When pro-democracy protesters in Syria demanded an end to the dictatorial regime of President Bashar al-Assad, the conflict resulted in opposition militias and a full-fledged civil war. In five years, more than 300,000 Syrians have lost their lives due to the Syrian Civil War. More than 11 million others have been forced to leave their homes due to violent uprisings and war crimes, creating one of today’s worst humanitarian emergenicies. Families are struggling to survive in Syria, while others are risking their lives in trying to reach escape to more stable environments in Europe and the United States. The Syrian refugee crisis has also resulted in numerous debates regarding whether or not refugees should be allowed into America. In my interview
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Syrian refugees struggle to survive with scarce food and medical supplies. Bombings are destroying crowded cities, and basic human rights are being violated. More than half of Syria’s population is in desperate need of humanitarian assistance. Refugees can gain these basic necessities if Western countries provided them. According to an article run in the New York Times, “Of the 4.5 million people who have fled the Syria war, only 2,647 have been taken in by the United States.” One reason for the United States rejecting refugees is the fear of ISIS terrorists coming to the United States, posing as refugees. The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Paul Ryan, said, “Our nations has always been welcoming, but we can’t let terrorists take advantage of our compassion,” (BBC News). Refugee status is the most difficult way to come to the U.S., which requires a multi-stage process and can take up to two years to obtain and is an inconvenient and lengthy process that has not typically been used by terrorists bound for the United States. All of the 9/11 attackers used student or tourist visas, which are traditionally much easier to obtain than a refugee status (Niskanen Center).The Unites States has strong infrastructures and enough resources to help refugees. The majority of Syrian refugees are fleeing to Lebanon and Jordan, two countries that both have weak infrastructures and a scarce amount of resources. In my interview with Venous, she provides information on her parents’ experiences during the Iranian Revolutionary War. She explains how her father was arrested and sent to jail for expressing his own opinions, and how her mother’s house was bombed, killing Venous’ grandmother and uncle. Similar events are occurring in Syria, where citizens’ homes are being destroyed, and citizens are prosecuted for expressing what they believe in.
Syrian refugees struggle to survive with scarce food and medical supplies. Bombings are destroying crowded cities, and basic human rights are being violated. More than half of Syria’s population is in desperate need of humanitarian assistance. Refugees can gain these basic necessities if Western countries provided them. According to an article run in the New York Times, “Of the 4.5 million people who have fled the Syria war, only 2,647 have been taken in by the United States.” One reason for the United States rejecting refugees is the fear of ISIS terrorists coming to the United States, posing as refugees. The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Paul Ryan, said, “Our nations has always been welcoming, but we can’t let terrorists take advantage of our compassion,” (BBC News). Refugee status is the most difficult way to come to the U.S., which requires a multi-stage process and can take up to two years to obtain and is an inconvenient and lengthy process that has not typically been used by terrorists bound for the United States. All of the 9/11 attackers used student or tourist visas, which are traditionally much easier to obtain than a refugee status (Niskanen Center).The Unites States has strong infrastructures and enough resources to help refugees. The majority of Syrian refugees are fleeing to Lebanon and Jordan, two countries that both have weak infrastructures and a scarce amount of resources. In my interview with Venous, she provides information on her parents’ experiences during the Iranian Revolutionary War. She explains how her father was arrested and sent to jail for expressing his own opinions, and how her mother’s house was bombed, killing Venous’ grandmother and uncle. Similar events are occurring in Syria, where citizens’ homes are being destroyed, and citizens are prosecuted for expressing what they believe in.