A Crisis Within a Crisis: An Analysis of Donor Motivations toward Humanitarian Aid Allocations to Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan following the Influx of Syrian Refugees

Abstract

In today’s emerging multipolar political landscape, crises are expected to increase in frequency and complexity. Humanitarian needs have reached unprecedented levels, yet a critical funding deficit exists, creating a crisis within a crisis. This thesis investigates the guiding motivations behind donor aid allocations using a case study of the Syrian refugee crisis. An examination of aid distributions from the most prominent donors (USA, Germany, UK, Canada) to the central host countries of Syrian refugees (Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan) illustrates that donor political incentives outweigh host humanitarian needs. However, recipient governments need not be passive receivers in the aid allocation system. Based on the case study’s findings, policy recommendations geared towards empowering recipient governments on how to make strategic changes to attract humanitarian aid are formulated. This policy framework aims to grant host refugee governments greater autonomy in the aid allocation process.