The world is currently facing the highest human displacement levels ever recorded (UNHCR 0). According to data recorded by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), an astonishing 65.6 million (UNHCR 1) people around the world have been forced from their homes. This number includes 22.5 million refugees (UNHCR 1). In facing this so-called “refugee crisis,” it’s critical to understand important definitions. A refugee is legally defined as someone who has been externally displaced from and cannot return to their host country due to a “well-founded fear of persecution” (Refugees in international relations, p.5). In vernacular terms, refugees are often identified as people who are escaping “authoritarian regimes; conflict; human rights violations; large-scale …show more content…
The Syrian Civil Conflict, which is causing a majority of Syrian displacement, officially began on March 15, 2011. Since then, according to the Syrian Center for Policy Research, there have been over 470,000 casualties (Human Rights Watch) as a result of attacks between the Syrian government; backed by Russia and Iran; and Syrian rebels, primarily supported by Turkey, the United States, and Jordan (BBC 1). The United States has been involved both directly and indirectly in assisting Syrian citizens and resettling Syrian refugees; generously supplying food, shelter, clean drinking water, and supporting the United Nations and other international organizations that allocate humanitarian services towards the Syrian people (State.gov). Recently, under the Obama administration, over 10,000 Syrian refugees were admitted into the United States (NY Times). States in close regional proximity to Syria are accepting a majority of refugees, including Turkey (2.8 million refugees), Pakistan (1.6 million), and Lebanon (1 million). Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Uganda, Germany, and Chad also host large numbers of refugees (UNHCR
Saul’s article recognizes that the Syrian refugee crisis exists amidst citizen sponsorship, Aboriginal judgement, and disorder within EU countries’ immigrant policies. According to Saul, democracy in Canadian politics grants citizenship to immigrants without any obstacles. Canada’s immigration policies are transparent because they are balanced with civic participation. Saul thinks that multiculturalism is a forceful catalyst towards establishing equality and integrity for the refugees. In the first point, Saul does not agree that refugees should be privately sponsored and assisted by the government. In the second point, Saul indicates that Canada’s national identity is the product of the encounter between the Aboriginals and European settlers, which has resulted in citizenship. By entering the Inuit circle, immigrants can establish themselves as a strong unit not by having roots outside Canada, but by living with Canadian intellect. The immigrants should mold to nature because this is the way the Aboriginals have defined their understandings of life. As Sifton has noted, “the … government … made presentations … to potential immigrants, presenting beautiful images of the Rocky Mountains and thriving settled farmland” (475). In the last point, Saul comments on the European prejudices that are
A refugee is a person who was forced to leave their country. Whether it be from warfare or natural disaster, their homes are no longer safe to live in, so they need to relocate elsewhere. Once someone sets foot on the journey of becoming a refugee, they become vulnerable and dependent with no sense of what the future will bring. In an attempt to accommodate them, first world countries with the resources necessary to assist these refugees, are struggling to determine whether or not they should step-in and help. Some argue that taking them in could come with excessive consequences, while others believe they could be assets. Although there may be a few consequences, they are outweighed by the benefits and undeniable severity of the situation.
On September of 2015, the image of 3-year-old Aylan Kurdi went viral. “The toddler’s lifeless body on a Turkish beach had reverberated across the globe” (Parkinson & George-Cosh, 2015). Aylan’s family had “fled the brutal civil war in their native Syria and only attempted the boat crossing after Canada denied their application of admission as refugees. The image led to an astonishing outpouring of support for Syrian refugees” (Hein & Niazi, 2016).
The refugee crisis that plagues the world is often referred to as the Syrian refugee crisis, and Western countries are usually concerned only for the affect it has on them and their country. Yet the countries taking in the most refugees are the relatively stable nations in the Middle East that are closest to those in crisis, like Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey, not the wealthy nations most capable of supporting the refugees. These countries are often small and suffering their own economic and political woes, and struggle with the masses of refugees entering the countries. Various groups are working to raise money and support for these refugees, and other poor African and Middle Eastern countries are attempting to do their best, but without the help of the wealth West, the refugee crisis is not going to go away. A question has been posed to the nations of the world; are they willing to take in any of the millions of the desperate refugees?
Everyday, people all over the world are removed from their homes and forced to leave. You could be pushed out of your house from a foreclosure, or pushed out of your country from an extremist. In society today, thousands upon thousands of people are fleeing to a new country they can call “home” and where they can feel safe. Among these people, a big majority are the Syrian people. The Syrian Refugee Crisis has been relevant for about four years since the start of the Syrian civil war that began in March 2011, and is comparable to the Native Americans being pushed from their home lands. The Syrian Refugee Crisis equates to the Trail of Tears because both Syrians and refugees alike were pushed out of their homes, they were both forced to find
This sociological analysis will define the theory of social conflict to define the underlying racial, social, and cultural tension of the current Syrian refugee crisis in Canada. The current Syrian immigrant crisis in Canada defines some of the major problems of established racial “norms”, European “values”, and “resources”, such as job opportunities, that inhibit the integration of these people into Canadian society. Angus Reid’s (2016)) provides a current context in which the traditional view of ethnic and racial tolerance in Canada is challenged by a polls done on the subject. These three sociological concepts define the social conflict that is occurring in Canada due to the arrival of Syrian refugees. This CBC news story defines the underlying
I am writing this letter to you because I believe that the Syrian Refugee Crisis needs to be added to the grade ten Canadian History Since World War One course.
Syrian refugees today and German-Jewish refugees during the 1930's share many difficulties. Both the articles, "Fresno Family Represents the Plight of Syrian Refugees," and "Jews' Tale Plays Out Again as Syrian Refugees Find Resistance to US Entry" both prove that the Jews and Syrians issues are very similar. The US denied the German-Jewish refugees entrance, and now we are doing the same again with almost all of the Syrian refugees. The Jews from Germany in the 1930's during the Holocaust and the refugees from Syria today both face many hardships such as plight, prejudice, and discrimination, not to mention that they were, and are, criticized harshly.
A current issue on the minds and agendas of the international community is the Syrian Refugee Crisis. The situation has only escalated since its start in 2011, and as the number of displaced Syrians reaches over 9 million, countries around the world, not just the ones in the Middle East, are increasing efforts to offer asylum and aid for these people. The Syrian Refugee Crisis began with peaceful anti-government protests in March of 2011, but after the violent response of the government, rebels, army defectors, and many civilians formed the Free Syrian Army by July of the same year (Mercy Corps, Sept 2nd, 2015). The presence of ISIS within Syria and the differing views of religious groups (namely Sunni and Shiite) in the country only add to the chaos of destruction of the country and the Syrian people’s lives and homes. With the constant state of war within the country, basic necessities like food, water, and shelter have become scarce and Syrian people are looking to find new homes of stability and safety. The large majority of Syrians have fled to the neighboring countries of Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Turkey. However the burden of harboring these refugees has put huge stress on the countries as the sheer number of people entering the country becomes too much to handle. Today one in five people living in Lebanon is a Syrian refugee (Mercy Corps, Sept 2nd, 2015). With the neighboring countries already beyond capacity, Syrians are looking for shelter in places outside this
Developments in Society can be seen in many different ways depending on an individual’s worldview or perspective. This idea is evident through the Syrian Refugee Crisis and how it affects Canada. This crisis in Canada is changing every day, as the government creates decisions on how they will or will not aid the refugees. Canadians are saying that they may approve of this refugee resettlement plan laid out by the federal government, but only if it’s taken so far and so fast. The reporters of a Vancouver News Network, a Toronto Tabloid, and an America Daily Newspaper compare and contrast the ideas of a survey from the Angus Reid Institute, a non-profit organization that conducts surveys to analyze different trends in the economy. This survey
Since the Syrian uprising of 2011 against the Al-Assads who have been ruling Syria since 1960, Canada has done everything they can to support the Syrian people. Syria has become the top source of refugees because of the civil war that is happening within Syria between the citizens and the government. The citizens of Syria are now trapped between regime, rebel groups, religious extremists. There are in total, of over 4 million Syrian refugees trying to flee their home as of 2015 because of the cost of living, the civil war, and the rise of jihadists terrorist group ISIS/ISIL. According to the United Nations, 13.5 million people inside Syria need help, including 6.5 million who have been displaced within Syria. It is estimated that there are over 250 000 people who have died in the conflict, with thousands of others wounded. Syrians have fled to camps in neighbouring countries such as Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey and they are taking care of almost 95% of the refugees. Thousands more have journeyed to Europe in search of a better life.
The American way of helping those in need has been lost in the midst of terrorist attacks in a foreign country. The denying of Syrian refugees from coming into the United States has marked the decline of our hospitable ways. We are so fearful of a terrorist attack that the majority of Americans have went against the American way of helping by denying Syrian refugees access to the United States in their time of great need.
Allowing tens of thousands of Muslim refugees to enter the United States could compromise the security of Christians in the country, according to renowned evangelist Franklin Graham.
This issue was chosen due to its scope. The Syrian refugee crisis is among a list of issues that will not only shape the world in 2016 but also dominate news outlets in upcoming years. Because of the despairing situation, many governments are struggling to find ways to handle the rush of individuals seeking asylum, for the fact that it seems the crisis is worsening. In addition, the media coverage on the topic sparked my interest and led me to research information because I had no idea what was occurring and the detriment of the issue.
A refugee is defined as an individual who has been forced to leave their country due to political or religious reasons, or due to threat of war or violence. There were 19.5 million refugees worldwide at the end of 2014, 14.4 million under the mandate of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), around 2.9 million more than in 2013. The other 5.1 million Palestinian refugees are registered with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). With the displacement of so many people, it is difficult to find countries willing to accept all the refugees. There are over 125 different countries that currently host refugees, and with this commitment comes the responsibility of ensuring these refugees have access to