Home Is Where The War Is

Dimitrios Stamoulis 

  

This has been the case for about 4 million Syrian refugees over the previous summer. Due to the civil war in their country, they have sought refuge in other countries. The civil war has been ongoing since 2011, but the latest refugee migrations have been greater than ever. The conflict has been between President Assad's forces and Syrian rebel groups that have formed to usurp/denounce Assad's presidency. The conflict truly blew up once outside forces, such as ISIS and Russia, began getting involved thus increasing the damages and victims of this conflict. More specifically, ISIS has tried taking advantage of the rebels’ desire to overthrow the Syrian government, and has been supporting the rebels, all in hope to have at least a partial rule within the new government. This caused the Russian air force to get involved, in an effort to most importantly deny accessibility to ISIS forces.

The four year conflict has forced over four million people from their homes. Many have emigrated to Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan, but also to countries throughout Europe, such as Denmark, Macedonia, Greece, and Germany. Lebanon and Jordan were initially accommodating but the ceaseless and increasing number of migrants began to cause complications. Turkey, on the other hand, has been less helpful and cooperative, refusing crucial services and issuing return dates for work registration forms in three to five years. These forms would give the refugees permission to work in these countries without any legal issues, due to the fact that many of these countries require citizenship documentation of employees.

Other European countries have taken a different approach. Greece has not been able to provide many registration forms and dates, but there have been many care packages sent out to the refugees. Other countries have been far from welcoming. Denmark had put out ads in Lebanese newspapers warning these refugees that if they go to Denmark, they will not be accepted. Macedonia was seen putting ads in their newspapers "advising" locals to give no help to any refugees, and report them as soon as possible. On the other hand, welcoming countries, such as Germany, have been able to provide food and shelter for all refugees, with room to spare. They have taken in more than 60,000 refugees over the past two months, and are expected 800,000 in total by the end of 2015. Though their generosity is greatly appreciated and acknowledged, the Germans lack a plan at the moment to keep this generosity from causing domestic and economic troubles. It has become the ideal country to reach, yet it is every other nation in their way that has made it difficult. 

 The European Union has yet to intervene due to the issue of how some people have been perceiving these refugees. Many reporters and journalists have been labeling them as “migrants.” Because of the lack of clarification on what these people really are, there is nothing that big groups, such as the European Union and the United Nations can do. The importance of what they are called among people, and throughout the media, is balanced upon the UN’s Refugee Act of 1951. This act makes it mandatory for all countries to accept and help any incoming refugees. Once, or if, they are considered and treated as refugees they will be able to go to new countries freely, and even possibly come to the US.

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Labels: world news