The Syrian Civil War is a multi-sided conflict and proxy war that has been a major focus for news stations, policy analysts, and government officials since its inception in 2011. For nearly 10 years, the Syrian Arab Republic government led by President Bashar Al-Assad has fought against the opposition, all while foreign powers and terrorist organizations take advantage of the conflict for their own ambitions. But between the infighting lies the Syrian people, who are suffering in this conflict and are forced to flee and seek refuge in faraway lands.
What is happening in Syria?The roots of the Syrian Civil War came during the Arab Spring, a series of protests, uprisings, and armed rebellions that spread through much of the Middle East and North Africa over issues like human rights abuses and oppressive governments. Pro-democracy protests began to erupt in March 2011 in Deera after police officers arrested and tortured a group of teenagers after they painted revolutionary slogans, which resulted in civil unrest and protests against the regime for their human rights abuses. Despite the use of force by the government and its security forces, the civil unrest triggered nationwide protests demanding the resignation of President Bashar Al-Assad and an end to his regime. As protests increased, this resulted in a full-scale civil war as rebel brigades and militant groups formed to battle government forces in cities and towns all over the country. Initially a conflict based on those for or against Assad, it was eventually influenced by sectarian conflict and undertones, as the Sunni-majority opposition battled against the Shia Alawite sect that dominated the government. By 2012, regional and world powers began to back and influence the major parties in the hopes of using Syria as a proxy war for their geopolitical ambitions. As of 2020, there are four major sides to the conflict:
The Refugee and Humanitarian Crisis For 10 years, the Syrian Civil War has killed thousands of people, decimated the standards of living and basic infrastructure, and has forced families to flee the country. Currently, over 400,000 Syrians have been killed as a result of the conflict. Within Syria, the collapsed infrastructure has resulted in over 70% of all people lacking access to clean water and over 95% lacking adequate healthcare for their needs. Over 70% of all Syrians live in extreme poverty and less than $1.90 per day, and over 12 million are forcibly displaced. The issue of starvation and malnourishment is becoming increasingly common as 9.3 million Syrians are now food-insecure. The dire situation led to over 6.6 million Syrians taking refuge and fleeing to neighboring countries. However, the majority of refugees still live in dangerous and inhumane conditions. Over 90% of them live in urban areas in informal settlements, which are often incredibly crowded and unhygienic, with poor housing and low levels of sanitation. Despite living in these urban areas, they're still restricted from obtaining work permits and often live in poverty and destitution. In Lebanon, for example, nearly 60% of all Syrian refugee families live in abject poverty with less than $2.87 per person per day. In Jordan, nearly 85% live below the poverty line. Despite an increased availability of education, children as young as 6 are often forced to work to increase the income of their families. Additionally, the increase in the number of Syrian refugees entering neighboring countries has resulted in xenophobia against them, undermining efforts to protect refugees and ensure their safety. Another major problem the Syrian refugees are facing is that of the COVID-19 pandemic, where thousands have lost their jobs due to the economic downturn. UNHCR reports that the pandemic placed over 200,000 refugees in need of emergency assistance. Additionally, there was revealed to be an outbreak of COVID-19 cases in a refugee camp in Idlib, sparking fears that the disease could infect thousands in other refugee camps that are notorious for being crowded and densely populated. Syria’s deepening refugee crisis has worsened throughout the years as infighting increased between major parties, the likes of which would have catastrophic implications to the future of the country and of its people. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guiterres once stated that Syria “has become the great tragedy of this century -- a disgraceful humanitarian calamity with suffering and displacement unparalleled in recent history”. And time will tell whether the “great tragedy” could fully be resolved. Where are the Syrian refugees going?
Policy recommendations
References
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |