The Truth about Syrian Refugees

After the body of 3-year-old Syrian refugee Aylan washed up on a beach in Turkey, many refugees are appealing to international society and various sympathetic public opinions have arisen. Europe has been dealing with a lot of immigrant issues regarding refugees due to its geography and Syria’s political problems. The Syrian refugee problem has been receiving attention because it is on a large scale, a level that never has happened before. The people of Syria are moving to Northern European countries, not due to political issues but simply to survive. According to the UN Refugee Agency, out of approximately 23 million Syrians, about 12 million are refugees and are searching for new homes. The rest are continuing their tough lives inside Syria. Due to the difficult situation in Syria, Europe and several countries are feeling pressured.

The cause of the Syrian refugees is the civil war in that country. Before the war, although it was a dictatorship, Syria was quite a safe country. However, after the civil war occurred the domestic situation became unsure and the country became a base for the Islamic State. In the Syrian government, the Al-Assad family has been in control for about 45 years. Currently, the government has a worse impact on Syrians lives than IS does. The reason is that IS only targets specific people; on the other hand the Syrian government targets areas where antigovernment people are living. There are a total of three structures of conflict existing in Syria; between Sunni and Shia, dictatorship and anti-dictatorship and, lastly, a fight regarding supremacy between international countries involved in the Syrian crisis. Syrians living near Damascus are suffering because of the Al-Assad government and those living near Raqqa are having hard times due to IS. Since most of Syria is not safe at all, many people are moving from their homes for survival and this created Syrian refugees.

France, Germany, and the UK are the major countries taking responsibility for accepting the refugees in Eastern and Western Europe, which is geographically close to Syria. Northern and Southern Europe are looking carefully at the Dublin Regulation, a European Union law made in 1997, that determines the EU Member State responsible for examining applications of asylum seekers seeking international protection within the European Union. This law states that people searching for another country to live in must apply for permission in the country they first entered. Germany was against allowing the refugees to come in, but then it abruptly changed its policy. The Germans now show their active will to accept the Syrian refugees. Germany offered the European countries a quota system, however, Eastern Europe countries refused it, stating that there would be no end to the war and no end to refugees, so they wouldn’t accept any. Lately, Europe’s recent condition is very confused due to various protests run by people who oppose Germany’s opinion.

The war in Syria, now in its fifth year, has drawn sharp attention to the Syrian refugees who are in desperate need of shelter. Many Syrian refugees have been left homeless and have nowhere to go. It is the right thing to give a hand to those refugees, and countries have the moral obligation to do. People should be helping out others who are in need and those who desire help. It is easy to say to Europe, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and several other countries to accept the Syria refugees however; those countries will have to undergo the consequences which include both economical and political problems during the process. As refugees from various countries appear, many countries are closing their doors to them coming in. Korea is only accepting 3 Syrian refugees yet they are suffering through discrimination leading to hardship. The best solution, and the only solution left is to deter the dictatorial Al-Assad forces and stop the international fight regarding power. People are suffering because of the civil war and IS, and we should lend a hand and protect Syria’s future; the children.

이선민, 고애진 (Grade 8)