Syrians flee to surrounding countries
Roy Gutman/McClatchy/MCT from Tribune News Service
Syrian Kurdish refugees, carrying whatever they can, were still arriving in Turkey by the hundreds October 2, 2014 from Kobane, now under siege by Islamic extremists. Trucked in from the border, they’re about to board minibuses to take them to temporary refuge.
October 15, 2015
There are four million refugees currently misplaced out of Syria as of September, 2015. This large number of people is the result of a 4-year long civil war that first erupted in Daraa, Syria; Groups of children wrote graffiti insulting their government. This ended up with them being jailed, tortured, and some killed. Rebellious behavior protesting this catalyst began to excel during Arab Spring, 2011.
Majority of the 22.85 million Syrian inhabitants do not favor President Bashar al-Assad since there were incomplete promises of economic and political reforms.
This resulted in backlash made to civilians; bombings and killings to those who did not act with President Assad.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 7.6 million Syrians are displaced in Syria while an estimated 11 million were forced out of their homes to support Assad. Those opposed were left to battle each other. An estimated two-hundred and twenty thousand are deceased.
Natalie Drevets, an intern, is currently working with refugees with World Relief Chicago. “Though President Assad has made incomplete promises, he is not the only reason why there is a civil war happening. ISIS, rebellious behavior are also triggers.”
ISIS groups are also acting as their own government, punishing Syrians, causing even more of an uproar.
Over time, Syrians began fleeing Syria to anywhere but their old home: Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, and Europe. They are seeking aid for their children and women, and work for their husbands.
As of September, President Barack Obama has agreed to let in 10,000 Syrians. Many Americans are opposed to this plan since there is barely any aid here to begin with.
A study was conducted in Palatine, Illinois. One hundred people were asked, ‘Do you know what is happening in Syria?’, and, ‘Should America allow in Syrian Refugees?’ 68 percent of volunteers knew what was happening and 82 percent believed that we should not allow in refugees. These answers included the idea of Syrian men coming here, also.
Estimated 12.2 million Syrians need humanitarian assistance; 5.6 million children.
Syrians are still seeking aid from organizations including World Relief Chicago.
Drevets went onto add that Syrians who want to relocate to Chicago, they go through a series of steps to become initial citizens. First directed to a UN camp where paperwork is completed prior to World Relief Chicago contacting them.
She then adds, “Services provided include education: academically and environmentally, free services and they arrive as legal US residents.”
