Photo Credit: World Bank via Flickr
How did this begin?
The al-Assad family has ruled Syria since the 1960s as dictators. After the major shift in the Middle East as a result of the Arab Spring, Assad refused to step down as the ruler of Syria causing major tension across the country. The first major event of the Refugee Crisis occurred in March of 2011, when a group of teenage boys were arrested by the Syrian Government for painting an anti-government message on a wall. See a timeline of the crisis here.
Image Credit: World Bank via Flickr
Image Credit: World Bank via Flickr
Protests erupted in highly populated areas such as Damascus and Daraa, and protesters were killed in clashes with government forces. Over the course of the next 5 years, protests escalated into a full fledged civil war, with many international powers weighing in and taking sides in the conflict. This led to the mass displacement of 12 million Syrians. Source
Image Credit: World Bank via Flickr
Who is involved?
At the beginning of the conflict, the nation became divided between pro-government and anti-government forces. The Syrian population is even further divided by religious affiliations, as there is massive tension between Sunni and Shia Muslim groups. As the war raged on, the international community was forced to take sides in the conflict and some of the most notable players are the United States and Russia.
Because of Putin’s strong allegiance with Assad, Russia has provided financial and military assistance to government forces. The United States disagreed with Assad’s dictatorship, at first supplying the rebels with only financial and humanitarian aid, then later providing military support as well.
Photograph: Martial Trezzini/AFP/Getty Images
The UN has attempted to foster peace deals throughout the conflict, but also condemned the Syrian Government’s use of chemical weapons on civilians. The UN also faces resistance in their stance against Assad because of the presence of Assad’s allies Russia and China. And as a result of the instability in both Syria and Iraq, terrorist groups such as ISIS took the opportunity to attempt to create a totalitarian Islamic caliphate in Syria. While this may seem complicated enough already, these are just a few of the groups that have had an impact on the conflict. Source
Who are the refugees?
“As refugees, the familiar lives they once knew — as doctors, parents, students, carpenters or friends — have been replaced with the daily struggle to find shelter, food, water and safety for their families in foreign territory.”
The refugees are teachers, farmers, business owners, students, parents, children, and people from all walks of life. They are Syrian civilians, forced to flee their homes due to violence coming from all sides. Many of these refugees are educated people with previously normal lives that have been destroyed by war. Many Syrians face pressure and violence from government troops, rebel forces, and extremist organizations to take up arms and join a side of the conflict. This pressure, and the increased violence in civilian areas of Syria has forced 12 million people to flee their homes, and leave behind all that they know for an unknown future with no promise of safety.
Image Credit: Sumaya Agha and Cassandra Nelson for Mercy Corps
Muhammad was a kindergarten teacher in Daraa, Syria, before the conflict drove him across the border to Jordan’s Zaatari Refugee Camp.
He once cut hair as a hobby and way to spend time with friends, but he’s since stopped. The last person he gave a haircut to — his best friend — was killed in the war. Now Muhammed spends his time teaching students with disabilities in Mercy Corps’ resource room in Zaatari. Source
Houda, 13, was an excellent student in Syria with lofty dreams for her future. When the conflict became too much to bear, her family fled to Lebanon — where they’ve resorted to using a cowshed as their temporary home.
“I haven’t been to school in over two years,” Houda told MercyCorps. “I loved my school and I miss going to class and seeing friends.” Source
10-year-old Omran had a fun-loving childhood: He went to school, played with friends and enjoyed helping his dad with his construction work. When the conflict uprooted his family and sent them to Jordan in search of safety — they now reside in Zaatari Refugee Camp — Omran became distraught and angry.
“I miss Syria and my home. I miss school and playing with my friends,” he says. “I miss swimming. I played soccer with my cousins and friends in the field behind our house. I miss my house and the graves of my two brothers the most.” Source
Where are the refugees going?
Number of Refugees Occupying Each Country
Most of those fleeing the conflict have gone into neighboring countries, which are often the most ill-equipped to handle the influx of refugees. Turkey currently holds the most refugees, with 2,715,789 asylum seekers within their borders. Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq follow with the highest refugee populations. Economically struggling countries are also taking on much of the influx, with countries such as Italy, Greece, and Germany taking in hundreds of thousands of refugees. Economically capable countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States have been among the least willing to accept refugees. Source