Terror poses a major threat to the world today. Although countless terrorist attacks have taken place in recent years, some bi-products of terror can become as much of a problem as the terrorist groups themselves. Currently in the middle east, a civil war rages in Syria. Many different groups have thrown their hats in the ring to fight for control, two of them are the Al-Nusra front and ISIS, both designated terrorist groups by the United States. The Syrian civil war has become even more violent as these groups joined the fight. The people of Syria have been the most affected: 11 million people have been driven from their homes by the Syrian conflict.
While the conflict continues in Syria, its people are at risk. Of the 11 million people displaced by the civil war, 4.5 million have fled the country and 6.5 million have been internally displaced. The 4.5 million who have fled the country mostly head to Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Turkey. About 10% make their way to the European Union (EU) to seek asylum. Many countries have accepted their applications; Germany and Sweden are the two most prevalent. Almost all the nations in the EU have provided some form of humanitarian aid to the refugees.
13.5 million people require massive aid in Syria. About 70% of the people do not have a source of water, and 80% live in poverty. Food sources are few and far between for many of Syria’s people, one in three can’t get enough to meet their own basic needs. Many children go without schooling because it is unavailable or unsafe. The United Nations estimates it will take about 3 billion dollars to adequately help the Syrian people.
European nations are stepping in more than expected in this humanitarian crisis. They’ve funded programs to help many of the refugees, as well as taking in some themselves. Although the U.S. does not appear to be seriously helping the refugees, they are doing more than their share in aid for countries that are hosting the refugees. As of late 2015, the US has given 4.5 billion dollars to help in the humanitarian crisis in Syria. Although terrorism hasn’t played a large part in this crisis, it is a reminder of the devastating effects of war.
I do understand the U.S.'s hesitancy over taking in refugees, and I do think it would be more efficient to fund refugee camps overseas than to fly the people over to the U.S. On the subject of permanent immigration, its a little more tricky. Some or most people fleeing from Syria do not have documentation or any way to prove they would not be harmful to other Americans. If they can provide this documentation, I support a path to citizenship or permanent residency.
Sources used:
https://www.mercycorps.org/articles/syria-turkey-iraq-lebanon-jordan/quick-facts-what-you-need-know-about-syria-crisis
http://syrianrefugees.eu/
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-26116868