Summary of the Ongoing Syrian Refugee Crisis

Stefania Sotelo
Jan 8, 2016
2 min read

History: Syrian Civil War

2015 saw an increase of media attention on the Syrian refugee crisis. However, this issue has been ongoing since 2011. So what exactly led to the outbreak of violence and conflict in Syria? According to BBC News, in March 2011 Pro-democracy protests “erupted in the Southern city of Deraa after the arrest and torture of teenagers who painted revolutionary slogans on a school wall.”

In response, national security forces opened fire on demonstrators triggering nationwide protests demanding the resignation of President Assad. This ignited conflict between national security forces and opposition supporters. Violence escalated as both sides fought to control cities, towns, and countrysides.

Refugee Crisis

According to the Migration Policy Centre at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, “an estimated 9 million Syrians have fled their homes since the outbreak of the civil war in March 2011”.

Stats

3 million refugees have fled to bordering countries including Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq
6.5 million Syrians have been displaced internally
150,000 Syrians have declared asylum in the European Union
33,000 Syrians are to be resettled in member states of the European Union
Out of the estimated 9 million Syrians that have fled, only 4,390,439 have registered as refugees

How are Children Affected?

Children are the most vulnerable groups that are affected by the refugee crisis. According to UNICEF, “1 in 5 refugees and migrants arriving in Europe is a child”. A major issue at hand is that there are insufficient or inadequate social services available to help refugee children. As a result, children living in camps and resettlements in countries bordering Syria and even in Europe face major health and safety risks. The following a list of major risks that World Vision identified as affecting children most.

Malnutrition and diseases due to poor sanitation
Labor in dangerous or demanding circumstances for little pay
Sexual abuse and exploitation due to overcrowded conditions, as well as, arranged marriage for girls
2million to 3 million Syrian children are not attending school

Canada and the Refugee Crisis

Knowing these facts, it is concerning to read and hear that Canadians are opposing Prime Minister Trudeau’s refugee resettlement plan. Especially when Canada’s Syrian refugee plan is limited to women, children, and families only, an approach that meets both Canada’s humanitarian and security concerns to a certain extent. According to a CBC News source, accepting women, children and families only helps to deal with some ongoing security concerns surrounding unaccompanied men. In 2015 the Canadian government pledged to bring 25,000 Syrian refugees.

What to expect in 2016:

According to News Week, Canadian Minister of Immigration and Citizenship John McCallum announced plans to double refugee intake to 50,000 by the end of next year. While some Canadians are welcoming to this news there has been some resistance from Canadians. However it is worth noting that countries such as Lebanon and Jordan have received over million refugees, placing a strain on their local resources. On the other hand Canada is known to be one of the world’s wealthiest and developed country. As a leader in the developed world, Canada should continue to play a major role in alleviating the Syrian refugee crises.