Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • Le Rachel

    Uploaded by

    Rachel Adler
    44 views5 pages
    The Syrian civil war began in 2011 and has resulted in over 250,000 deaths and the displacement of 11 million Syrians. While neighboring countries like Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan have taken in millions of refugees, response from Western nations like the US has been inadequate due to fears that refugees will negatively impact economies or security. The document argues that the US and other countries have a moral duty to accept more refugees and that refugees can actually help grow economies if given proper support. It also outlines the poor conditions many refugees currently face with lack of basic needs, education, and human rights.

    Original Description:

    syria

    Original Title

    le rachel

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document
    The Syrian civil war began in 2011 and has resulted in over 250,000 deaths and the displacement of 11 million Syrians. While neighboring countries like Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan have taken in millions of refugees, response from Western nations like the US has been inadequate due to fears that refugees will negatively impact economies or security. The document argues that the US and other countries have a moral duty to accept more refugees and that refugees can actually help grow economies if given proper support. It also outlines the poor conditions many refugees currently face with lack of basic needs, education, and human rights.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    44 views5 pages

    Le Rachel

    Uploaded by

    Rachel Adler
    The Syrian civil war began in 2011 and has resulted in over 250,000 deaths and the displacement of 11 million Syrians. While neighboring countries like Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan have taken in millions of refugees, response from Western nations like the US has been inadequate due to fears that refugees will negatively impact economies or security. The document argues that the US and other countries have a moral duty to accept more refugees and that refugees can actually help grow economies if given proper support. It also outlines the poor conditions many refugees currently face with lack of basic needs, education, and human rights.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 5

    RachelAdler

    March11,2016
    MiddleEast113
    Dr.Sheradin

    TheCrisisinSyria

    Themostcurrent,dangeroushumanitariancrisisistheSyriancivilwar.Thiscrisishas
    crippledtheSyriangovernment,economy,otherinfrastructures,andmostimportantly,its
    people.TheissuehasresultedinthelargestrefugeecrisissinceWorldWarll.Thecrisisfirst
    firedupinMarchof2011,whenSyrianteenagerswerearrestedandtorturedforpainting
    revolutionaryslogansonaschoolwallinthecityofDeraa.Thisbroughtonprotestingby
    peacefuldemonstratorswhodislikedthegovernmentpoliciesputinbyBasharalAssad,
    presidentofSyria.Inresponsetothepeacefulprotests,securityforcesopenedfireandkilled
    severalofthedemonstrators.ThiscausedanunrestacrossthenationandbyJulyof2011,
    thousandsuponthousandsofSyrianstooktothestreetsanddemandedBasharalAssads
    resignation.Fastforwardto2016Syriaisinruins.Thecountryiswartorn.Warlordsandviolent
    organizationssuchasISIShavetakenadvantageofthefallingapartcountrybyseizingterritory
    toexpandtheircaliphate.Thecivilwarisviolentandcomplicated,withforcesloyaltoBashar
    alAssadfightingforhim,SyrianswhowantBasharalAssadtostepdownfightingagainstthe
    loyalforces,andjihadistmilitantsfightingforISIS.Theresultofthiswarhasbeendeathand
    loss.Morethan250,000Syrianshavediedduringthewarand11millionothershavebeenforced

    tofleeandhavebecomerefugeesordisplacedpersons.1 Syriaisadangerousplacetolivenow
    andwehaverefugeespouringoutofthecountry.ThisisnotacrisisconfinedtojustSyria.This
    crisisaffectsallpeoplesworldwide,andwehavetofigureouthowtohandlethisproperlyasan
    internationalcommunity.
    TheUnitedStatespolicytowardstheSyrianrefugeecrisisisembarrassing.TheU.S.has
    takenin0.0005%ofthetotaldisplacedSyrianrefugeeswhichtotalstobe2,290Syriansofthe
    4.2millionthathaveseekedasylumsincethewarstartedinMarchof2011.2Americanattitude
    towardsSyrianrefugeeshasdramaticallyworsenedsincetheParisterroristsattacks,withpolls
    findingthat11%ofAmericansonlywanttoacceptChristianSyriansand53%dontwantto
    acceptanySyrianrefugeesatall.3 ThirtyoneAmericangovernorsannouncedthatSyrian
    refugeesseekingasylumwouldnotbewelcomedintheirstates:whichtheyactuallyhavenosay
    inwhatsoeverbecauseoncearefugeeisadmittedintotheUnitedStatesbythefederal
    government,theymaychoosetosettlewherevertheyplease.4Thisharshandunwelcoming
    attitudewhichfeedsoffofstereotypesbypoliticiansandAmericanstowardsSyrianrefugees
    tryingtomaintaintheirhumanrightsisinshort:disgracefulandimmoral.
    Economically,theUnitedStatespolicytowardsSyriahasbeendestructiveandunhelpful
    inthepast.ThemajorityoftheU.S.policiesrevolvedaroundsanctionswhichhavebeenmajorly
    detrimentaltowardstheSyrianeconomy.Syrianpetroleumproductsandoilwhichoncemadeup
    90%oftheoiltheUnitedStatesboughtisnotbeingsoldtotheU.S.anymorebecauseofthe

    LucyRodgersetal.,"Syria:Thestoryoftheconflict,"BBC,lastmodifiedFebruary3,2016,accessedFebruary22,
    2016,http://www.bbc.com/news/worldmiddleeast26116868.
    2

    IanBremmer,"These5FactsExplainAmericasShamefulReactiontoSyrianRefugees,"TIME,lastmodified
    November30,2015,accessedMarch11,2016,
    http://time.com/4126371/these5factsexplainamericasshamefulreactiontosyrianrefugees/
    1

    3
    4

    Ibid.
    Ibid.

    sanctions.5ThesesanctionsareundertheSyriaAccountabilityActprohibitingandrestricting
    U.S.exportstoandfromSyriaanattempttoshownosupporttotheAssadregime,whichhas
    onlyledtothecollapseoftheSyrianeconomyandthesehardshipsfallonthetheciviliansrather
    thanthetarget,BasharalAssad.
    Diplomatically,theU.S.policyonSyriahasbeenhandledwell.Sincethestartofthe
    Syrianscivilwar,theUnitedStatesgovernmenthasrepeatedlyaskedBasharalAssadtostep
    downinthenameofpeace.Theyhavealsoattemptedtobrokermanyciviltalksandnegotiations
    aboutpeace,butnothinginthesetalkshasfallenthrough,beenagreedon,orworked.
    Syrianshumanrightshavebeenandcontinuetobeviolated.Articles3,5,8,14,20,21,
    26,28,29,and30oftheUnitedNationsDeclarationofHumanRightshavebeenviolatedduring
    theSyriancrisis.6ManyoftheSyrianrefugeesorinternallydisplacedpersonsarenotlivingalife
    ofgoodquality,anditisntfair,especiallywhenstablecountriesandgovernmentslikethe
    UnitedStateshavethecapabilitytotakeactioninordertoalleviatethesituation.
    NoonewantstotakeinSyrianrefugees.Mayitbethattheyreafraidofthemorthey
    dontwanttheireconomiestobeoverwhelmed,countriesworldwidejustarentlettingin
    refugeeswhodesperatelyneedasafeplacetolive.Turkey,Lebanon,Jordan,Iraq,andEgypt
    havetakeninthemajorityoftherefugees,withTurkeyspending$5.2billiondollarsonthecare,
    food,andshelterofthe2.2millionSyriansinthecountry.7Lebanonhastakenin1.1billion
    SyriansandJordanhasgrantedasylumto630,000refugees.8Allofthesecountriesactuallyhave

    "SyriaLatestnewsfromSyriaascoveredbytheGuardian.Newsandstoriesaboutthecountry,peopleand
    politics,"TheGuardian,accessedFebruary22,2016,http://www.theguardian.com/world/syria
    6

    "TheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRights,"TheUnitedNations,lastmodifiedDecember10,1948,accessed
    March11,2016,http://www.un.org/en/universaldeclarationhumanrights/
    7

    IanBremmer,"These5FactsExplainAmericasShamefulReactiontoSyrianRefugees,"TIME,lastmodified
    November30,2015,accessedMarch11,2016,
    http://time.com/4126371/these5factsexplainamericasshamefulreactiontosyrianrefugees/
    5

    Ibid.

    growthintheirGDPssincelettingtheSyriansin,butstillareunhappyabouthavingrefugeesin
    theircountriesandarelessthanfriendly.Refugeescanhelpcountriesgrow,andthefearthat
    theyllcrashaneconomyisirrational.Ifgiventhepropertreatment,tools,andnecessities,Syrian
    refugeeswillonlyhelpcountriesthatgrantthemasylum,andhopefullygrowtheireconomies.
    WeareviolatingSyrianshumanrightsifwedontgivethemasylum.TheUnitedStatesneedsto
    stepuptotheplateandallowourfellowhumanbeingstoliveasafelifewithgoodqualityby
    grantingmoreSyrianswhohadtofleefortheirsafety,asyluminourcountry.
    RefugeesanddisplacedpersonsoftheSyriancrisisfacepoorlivingconditions,whichthe
    UNistryingtoamend.Fouroutoffiveliveinpovertyoneoutofthreelivewithoutfulfilling
    basicdaytodayfoodnecessitiesseventypercentarewithoutcleandrinkingwatermorethan
    twomillionchildrendonothaveaccesstoaneducationoranysortofschoolingbecauseofthe
    conflict.9AccordingtotheUnitedNationschildrensagency,theSyrianconflicthasreversed
    tenyearsofprogressinSyrianchildren.10 Syrianchildrenandadultsaresubjectedtosomany
    violationsoftheirbasichumanrightsthattheydeservetohave,butdont.TheUnitedNations
    says$3.2billionisrequiredtohelp13.5millionSyriansinneed,whichismoneytheydont
    currentlyhave.11
    InSeptemberof2015,PresidentBarackObamaproposedabillthatwouldallowthe
    UnitedStatestoaccept10,000refugees,muchtothedismayofsomeAmericansandpoliticians.

    LucyRodgersetal.,"Syria:Thestoryoftheconflict,"BBC,lastmodifiedFebruary3,2016,accessedFebruary22,
    2016,http://www.bbc.com/news/worldmiddleeast26116868.
    10

    WorldVisionStaff,"Whatyouneedtoknow:CrisisinSyria,refugees,andtheimpactonchildrenSeemoreat:
    http://www.worldvision.org/newsstoriesvideos/syriawarrefugeecrisis#sthash.ov1Y0tyR.dpuf,"WorldVision,last
    modifiedMarch9,2016,accessedMarch11,2016,
    http://www.worldvision.org/newsstoriesvideos/syriawarrefugeecrisis.
    11

    "SyriaLatestnewsfromSyriaascoveredbytheGuardian.Newsandstoriesaboutthecountry,peopleand
    politics,"TheGuardian,accessedFebruary22,2016,http://www.theguardian.com/world/syria.
    9

    12

    TheU.S.DepartmentofStatestatesthatthegovernmenthasgiven$5.1billiondollarsin

    humanitarianassistancetoSyrianrefugeessincethestartofthecivilwar.Thisisabigjump
    from2013,whenweonlyletin31Syrianrefugees,butitstillisntenough.13 Wecanaccept
    morepeople,oureconomyandgovernmentcanhandleit,itsjustpeoplesfearsthatarekeeping
    theSyriansout.
    IdonotthinkthecrisiscanbestoppedbytheAssadregimeorthepeopleopposinghis
    reign,anddefinitelynotbyjihadist,terroristgroups.Ithinktherealsolutionisopeningourarms
    torefugeesandlettingasmanyaswecantake,intotheUnitedStates,andothercountriesshould
    followthisexample.ThiswillmaketheSyriangovernmentrealizetheyneedtochange
    themselves,becausehowcanyougovernpeopleifyouhavenopeopletogovern.Byemptying
    Syriaofpeople,theAssadregimewillfallandeventuallySyrianscancomebackiftheywant
    andrebuildtheircountrywithagovernmenttheycanselectandbuildasanationofunited
    people.

    StephanDinanandValerieRichardson,"Obamastillplanstoaccept10,000SyrianrefugeesdespiteParisterrorist
    attacks,"TheWashingtonTimes,lastmodifiedNovember15,2015,accessedMarch11,2016,
    http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/nov/15/obamastillplanstoaccept10000syrianrefugees/?page=all.
    13

    "SyriaLatestnewsfromSyriaascoveredbytheGuardian.Newsandstoriesaboutthecountry,peopleand
    politics,"TheGuardian,accessedFebruary22,2016,http://www.theguardian.com/world/syria.
    12

    You might also like