Wars and social unrest, immigration, individuals and organisations
Would you rather live in a war-torn city or a refugee camp during a global pandemic?
While still ongoing, the Syrian civil war has been mostly ignored by international mainstream media. As the conflict grew worse, many Syrian citizens to fled to neighbouring countries and refugee camps near the countries border in fear for their lives. However, a new threat in the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to end the long-standing conflict in the worst way possible.
With the spread of COVID-19 being reported in the country (Doctors Without Borders, 2020), Syrian citizens occupying refugee camps near the Turkish border have begun to move back into the city of Idlib despite the area not being cleared as safe; citizens said that they have a better chance of survival in the war-torn city they do in an unsanitary refugee camp during the pandemic (NEWSWIRES, 2020).
You would believe that the pandemic would prompt a ceasefire between government forces and rebels, however this is not the case. The Syrian civil war has seen heavy foreign “sponsorship”, with Russia and Iran openly backing the President Assad’s government whilst the United States and recently Turkey have supported Rebel forces. This strengthens the wars current paradoxical nature, seeing the losing side gain stronger foreign involvement until they are winning again, a never-ending process (Fisher, 2016). A painful existence for those trapped within the country’s borders seemingly only gets worse.
For a further look on what pandemic life in Syria is like I would recommend this article.
References:
Doctors Without Borders, 2020. COVID-19: Urgent Humanitarian Aid Needed In Northeastern Syria. [online] Doctors Without Borders – USA. Available at: <https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/what-we-do/news-stories/news/covid-19-urgent-humanitarian-aid-needed-northeastern-syria> [Accessed 24 April 2020].
Fisher, M., 2016. Syria’S Paradox: Why The War Only Ever Seems To Get Worse. [online] Nytimes.com. Available at: <https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/27/world/middleeast/syria-civil-war-why-get-worse.html> [Accessed 24 April 2020].
NEWS WIRES, 2020. ‘Our Lives Go From Danger To Danger’: Displaced Syrians Begin Returning To Idlib. [online] Available at: <https://www.france24.com/en/20200412-our-lives-go-from-danger-to-danger-displaced-syrians-begin-returning-to-idlib> [Accessed 24 April 2020]. Kadour, Omar Haj, 2020 [image] Available at: <https://www.france24.com/en/20200412-our-lives-go-from-danger-to-danger-displaced-syrians-begin-returning-to-idlib> [Accessed 24 April 2020].
MANG1021 