By JORDAN EVANS
Student Writer
Throughout the past few months, there has been a significant crisis in the Middle East. Now I know what most of you are thinking, it seems like there is always a crisis in the Middle East, but this particular crisis is one that will have a great impact on the rest of the world. The nation of Syria has been in a Civil War since 2011. Syrian president Bashar Hafez Al-Assad’s regime has responded to protests against his administration with violent force. Though this war has been going on for the last few years, the escalation of violence has prompted roughly 4 million Syrian to flee the country to the neighboring nations. The refugees have taken trains, buses, and even makeshift rafts to try to escape the war-torn country. Although we have been aware of the need to help, the true wake-up call came when a photo of a 3-year-old refugee boy’s body was circulated around the media. This heartbreaking photo encapsulated the urgency of the crisis and spoke of the need for the western world to respond.
There have been some countries such as Hungry, Austria, and the Czech Republic that have created further measures to protect their borders from incoming refugees. Other nations are doing all they can to help. Germany has committed to taking in 800,000 refugees. The U.S. is taking 10,000 refugees while providing funds to support the Syrian rebels against Assad’s rule. Greece has had search teams in the Aegean looking for Syrians that are coming over in small rafts. Hundreds have already died from poor travel conditions.
Eric Schmaltz, Ph.D. Professor of Modern German History at Northwestern, says “It will be a challenge for the EU (European Union) on how to accommodate the refugees. This is the largest immigrant crisis since World War II.” Of the European nations, “Germany has gone out of its way to help. The reason they have been doing this is partly that it has been the country’s policy since World War II.” Though this issue has fallen on the shoulders of the western world, the regional countries must start taking care of their own area. Schmaltz says, “I wish the Saudi’s would pick up the slack a bit.”
The upcoming months will be crucial in deciding the futures of millions of Syrian immigrants. This calamity is far from over, so you can help these victims by donating at www.unicefusa.org/SyriaChildRefugees.