The state of the Syrian refugee crisis

Summary

This transcript discusses the ongoing Syrian civil war, which has led to one of the world's worst refugee crises. Over 6 million Syrians are displaced internally, and 5.7 million have sought refuge abroad, with the majority in the Middle East. The war has caused severe humanitarian issues, with millions in need of aid and 1.5 million living with permanent disabilities. Refugees face dangerous journeys, particularly to Europe, where they are often seen as an economic burden. Political settlements are required to ensure a safe return for refugees and displaced individuals.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Syria's civil war has lasted eight years, creating one of the world's worst refugee crises.
• 🏠 At least 6.2 million Syrians are displaced internally, and 5.7 million have sought refuge abroad.
• 🤕 13 million Syrians are in need of humanitarian aid, and 1.5 million have permanent disabilities.
• 🌐 90% of Syrian refugees have fled to neighboring countries like Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt.
• 🇪🇺 Approximately 1 million Syrian refugees have sought asylum in Europe, with Germany and Sweden hosting the majority.
• 🇺🇸 The U.S. has accepted 33,000 Syrian refugees, while Canada has taken in 54,000.
• 🚸 Refugees face significant risks, with 1 in 18 dying while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea.
• 📰 European media has at times portrayed refugees as a financial burden, leading to negative public perception.
• ❌ Humanitarian aid access in Syria is limited by the regime, making it difficult to help those in need.
• ⚖️ Refugees cannot return safely until a political settlement is reached that guarantees justice and the protection of rights.

Q & A

What is the current state of the Syrian civil war as mentioned in the script?

The script marks eight years of civil war in Syria, describing it as one of the world's worst refugee crises.

How many Syrians are currently displaced due to the war?

At least 6.2 million Syrians are internally displaced, while another 5.7 million have sought refuge abroad.

What is the estimated number of people in Syria in need of humanitarian aid?

Around 13 million people in Syria are in dire need of humanitarian aid.

What has been the impact of the war on healthcare in Syria?

An estimated 1.5 million people have been left with permanent disabilities due to the war.

Where are most Syrian refugees located?

90% of Syrian refugees are based in the Middle East, mainly in Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt.

How many Syrian refugees are currently in Europe, and which countries have taken in the most?

Almost 1 million Syrian refugees are in Europe, with Germany and Sweden taking in the majority.

What are the challenges faced by Syrian refugees trying to reach Europe?

Many refugees risk their lives crossing the Mediterranean Sea, with one out of 18 dying during the journey. Refugees face challenges such as dangerous journeys and negative media portrayals, which contribute to their dehumanization.

What is the media’s role in shaping public perceptions of refugees in Europe?

The media has often portrayed refugees as a financial burden, which has negatively influenced European perceptions of Syrian refugees.

Why can't Syrian refugees return home at the current stage of the conflict?

Refugees cannot return while the war persists, and unless there is a political settlement that ensures justice and the protection of Syrian individuals, returning is unsafe. Many fled due to violence and persecution from the regime.

How has humanitarian aid been limited in Syria?

Humanitarian aid has been limited to areas under regime control, as access to other areas remains restricted, and the regime has been accused of using aid as a tool to punish those who oppose it.

Outlines

00:00

📊 The Syrian Civil War and Refugee Crisis Overview

This paragraph discusses the dire state of the Syrian civil war, which has lasted for eight years, leading to one of the world's worst refugee crises. Key figures include 6.2 million internally displaced Syrians and 5.7 million refugees abroad. The war has left 13 million people in need of humanitarian aid and caused 1.5 million people to suffer permanent disabilities. Uncertainty remains about the possibility of Syrians rebuilding their lives and returning home. The presenter introduces a guest, Allah Barry, from Chatham House, to discuss the refugee situation further.

05:04

🗺️ Syrian Refugees and Their Destinations

Allah Barry outlines the destinations of Syrian refugees, with 90% of them fleeing to nearby Middle Eastern countries such as Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt. Around 1 million refugees have made their way to Europe, with Germany and Sweden hosting the largest numbers. The U.S. has accepted only about 33,000 refugees, while Canada has taken 54,000. Despite seeking safety, refugees are often perceived negatively in Europe, with some media portraying them as a financial burden. This has contributed to the dehumanization of refugees, despite the dangerous journeys they undertake to find safety.

🌊 Dangerous Journeys and Media Dehumanization

This section highlights the risks Syrian refugees face as they flee their war-torn country, including perilous sea crossings where one in 18 refugees dies. Many refugees attempt these dangerous journeys to protect their families and escape dire circumstances, but they face negative stereotypes in Europe. Media portrayal has contributed to refugees being viewed as a financial burden, and there has been a systematic effort to dehumanize them by reducing them to mere numbers, making the tragedy of their plight easier to overlook.

🚨 Humanitarian Aid Challenges in Syria

Allah Barry addresses the challenge of providing humanitarian aid in Syria. Despite efforts from the UN and other international organizations, aid often can't reach areas not under government control. The Syrian regime has restricted access to certain areas, using aid as a tool to punish opposition forces. The UN is criticized for allowing the regime to exploit humanitarian aid, making it difficult to effectively help those in the most dangerous regions.

🏠 Barriers to Refugee Return and the Need for Political Solutions

Barry discusses the dangers of returning refugees to Syria, where war and violence continue. Without a political settlement that ensures justice and the protection of all Syrians' rights, it is not safe for refugees to return. Additionally, internally displaced persons (IDPs) cannot be forced to return to areas under regime control, which they originally fled due to persecution and violence. Refugees should not be forced back until conditions are genuinely safe.

Keywords

💡Civil War

A civil war is a conflict between different groups within the same country. In this video, it refers to the ongoing conflict in Syria that has lasted eight years. The war has caused immense suffering, displacement, and loss of life, with millions fleeing the country or being internally displaced.

💡Refugee Crisis

A refugee crisis occurs when a large number of people are forced to leave their country due to war, persecution, or natural disasters. The Syrian conflict has resulted in one of the world's worst refugee crises, with millions of Syrians fleeing to neighboring countries and Europe for safety.

💡Internally Displaced People (IDPs)

Internally displaced people are those who have been forced to leave their homes but remain within their own country. The video mentions that 6.2 million Syrians are internally displaced, meaning they have fled their homes due to conflict but have not crossed an international border.

💡Humanitarian Aid

Humanitarian aid refers to the material and logistical assistance provided to people in need, especially in times of crisis. In the video, 13 million people in Syria are in dire need of humanitarian aid, but access to aid is limited due to political and military control by the regime.

💡Permanent Disabilities

Permanent disabilities refer to long-term physical or mental impairments resulting from injury or illness. In Syria, an estimated 1.5 million people have been left with permanent disabilities as a result of the ongoing conflict, highlighting the severe impact on the population's health.

💡Political Settlement

A political settlement is a negotiated agreement between conflicting parties to resolve a war or political crisis. The video emphasizes that without a political settlement in Syria that ensures justice and the protection of rights, refugees cannot safely return to their country.

💡Media Representation of Refugees

Media representation refers to how events or groups of people are portrayed in the media. The video discusses how some media outlets have portrayed Syrian refugees as a burden on European economies, contributing to negative perceptions and dehumanization of refugees.

💡Dehumanization

Dehumanization is the process of portraying people as less than human, often to justify poor treatment or neglect. In the context of the Syrian refugee crisis, the video discusses how systematic dehumanization has made it easier for people to see refugees as mere numbers, reducing empathy for their plight.

💡Mediterranean Sea Crossing

The Mediterranean Sea crossing refers to the dangerous journey many refugees take to reach Europe by boat. The video highlights that 1 in 18 refugees die during this crossing, making it one of the most perilous routes for those fleeing war in Syria.

💡UN Humanitarian Efforts

The United Nations (UN) and other international humanitarian organizations provide aid to people affected by crises. In Syria, the UN faces challenges delivering aid to areas not controlled by the regime, raising concerns about how humanitarian assistance is being used politically in the conflict.

Highlights

Eight years of civil war in Syria has created one of the world's worst refugee crises.

6.2 million Syrians are internally displaced, while 5.7 million have sought refuge abroad.

13 million Syrians are in dire need of humanitarian aid due to the ongoing conflict.

An estimated 1.5 million people in Syria have permanent disabilities as a result of the war.

It's uncertain if and when Syrians will be allowed to return to their homes.

90% of Syrian refugees are in the Middle East, primarily in Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt.

1 million Syrian refugees are in Europe, with the majority in Germany and Sweden.

Only 33,000 Syrian refugees have been accepted into the US, with 54,000 in Canada.

Syrian refugees risk everything, including crossing dangerous waters, to seek safety in Europe.

One in 18 refugees dies while crossing the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe.

There has been a systematic effort to dehumanize refugees, portraying them as economic burdens.

83% of Syrians live below the poverty line, making humanitarian aid critical.

UN and humanitarian organizations struggle to deliver aid in areas not controlled by the Syrian regime.

Refugees cannot return to Syria while war and persecution continue without a political settlement.

A political settlement must include justice and the protection of all Syrian individuals' rights.

Transcripts

Friday marks eight years of civil war in

Syria and today we're taking a look at

how the ongoing conflict has shaped what

some call one of the world's worst

Refugee crisis let's take a look at the

numbers at least 6.2 million syrians are

internally displaced while another 5.7

million have sought Refuge abroad 13

million people in Syria are believed to

be in dire need of humanitarian Aid the

war is also affecting Healthcare in

Syria an estimated 1.5 million people

have been left with permanent

disabilities and it's uncertain when and

if syrians will ever be allowed to

rebuild and return to their homes I want

to bring in Allah Barry from London

she's the program manager of the Middle

East and North Africa program at Chatham

House thank you very much Ella for

joining us so this crisis it's been

years in the making can you sort of

start off

by telling us how these people where

they go once they start to seek re

refuge and what the challenges are at

this

point um as you uh previously mentioned

in your report uh there uh there has

been over uh five uh uh6 million uh

refugees who had uh been forced to flee

the country uh 90% of these refugees are

based in the Middle East uh we can see

that uh most of them went to uh

neighboring countries uh

um including Lebanon turkey uh Jordan uh

Iraq and Egypt

uh out of this uh uh uh 5.6 almost 1

million are in Europe uh Germany and

Sweden have uh taken uh the majority of

refugees Syrian refugees population in

uh Europe and we can see Little Numbers

uh uh in uh the US uh

33,000 uh refugees three refugees went

to the US and uh 40 uh

54,000 in uh Canada when you look at the

1 million refugees in Europe how are

they being received

abroad well uh refugees uh uh risk

risked everything in their life uh uh to

uh uh take this journey to Europe and uh

uh in order to protect their uh children

and and families uh however uh in the

past few years some of the media have

been channeling uh uh bad images of uh

refugees and showing refugees as a

burden on the financial need sorry in

the financial uh or the economy uh of

Europe uh and that's why uh uh European

might perceive refugees as a burden on

their economy uh how however uh these

refugees um they like they've been dying

uh in the sea uh one uh out of 18

refugees refugees die uh crossing the

mediterian sea and uh they are uh uh

only trying to uh reach better um uh

safe or safer places in order to uh uh

protect themselves uh from uh um from

dying uh so uh uh in the past few years

uh it has been like uh systematically

people systematically worked on

dehumanizing refugees in order uh for us

uh to uh see refugees as numbers and uh

it's okay for us uh for them uh uh to

die in the sea so yes we should yeah

Ella you talk about just how dangerous

this journey is an estimated 83% of

syrians actually live below the poty

line po poverty line we said earlier

that there's an estimated 13 million

people who are needed some form of

humanitarian Aid how do you deal with it

you saw my colleague Jonathan

vigliotti's report how do you get these

people inside of their own countries

help uh uh you're right uh almost half

of the population are in need of uh uh

uh humanitarian Aid now uh the UN and

the international humanitarian

organization have been working on uh uh

like providing uh humanarian and a those

who are in need however they lacked

access to U uh some of uh uh the areas

uh that are not under the regime control

they only been able to deliver in areas

that the regime uh allowed them to

access uh humanitarian uh Aid could not

be used as we should not like even the

UN should not accept to be used by the

regime as a tool to uh uh uh punish

those who opposed him and uh force uh

them to surrender or even like give uh

uh themselves um give the uh the

government uh leg legitimacy again so if

it is too dangerous and the resources

aren't there for these refugees to

return home and there are countries who

just don't want to accept them in what

do you think needs to happen now

uh well uh we cannot return refugees to

uh a country where War still exist um

these refugees fled their country uh

because of uh uh what happened in the

rise of violence and

persecution uh unless we reach a

political settlements that provide uh

justice and uh uh protect uh uh rights

of uh all Syrian individuals we cannot

uh speak about returning these refugees

um uh the same for uh um uh you know uh

returning idps to uh areas that they

fled from uh these uh you cannot force

refugees to return to areas under the

regime control after they were being

forced to flee uh their uh cities to

because of uh the regime uh uh Ming them

Allah Barry thank you very much for your

time Allah thank you thank you Lina