RESPONDING TO THE SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS: UNITED STATES, JORDAN, AND EUROPE
Nels Romerdahl
University of Hawaii Maui College Destabilization of Syria
The advances in social media, have allowed for real-time coverage of protests from around the world. In late 2010, a series of revolutions began in the Middle East. This movement became quickly known as the Arab Spring. One of the main reasons behind uprisings was persecution of minorities, poverty, and autocratic rulers (Hamid, 2011).
As a result of the Arab Spring, some countries removed their government leaders, and new government systems were created. However, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad has refused to step down, and instead began to attack his own people. This has led to a civil war
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Someone might seek asylum because they have been forced to leave their country due to war or persecution. Once someone is granted asylum status, they are considered a refugee. Obtaining refugee status might vary from country to country, however, countries have a responsibility to take in refugees. How many refugees are taken in, and the qualifications for refugee status is often what causes much debate about this issue.
The United Nations was created after World War II, in order to promote international diplomacy and protect the rights of individuals. In 1948, the United Nations adopted The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Australian Human Rights Comission, n.d.). This declaration is essentially the international equivalent to the United States Bill of Rights. One of the earliest UN based conventions was the 1951 Refugee Convention (UNHCR, 2002). This convention resulted in a treaty that established certain rights for refugees. This treaty extended the rights of refugees beyond the scope of the Universal Declaration of Human
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The one of the largest of these agreements is the Schengen Area (U.S. Department of State, n.d.). The Schengen Area allows for free movement of its citizens within its borders. Currently 22 of the countries are members of the European Union (EU), and four are members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). The EFTA is a trade agreement made between the countries Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Essentially once a country allows you into their country, you can move freely within The Schengen
Developments in Society can be seen in many different ways depending on an individual’s worldview or perspective. This idea is evident through the Syrian Refugee Crisis and how it affects Canada. This crisis in Canada is changing every day, as the government creates decisions on how they will or will not aid the refugees. Canadians are saying that they may approve of this refugee resettlement plan laid out by the federal government, but only if it’s taken so far and so fast. The reporters of a Vancouver News Network, a Toronto Tabloid, and an America Daily Newspaper compare and contrast the ideas of a survey from the Angus Reid Institute, a non-profit organization that conducts surveys to analyze different trends in the economy. This survey
Syria's civil war has been the worst humanitarian crisis of our time. With more than 250,000 people who have died in this violent outbreak in Syria during 2011. During the course of the civil war at least 11 million people out of a 22 million populated country have fled their homes. Many families in Syria are struggling to make life for themselves, or even other neighboring countries. While others are risking their lives on the way to Europe, hoping to find acceptance and opportunity. And the onset of harsh winter weather makes life as a refugee even more difficult. At times, the effects of the conflict can seem overwhelming. Although one simple fact is true, these Syrian refugees need our help. And as a country that inserted a resettlement we should contribute more into helping these refugees. But the United states governors fear of terrorism could cost the extent of our aid to be limited.
On November 13, 2015, the terrorist attack that shook Paris, France, generated an abundance of negative responses from American politicians about how the Obama administration was handling plans with the incoming Syrian refugees. With the news that one of the attackers may have been Syrian, American politicians were quick to question the potential risk that members of ISIS may be disguising themselves amongst the thousands of Syrian refugees the Obama administration hoped would safely enter United States territory. But, instead of providing solutions to strengthen the United States’ screening procedures already set into place, fearful elected officials responded with an immediate proposal similar to that of President Roosevelt’s Executive Order
Syria is the clearest proof that the Arab Spring failed. The main reforms Syrian protesters desired was freedom from the Assad regime, allowance of political parties, equal rights for Kurds, and the freedom of speech press and authority. Not only did the protesting against Bashar Al-Assad fail, but it lead to an ongoing civil war that has
My reaction to the VICE video on Syrian Refugees was that it saddens me on how these innocent civilians have to flee their home countries and basically leave everything behind to find a new life somewhere safer. The video brings a lot of things into perspective, specifically the hardships of every pitstop in the journey to safety. It seems that even though refugees move to one country, they must move onto another one because they see that the conditions are not even habitable. For example, they migrated from Turkey, to Greece, Macedonia, and eventually Germany. Although these are locations that are far away from the violence of ISIS, it is a never-ending cycle of being disappointed by a lack of resources and facing discrimination from Islamophobics.
The Arab Spring was the match that lit the fire because it triggered a war and involvement of multiple groups of people. In March 2011, there was a peaceful protest in the city of Deraa because of the government's actions where they tortured a group of teenagers for painting revolutionary slogans on a school wall. As a result of the protest the protestors were shot at, multiple died and many were injured. The people wanted Assad to leave office and the use of force didn’t stop the protesters but rather it increased their belligerent views. Only a few months later there was hundreds of thousands of protesters. The government is run by a minority group called Allwhites. For example “Mr. Assad has strong support among the military and security services, but not the broader population, making violence more tempting (The New York Times).” As a result the
A person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.“There are more that 4 million refugees and 7.6 million people displaced inside of Syria “(Brian 4-6).”The fighting in Syria killed 500,000 people and destroyed shops and neighborhoods” (Lewis 4-8).Many children are out of school. The civilians are being killed by the Syrian government headed by the president Bashar-al-Assad. The power struggle in Syria is taking the lives of many adults and children who are very young. Refugees have a hard time in the new places, Living under ISIS, and people in syria have a hard time finding their daily needs.
What began as anti-government protests and demonstrations soon escalated into a full-scale civil war. Protests broke out following the arrest and torture of a group of teenagers for painting anti-govern graffiti on the wall of a school building. The nation was so outraged they took to the streets in protest, demanding the resignation of the president for allowing such an injustice to happen. The government’s violent responses to the citizens’ protests escalated into a full-scale civil war, leaving many Syrian citizens with no other option but to flee their homes (Adhikari,
America--a once a proud leader in world politics, now cowers in hesitancy and in indecision. We have been presented a gift, in the wake of the Syrian refugee crisis, to retake our place as The Superpower, and what do we do? We would rather listen to bigots spew nonsense, have a circus sideshow perform, and only take half measures to show we are ‘doing our part’. How about we take a stand, and look through the facade, and do something.
Middle Eastern citizens are in the midst of the horror of the Syrian Civil War. Families are caught in the middle of the Assad Regime (causing the most deaths), Government militias, Russian Airstrikes, ISIS, anti-ISIS, and armed opposition groups. These groups have broken families apart, left cities destroyed and over 80,000 people dead. As a result, over 4 million people continue to flee the area to attempt to enter safer countries as refugees.
This is the story of Dania, a ten year old Syrian refugee now living in Lebanon. She can still recall hours spent huddling in a hole in the ground that her father had dug for the family in times of artillery attack, as they crouched in the dirt covering their heads. She could hear the boom of cars exploding, as buildings and stores crumbled to the ground. Ever since the beginning of the Syrian Civil War three years ago, her life has not been the same. Her small school has been destroyed by explosions, and her uncle killed in a missile attack. By the summer of 2013 her family came face to face with the realities of war-- either die in Syria or risk everything by fleeing to Lebanon. To Dana’s family there was no choice, they had to flee. She has been living as a refugee in Lebanon ever since (Lewis).
I’m sure in the past few months and years if you have turned on the news this topic has been talked about in high regard and with deep concern. A country at war, civilians pried from their homes and forced into ridicule and danger while in a search for a better life. If you haven’t caught on by now I am speaking about the Syrian refugee crisis in Europe. To really understand what should happen and what is happening you must know all things that are beyond that. First you should know that this is all a result of the Syrian Civil War started by the refusal of the Assad regime to step down during the Peaceful Arab Spring demonstration. During this protest in Syria, protesters were fired upon, some were killed, and many were injured. After this act, Syrian civilians started opening fire against government militia, and having violent protests of the government. Intern from all this, rebels leave the Syrian army to form the free Syrian army. Kurds also defect from the Assad Regime and make it a three-way battle.
Whether or not the United States should be admitting more Syrian refugees into the country is a constant debate among people. Syrian refugee lives are just as important as American citizens lives and for this reason, the United States has a responsibility to help. The U.S. is one of the wealthiest countries in the world and can contribute by providing sizable financial, humanitarian, and medical aid for Syrian refugees. While Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt have been hosting Syrian refugees since the beginning of the Syrian Civil War in 2011, these neighboring countries shouldn’t have to face this issue alone. Many super power countries have offered no help for the refugees. To be more efficient in helping Syrian refugees, they should be resettled in the United States and other major wealthy superpower countries. Contrary to opposing beliefs, admitting more Syrian refugees does not increase terrorism. We need to come to an immediate agreement as human lives are in danger. Provided that the United States aids in welcoming Syrian refugees, perhaps other major superpowers, such as Japan, Russia, and Singapore will follow suit and offer help. Until a solution to the Syrian conflict is found, we as human beings are responsible for helping each other during a time of such turmoil.
The Arab Spring is the name given to the wave of movement of anti-government protests within the Middle East and Northern Africa. The message of the Arab Spring is by no means an old one: there has been a significant amount of protest and movements prior to the modern 2010 one. The modern Arab Spring sparked in December 2010 when a local Tunisian vendor lit himself on fire in protest of the bribes demanded by the corrupt police. This action sparked similar movements in surrounding countries. Protestors wanted to end the limited civil liberties, political repression, and high unemployment created by their authoritarian governments. The movement swept throughout the Middle East and Northern Africa. The Egyptian Revolution of 2011, the Libyan Revolt of 2011, and the Syrian Uprising of 2011 were the aftershocks of the Tunisian Jasmine Revolution. Thus, these movements were grouped into the Arab Spring – a new movement dedicated to reform. Prior to the Arab Spring and still in Syria Libya, Egypt, and Syria had authoritarian leaders who ruled with an iron fist. Brotherly Leader Muammar Gaddafi, President Hosni Mubarak, and President Bashar al-Assad all brutally repressed political demonstrations in their respective countries. This oppressive reaction, exemplifying the lack of civil rights, only served to escalate tensions within the afflicted countries. Prior to the Arab Spring all three leaders were in almost absolute control of their countries. Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak
Much of the modern political Arab world was born at the end of World War I, as outside powers divided up their shares of territories that were loyal to their regimes. For example, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon came to exist along side the precarious state of Palestine. By World War II, these states had begun to want independence, and the following decades would witness revolution, regime change, violence, and, ultimately, a break from the grips of the Ottoman Empire and European powers (Provence). Today, the so-called “Arab Spring” uprisings, ongoing now for several years, are in part as a result of mid-20th-century political rule and administration by outside powers.