controlled countryside
Government and pro-government forces
Syrian Arab Army/Pro-government forces
Hezbollah
Government controlled countryside
Hezbollah controlled countryside
Kurds
Peoples Protection Units (YPG)
Kurdish controlled countryside

Abu Kamal

An-Nabk

Zahl

LEBANON

Tyre

IR AQ

Eu

Tartus

SYRIA

ph

M e
d i
t e
r r
a n
e a
n

Ar-Raqqah

Khan Shaykhun

Hama

BEIRUT

Douma

Mt. Hermon
2814

DAMASCUS

UNDOF

UNIFIL

Golan

Tel Aviv

Tabqa-Dam

Maarrat al-Numaan

Famagusta

Sidon

Al-Quneitra

Ar Rutbah

Sea of
Galilee Heights

Tulkarm

Nablus

WEST
BANK

Jordan

Nazareth

ISR AEL

Mosul
36 N

Sabkhat
al-Jabbul

Idlib

Latakia

Tal Afar

As-Safira

CYPRUS

Hadera

Dahuk

Al-Hasakah

Aleppo

Antakya

Netanya

Zakho
r is

Ayn al-Arab (Kobane)

Al-Bab

Haifa

Tig

Al-Qamishli

Kilis

Silifke

34 N

anlurfa

Gaziantep

Osmaniye TURKEY

Ceyhan

AtatrkStausee

Deraa
Irbid
36 E

Amman
Zarqua

As-Suwayda

Occupied territory

JORDAN

38 E

40 E

50

100

150

200 km

42 E

SAU

Source: ISW - Institute for the study of war, SOHR - Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, CENTCOM - US Central Command, Agathocle de Syracuse - Understanding modern conflicts, Pietervanostaeyen - Musings on Arabism, Islamicism, History and current affairs
Moderate Rebels: Rebels who have been identified as moderate by the U.S.-led coalition and are being supported by the coalition through ongoing airstrikes against ISIS in Syria (e.g.: FSA, Syria Revolutionaries Front).
Mixed Rebels: Rebels who are being perceived as moderate but are also working alongside hardline groups (e.g. Jabhat al-Nusra). In some cases they coexist without interacting and in other cases they clash.

11

Syria: Control of territory January 2015

AtatrkTalsperre

Kozan

34 E

yh
Ce

an

36 E
Kadirli

Tarsus

38 E

Adana

Mersin

Nizip

40 E
Viranehir

42 E
Cizre

Mardin
Kzltepe

Kirikhan

Iskenderun

K ha

Manbij

bu r

36 N

O rontes

e
S

IR AQ
Ash Sharqat

Deir ez-Zor

Salamiyah

Al-Mayadin
Eu

Tartus

SYRIA

ph

Homs

ra
s

Palmyra (Tadmur)

Tripoli

Abu Kamal

Baalbek
An-Nabk

Zahl

LEBANON

Tyre

Rebels
Free Syrian Army and other rebel groups
Islamic Front
Rebel controlled countryside
Lake Qadisiyah
Mixed rebel controlledHaditha-Dam
countryside (low/high)
Jihadist rebels
34 N
Islamic State (IS)
Jabhat al-Nusra
IS support zone/IS controlled territory
Government and pro-government forces
Syrian Arab Army/Pro-government forces
Hezbollah
Government controlled countryside (low/high)
Hezbollah controlled countryside
Kurds
Peoples Protection Units (YPG)
Peshmerga (Iraqi Kurdish Militia)
Kurdish controlled countryside

te

M e
d i
t e
r r
a n
e a
n

Ar-Raqqah

Khan Shaykhun

Hama

BEIRUT

Douma

Mt. Hermon
2814

DAMASCUS

UNDOF

UNIFIL

Golan

Tel Aviv

Tabqa-Dam

Maarrat al-Numaan

Famagusta

Sidon

Al-Quneitra

Ar Rutbah

Sea of
Galilee Heights

Tulkarm

Nablus

WEST
BANK

Jordan

Nazareth

ISR AEL

Mosul
36 N

Sabkhat
al-Jabbul

Idlib

Latakia

Tal Afar

As-Safira

CYPRUS

Hadera

Dahuk

Al-Hasakah

Aleppo

Antakya

Netanya

Zakho
r is

Ayn al-Arab (Kobane)

Al-Bab

Haifa

Tig

Al-Qamishli

Kilis

Silifke

34 N

anlurfa

Gaziantep

Osmaniye TURKEY

Ceyhan

AtatrkStausee

Deraa
Irbid
36 E

Amman
Zarqua

As-Suwayda

Occupied territory

JORDAN

38 E

40 E

50

100

150

200 km

42 E

SAU

Source: ISW - Institute for the study of war, SOHR - Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, CENTCOM - US Central Command, Agathocle de Syracuse - Understanding modern conflicts, Pietervanostaeyen - Musings on Arabism, Islamicism, History and current affairs
Moderate Rebels: Rebels who have been identified as moderate by the U.S.-led coalition and are being supported by the coalition through ongoing airstrikes against ISIS in Syria (e.g.: FSA, Syria Revolutionaries Front).
Mixed Rebels: Rebels who are being perceived as moderate but are also working alongside hardline groups (e.g. Jabhat al-Nusra). In some cases they coexist without interacting and in other cases they clash.
Low/high refers to the level of territorial control.

12

Syria: Major clashes January 2014 - January 2015

AtatrkTalsperre

Kozan

34 E

36 E
Kadirli

Adana

Mersin

anlurfa

Gaziantep

Osmaniye TURKEY

Ceyhan

Tarsus

38 E

Nizip

40 E
Viranehir

42 E
Cizre

Mardin

Zakho

Kzltepe

Al-Qamishli

Ayn al-Arab (Kobane)

Dahuk

Kilis
Kirikhan

Iskenderun

Silifke

Aleppo

Antakya

36 N

Manbij

Al-Hasakah

Al-Bab

Tal Afar

Mosul

As-Safira

Idlib

Tabqa-Dam

36 N

Ar-Raqqah

Maarrat al-Numaan
Khan Shaykhun

Latakia

CYPRUS

Hama

Famagusta

Salamiyah

Tartus

Tyre
UNIFIL

Haifa

Hadera
Netanya

Tel Aviv

Abu Kamal

Haditha-Dam

34 N

An-Nabk

Zahl

LEBANON

Sidon

Douma

Mt. Hermon
2814

DAMASCUS

UNDOF

Ar Rutbah

Golan Al-Quneitra
Heights

Nazareth

ISR AEL
Tulkarm

WEST
Nablus BANK

IR AQ

Al-Mayadin

Palmyra
(Tadmur)

Baalbek

BEIRUT

SYRIA

Homs

Tripoli

34 N

Ash Sharqat

Deir ez-Zor

Deraa
Irbid
36 E

Amman
Zarqua

As-Suwayda

Major clashes during the period from

January 2014 to January 2015

JORDAN

38 E

40 E

50

100

150

200 km

42 E

SAU

Source: ISW - Institute for the study of war, SOHR - Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, CENTCOM - US Central Command
Major clash: Every military/violent confrontation between armed actors (including airstrikes, artillery fire, bombings, suicide vests, Suicide Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices [SVBIED] and Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices [VBIED]).

13

Syria: Religious and sectarian groups March 2011

AtatrkTalsperre

Kozan

34 E

yh
Ce

an

36 E
Kadirli

Tarsus

38 E

Adana

Mersin

Nizip

40 E
Viranehir

Kirikhan

Iskenderun

Kzltepe

36 N

Ayn al-Arab (Kobane)

O rontes

Salamiyah

Tartus

36 N

Ar-Raqqah

Ash Sharqat

Deir ez-Zor

SYRIA

Al-Mayadin
ph
ra
te
s

Abu Kamal

Baalbek

Lake Qadisiyah

Haditha-Dam

An-Nabk

34 N

Zahl

IR AQ

Douma

DAMASCUS

Mt. Hermon
2814
UNDOF

UNIFIL

Sunni Muslims
Alawites
Christians
Druzes
Ismailis

Ar Rutbah

Golan Al-Quneitra

Sea of
Galilee Heights

Nazareth

Tulkarm

WEST
Nablus BANK

Deraa
Jordan

ISR AEL

Mosul

Palmyra
(Tadmur)

LEBANON

Tyre

Tabqa-Dam

Homs

Tripoli

Sidon

Al-Hasakah

bu r

Tal Afar

Khan Shaykhun

Hama

BEIRUT

Tel Aviv

Dahuk

Maarrat al-Numaan

Famagusta

Hadera

Zakho
r is

Eu

M e
d i
t e
r r
a n
e a
n

CYPRUS

Al-Bab

Sabkhat
al-Jabbul

e
S

Latakia

K ha

As-Safira

Idlib

Netanya

Tig

Al-Qamishli

Manbij

Aleppo

Antakya

Haifa

42 E
Cizre

Mardin

Kilis

Silifke

34 N

anlurfa

Gaziantep

Osmaniye TURKEY

Ceyhan

AtatrkStausee

Irbid
36 E

Amman
Zarqua

As-Suwayda

JORDAN

38 E

40 E

50

100

150

200 km

42 E

SAU

Source: www.ecoi.net/atlas_syria_sources.pdf
This map shows only the main areas of settlement of religious and sectarian groups. The Syrian population is very heterogeneous in terms of religious and sectarian affiliation, especially in urban centers.

14

Syria: Ethnic and linguistic groups March 2011

AtatrkTalsperre

Kozan

34 E

yh
Ce

an

36 E
Kadirli

Tarsus

38 E

Adana

Mersin
Kirikhan

Iskenderun

36 N

Zakho
r is

Dahuk

O rontes

Tartus

Tabqa-Dam

36 N

SYRIA

Al-Mayadin
ph
ra
te
s

Abu Kamal

Baalbek

Haditha-Dam

An-Nabk

34 N

IR AQ

Douma

DAMASCUS

Mt. Hermon
2814
UNDOF

Nazareth
Jordan

Deraa
Irbid
36 E

Amman
Zarqua

Syrian Arabs (Arabic speaking)

Kurds (Kurdish dialects)
Armenians, Assyrians, Arameans and other
Christians (native languages other than Arabic)
Turkmens (Turkmen speaking)
Circassians (Circassian speaking)

Ar Rutbah

Golan Al-Quneitra
Sea of
Heights
Galilee

WEST
Nablus BANK

Lake Qadisiyah

Zahl

UNIFIL

Tulkarm

Ash Sharqat

Deir ez-Zor

Palmyra
(Tadmur)

LEBANON

ISR AEL

Mosul

Ar-Raqqah

Homs

Tripoli

Tyre

Tal Afar

Khan Shaykhun

Salamiyah

Sidon

Al-Hasakah

bu r

Eu

M e
d i
t e
r r
a n
e a
n

Al-Bab

Hama

BEIRUT

K ha

Maarrat al-Numaan

Famagusta

Tel Aviv

Tig

Al-Qamishli

Ayn al-Arab (Kobane)

Sabkhat
al-Jabbul

e
S

Latakia

CYPRUS

Hadera

Kzltepe

As-Safira

Idlib

Netanya

42 E
Cizre

Mardin

Manbij

Aleppo

Antakya

Haifa

Nizip

40 E
Viranehir

Kilis

Silifke

34 N

anlurfa

Gaziantep

Osmaniye TURKEY

Ceyhan

AtatrkStausee

As-Suwayda

JORDAN

38 E

40 E

50

100

150

200 km

42 E

SAU

Source: www.ecoi.net/atlas_syria_sources.pdf
This map shows only the main areas of settlement of ethnic and linguistic groups. The Syrian population is very heterogeneous in terms of ethnic and linguistic affiliation, especially in urban centers.

15

Sofia

Kurds in the Middle East

Nal chik

Varna

Plovdiv

BUL

30 E

35 E

Sea of Marmara

Izmit

Adapazar

ARMENIA

Bursa

40 N

Izmir

Sivas

K z

TURKEY

Denizli

lr

ma

Malatya

Konya

Adana

GREECE

BANK

Alexandria

Port Said
Tanta

Mansoura

Giza CAIRO
Shubra El-Kheima

GAZA

ISR AEL

Ismailia

DAMASCUS

Irbid
Zarqa

35 N

Kermanshah
Borujerd

Arak

BAGHDAD
Karbala

Isfahan

Hillah

Dezful
Yazd

Al Diwaniyah
Amarah

Ahvaz

Nasiriyah

JORDAN

Basra

30 N

aba

Shiraz

KUWAIT

KUWAIT

of Aq

fo

fS
ue

Tabuk

Re d Sea

Qom

Khorramabad

Najaf

AMMAN

Rey

Hamadan

Ramadi

IR AQ

TEHRAN

IR AN

Sanandaj

Kirkuk

Jahra
Gul

30 E

Karaj

Suez

Faiyum

EGYPT

JERUSALEM
Gaza

Gulf

30 N

Zagazig

te

Haifa
Tel Aviv WEST

Qazvin

Sulaymaniyah
ra

Sari

Erbil

Al Muqdadiyah

LEBANON

Mediterranean Sea

SYRIA

ph

Gorgan

Zanjan

is

BEIRUT

Rasht

Tig

Homs

CYPRUS

Ardabil

Urmia

Ar-Raqqah

Hama

NICOSIA

35 N

Caspian Sea

Tabriz

Mosul
Eu

40 N

BAKU

as

anlurfa

Aleppo

Latakia

Van

Batman

Diyarbakr

Gaziantep

Mersin

Van

TKM

Sumqayit

A ZERBAIJAN

Ar

Elazig

Kayseri

Antalya

Ganja

KAZ

50 E

NAGORNOKARABAKH

Erzurum

Kahramanmaras

N ile

Athens
Athina

Ku r a

YEREVAN

ANKARA

Eskiehir

Bornova

TBILISI

GEORGIA

Samsun

Istanbul

RUSSIA

SOUTH OSSETIA 45 E

40 E

Black Sea

Thessaloniki

Makhachkala

Vladikavkaz
Ordzhonikidze

35 E

Source: Tbinger Atlas des Vorderen Orients Asyut

(1990), www.ecoi.net/atlas_syria_sources.pdf
This map shows only the main areas of settlement of Kurds in the Middle East.

Pe r s i an G u l f

SAUDI AR ABIA
40 E

Hail

45 E

Buraydah

100

200

300

Kurds
400

500 km

50 E

Ad Dammam

Al Hufuf

16

Ad
Dawhah
Doha

Sivas

Camps for Syrian refugees 2015

K z

lr

ma

36 E

38 E

38 N

42 E

Cevdetiye

Adana

Mersin

Gaziantep

Urmia

Merkez

Islahiye

Suru
Karkam

ncpinar

Harran
Akakale

Elbeyli Beiriye

Altinz

Yaylada

anlurfa

Midyat

Viranehir

IR AN

Domiz

Ceylanpinar

Darashakran Basirma
Gawilan
Kawergosk
Mosul
Qushtapa Erbil

Aleppo

Apaydin
36 N

Nizip

Arda

38 N

Batman

Derik
Saram

as

Tabriz

Malatya

Merkez

Ar

46 E

Van

Diyarbakr
Kahramanmaras

44 E
Van

Beyda

TURKEY

40 E

Elazig

Kayseri

36 N

Ar-Raqqah
Sulaymaniyah

Sea

Konya

Erzurum

34 E

Hama
Homs

an

err
dit

GAZA

te

Sanandaj

Kermanshah
34 N

Al Muqdadiyah

BEIRUT
DAMASCUS

Irbid

Cyber City

WEST Zarqa
BANK

ISR AEL JERUSALEM

Gaza
34 E

Arbat

Kirkuk

LEBANON

Me
32 N

ra

Al-Obaidi

Haifa

Tel Aviv

SYRIA

ph

is

34 N

Eu

Tig

CYPRUS

Latakia

ean

COSIA

aid

NAGORNOKARABAKH

ANKARA

IR AQ

King Abdullah Park

Zaatari
Marjeeb al-Fahood
Al-Azraq
AMMAN
36 E

Khorramabad
Ramadi

BAGHDAD

Karbala

JORDAN

Camp population
> 50 000
30 001 - 50 000
10 001 - 30 000
5 001 - 10 000
< 5 000

Hillah

30 N

Najaf
Al Diwaniyah

38 E

Borujerd

SAUDI AR ABIA

40 E

50

100

Amarah
150

200

250 km

42 E

Nasiriyah
Source: Refugee camps in Iraq and Jordan: http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/regional.php (latest updates: Iraq: 31 March 2015, Jordan: 08 April 2015). King Abdullah Park Refugee Camp and Cyber City Refugee Camp in Jordan (temporary refugee camps): Camp
population is based on estimates of aid workers in April 2015. Refugee camps in Turkey: https://www.afad.gov.tr/TR/IcerikDetay1.aspx?ID=16&IcerikID=848 (latest update: 13 April 2015).
This map only depicts official camps for Syrian refugees and does not make reference to informal tent camps set up by refugees without shelter.

17

Basra

20 W

10 W

10 E

20 E

30 E

40 E

60

50 E

60 E

> 30 000

Finland
3 090

Norway

1 526

e
c

4 352

Ireland

7 000

Denmark

Sweden

41 748

5 812

Lithuania

11 000

Belarus

1 367

9 498

Ukraine

Czech Rep.

Slovakia

l
t

France

4 268

LIE

Switzerland

4 166

5 196

Austria

Croatia
MCO

AND

4 414

Portugal
3 201

Spain

5 957

400

600

800

Montenegro

1000 km

36 E

Algeria

Tunisia
10 E

Malta

Kosovo

Bulgaria
Turkey

Iraq

Syria
Lebanon
Cyprus

30

Iran

Macedonia
Albania

Armenia

Black Sea

Greece

Morocco
200

5 957

VAT

M
0

Italy

Romania

40

Azerbaijan

Georgia

2 435

Bosnia and Serbia

Herzegovina

SMR

ea

Moldova
3 588

Hungary

Slovenia

5 219

Belgium

Kazakhstan

Poland

52 510
No data
Germany
8 274

ia

Netherlands

LUX

40 N

3 001 - 6 000
1 000 - 3 000
No data available

Latvia

United Kingdom

4 760

6 001 - 9 000

50

Casp

5 0 N

Russia

Estonia
20 511

9 001 - 30 000

Syrian citizens

60

Syrian-born population

Syrian citizens and Syrian-born population 2014

20 E

30 E

Israel Jordan
West Bank

Saudi Arabia
40 E

Source: EUROSTAT (latest update: 17 April 2015), Statistics Austria, and the UK Office for National Statistics (data available only for 2013). Map includes EU 28 as well as Switzerland and Norway. No data was available for Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece,
Luxembourg, Malta, and Poland. In the cases of Germany, Ireland, and Portugal data was available on Syrian citizens but not on the Syrian-born population.
The map only includes the top 10 countries in the categories Syrien citizens and Syrian-born population.

18

Asylum applications of Syrian citizens 2014

60

20 W

10 W

10 E

20 E

30 E

40 E

150

60

50 E

60 E

> 10 000

Finland

2 085

5 001 - 10 000

Norway

30 750

Sweden

501 - 1 000
100 - 500

Latvia
Lithuania

Denmark

United Kingdom

8 790

115

Netherlands

t
n

Germany

Ukraine

110

Czech Rep.

Slovakia

7 730

2 845

France

3 820

LIE

Austria

Switzerland

Croatia
MCO

AND

505

Portugal

6 855

Romania

400

600

785

800

1000 km

36 E

Algeria

Tunisia
10 E

30

Turkey

Iraq

Syria

Greece

Morocco
200

Iran

Bulgaria

Spain

Armenia

Black Sea
6 245

Kosovo

40

Azerbaijan

Georgia

Macedonia
Albania

VAT

1 510

615

Bosnia and Serbia

Herzegovina
Montenegro

Italy

ea

Moldova

Hungary

Slovenia

Belgium

41 100

ia

2 705

Poland

SMR

Kazakhstan

Belarus

2 410

LUX

40 N

1 001 - 5 000

7 210

Ireland

Casp

5 0 N

Russia

Estonia

50

Lebanon
Cyprus

995

305 a

Malta

20 E

30 E

Israel Jordan
West Bank

Saudi Arabia
40 E

Source: EUROSTAT (latest update: 01 April 2015).

Data includes asylum and new asylum applicants by citizenship; only included if > 100

19

Sofia

Syrian refugees, asylum seekers and IDPs 2014/15

Nal chik

Varna

Plovdiv

BUL

30 E

35 E

Sea of Marmara

Izmit

Adapazar

ARMENIA

Bursa

40 N

Sivas

lrm
ak 092
1 758

Kayseri

Gaziantep
Mersin

SYRIA

ph

Mosul

ra

te

7 600 000

Mansoura

Giza CAIRO
Shubra El-Kheima

Najaf

Isfahan

Hillah

Dezful
Yazd

Al Diwaniyah
Amarah

628 427

Basra

EGYPT

30 N

Shiraz

KUWAIT
Pe r s i an G u l f

Jahra

133 862

of Aq

KUWAIT

fS
ue

Tabuk

Gulf

fo

N ile

Ahvaz

Nasiriyah

ISR AEL JORDAN

Re d Sea

Arak

BAGHDAD

Suez

Gul

30 E

Borujerd

aba

Faiyum

Ismailia

35 N

Khorramabad

247Karbala
861

AMMAN

Qom

Kermanshah

Ramadi

Irbid

Rey

Hamadan

Al Muqdadiyah

DAMASCUS

TEHRAN

IR AN

Sanandaj

is

30 N

Zagazig

JERUSALEM
Gaza

GAZA

Gorgan
Sari

Karaj

Erbil

Kirkuk

BANK

Tanta

Rasht

Sulaymaniyah

IR AQ

Haifa

Port Said

Ardabil

Urmia

Tig

LEBANON

1 196 560

Eu

Hama
Homs

Ar-Raqqah

Tel Aviv WESTZarqa

Alexandria

Caspian Sea

Tabriz

Qazvin

NICOSIA

Mediterranean Sea

as

anlurfa

Aleppo

BEIRUT

40 N

BAKU

Zanjan

Latakia

CYPRUS

TKM

Sumqayit

A ZERBAIJAN

Adana

GREECE
35 N

Van

Batman

Diyarbakr

Kahramanmaras
Antalya

Van

Malatya

Konya

Denizli

Ganja

Ar

Elazig

KAZ

50 E

NAGORNOKARABAKH

Erzurum

TURKEY
K z

Bornova

Ku r a

YEREVAN

ANKARA

Eskiehir

Izmir

TBILISI

GEORGIA

Samsun

Istanbul

RUSSIA

SOUTH OSSETIA 45 E

40 E

Black Sea

Thessaloniki

Athens
Athina

Makhachkala

Vladikavkaz
Ordzhonikidze

35 E

SAUDI AR ABIA
40 E

Hail

45 E

100

200

300

400

500 km

50 E

Asyut
Source: Syrian Population of UNHCR Concern:
http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/regional.php (latest updates: Egypt: 14 April 2015, Iraq: 31 March 2015, Jordan: 08 April 2015, Lebanon: 10 April 2015, Turkey: 10 April 2015).
Persons of Concern to UNHCR include refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, as well as returnees. Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs): http://www.internal-displacement.org/middle-east-and-north-africa/syria/ (latest update: December 2014).Ad
Buraydah

Al Hufuf

Dammam

20
Ad
Dawhah
Doha

www.bmi.gv.at
www.bundesheer.at
ISBN 978-3-9503643-4-7