Profiling information needs and behaviour of Syrian refugees displaced to Egypt. An exploratory study
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/ILS-08-2017-0088 |
| Published date | 12 March 2018 |
| Pages | 161-182 |
| Date | 12 March 2018 |
| Author | Essam Mansour |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library & information services |
Profiling information needs and
behaviour of Syrian refugees
displaced to Egypt
An exploratory study
Essam Mansour
Department of Library and Information Science (DLIS),
dSouth Valley University (SVU), Qena, Egypt
Abstract
Purpose –The purposeof this study is to identify the information needs and information-seekingbehaviour
of Syrian refugeesdisplaced to Egypt.
Design/methodology/approach –Qualitativedata in the form of three focus groups were collectedfrom
37 Syrian refugees who have displaced to Egypt and are concentrated mainly in Greater Cairo. In-depth
interviewswere conducted in September 2016.
Findings –Data collected about the demography of Syrian refugees revealed that they tend to be men,
slightly more than half,mostly with no formal education, with an average age in the mid-30’s, labelled as low-
income persons and mostly single. Findings also showed that much of the information needed by Syrian
refugees was described as realistic and real, but some was less clearly defined. All Syrian refugees’
information needsare strongly linked to their daily tasks. The majority of Syrian refugees reported that their
priority informationneed was to be aware of the situation in their home country, followedby issues related to
their states of the diaspora that they are passingthrough, such as services provided to their children, shelter
and aid in general,as well as rights and obligations related to their refugeestatus. They also showed that they
need informationto help get the right or any appropriate work in the host country (Egypt). The studyshowed
that many Syrian refugees were seekinginformation that meets their basic daily needs. It also showed that
the information-seeking behaviourprofile of a very large number of Syrian refugees was to prefer informal
sources to formal sources to meet everydayproblems, as well as troubles challenged by them. A very large
number of Syrian refugees revealedthat the verbal communication with friends and families were identified
as the most popular informal sources of information sought. The study revealed that most of the Syrian
refugees were able to use a variety of technologiesfor the purpose of communication with others, especially
mobile phones, being the most key communication devices followed by almost all of them. The use of
assisting technologiesand devices, such as the computer and the internet and its vast applications proved to
be meaningful by Syrian refugees. Other assisting technologies are also heavily used by Syrian refugees,
particularly social media,including social networking sites and many other mobile applications. In addition,
Syrian refugees have also relied on other technologies and toolsto meet their information needs, including
television and satellite channels, especially Arabic, which are widely distributed in the Arab environment.
Because of some difficultiesrelated to education and awareness, a number of Syrian refugees werenot using
any type of library.Syrian refugees have met several problems and challengesin accessing information. Such
problem may make it difficult to find basic services, make informed decisions and stay in communication
with families. Such problemshave also a significant impact on their seeking and using information.Finding
appropriate work to get money to secure housing,psychological burdens suffered concerning the image of
being refugees, emotional distress, lack of accessing some basic services such as education and
transportation, lack of financial resources, lack of time, lack of motivation and cultural and social barriers,
were significant to Syrianrefugees when seeking information. In spite of these challenges andproblems met
by Syrian refugees, a good number of them wishedto improve their image as refugees and to improve their
disastroussituation. Based on the review of the existing literature, as well as the findings of this study, further
research is needed to understand informationneeds and information dissemination among Syrian refugees
fled to Egypt and how they perceive,select, use, access and evaluate sources of information.Proper strategies
should be designed towards the use of traditional and commonly used informationdissemination channels
Profiling
information
161
Received26 August 2017
Revised12 October 2017
Accepted27 October 2017
Informationand Learning Science
Vol.119 No. 3/4, 2018
pp. 161-182
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2398-5348
DOI 10.1108/ILS-08-2017-0088
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/2398-5348.htm
among these refugees, such as culturalperformances and group discussions. Research is also needed on the
impact of illiteracy on the use of informationby this category of information users. Owing to the fragile role
played by different types of libraries in meeting the information needs of refugees, further research is
seriouslyneeded in this regard. In addition, appropriateservices should be provided to refugees.
Research limitations/implications –This study focusesonly on Syrian refugees displaced to Egypt.It
does not cover any other refugeesinside or outside Egypt, although they significantly exist in Egypt, such as
Palestinians, Sudanese,Iraqis, Yemenis, Africans and many other nationals. Any conclusionsresulting from
this studyare limited to only Syrian refugees hosted byEgypt.
Practical implications –This study tries to investigate the Syrian refugees’information needs and
behaviours in termsof their thoughts, motivations,attitudes, preferences and challenges met by them in their
search of information.It tries to look at the factors and characteristicsthat affect this search. Any results from
this study may generate interestand create awareness of the information needs of refugees among advocates
who are interestedin such groups of information users.
Originality/value –This study attempted to identify a significant gap in identifying the information
needs and information-seekingbehaviour of Syrian refugees displacedto Egypt. It is the first study of its type
to address, in a systematic way, this disadvantaged group resettled and hosted by Egypt. Syrian refugees
displaced to Egypt have become a matter of major concern that should be addressed and met by serious
academic researchers, as well as by official authorities. The literature on thetopic of this research revealed
that further research is still neededto be undertaken on such group of information users, as there is a very
limited research conducted on this topic in developing and Arab countries, including Egypt, particularly
among academiclibrary and information professionals.
Keywords Focus groups, Egypt, Information needs, Information-seeking behaviour,
Syrian refugees, The Syrian crisis
Paper type Research paper
Information is of great importance to refugees. Information could even be seen as a basic human
need. Understanding how refugees seek information, what their needs are and what practices they
have adopted and adapted, and potential barriers they face along the way is of importance (Ates,
2013, p. 17).
Introduction
As much as the need for air, water, food, medicine and shelter, there is a strong need for
information. According to Case (2008), information is critical to human beings in any
environment. People need information very much because of its great importance. None of
us can dispense with it in meeting his/her needs. Information is important to all people all
over the world, whatever their politics and conditions. People who are provided with
adequate information may solve their problems better. “People, whether literate or not,
should be allowed sufficient access to information to help them become better-informed
citizens”(Mansour, 2015, p. 644). Access to information is one of the most significant
elements of human rights,both in times of distress and prosperity. As indicated by Mansour
(2015), this right is guaranteed by most internationalcharters. The Universal Declaration of
Human Rights (UDHR), for example, was approved to discuss all human rights issues.
UDHR’s articles cover relevant aspects of human rights challenges confronted by
vulnerable, disadvantagedand displaced people, including refugees and asylum seekers. As
stated by Walter (2005), when vulnerable people are providedwith the right information at
the right time, they are heavily empowered.The information helps people to reach the right
decisions.
In a serious attempt to shed light on these refugees, some regional and international
organisations have adoptedassociated programmes and projects about the living conditions
of these refugees and asylum seekers. For example,the International Refugee Organisation;
ILS
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