Syrian refugees and the rest of the world

 Sarah Elgohary                                                                          

We need to help refugee I remembered that paper

Most people do not know how serious the Syrian refugee crisis is. This is because Western societies only react and pay attention to a problem when celebrities make a statement about an issue, rather than their government. This is especially the case with Syrian refugees because many politicians especially Republicans are using fear and Islamophobia to create biased policies in order to ban the entire Muslim race and stop accepting Syrian refugees, even if a majority of them are innocent people who are in need of projection not violent meaningless killing of other Innocent people. This xenophobic action is simply based on the stereotype that all Muslims are radical extremists like ISIS. On the other hand, there is Hillary Clinton does not seem to have Islamophobia, but she wants to implement a fifty-five percent increase in the admission of Syrian refugees; when she does not have a plan of action to help the Syrian refugees that are already here and the ones coming in. As a result, both candidates have biased policies that are based on either fear or Islamophobia, or having a good reputation to get more votes than the other. Therefore, both candidates’ suggestions on solving the Syrian crisis are not viable options. However, Lebanon and Turkey ‘s policies about Syrian refugees are not biased towards a specific goal other than helping Syrian refugees.

There are many policies in Lebanon that help protect Syrian refugees. Two important policies are enforced and inspired by The United Nations Refugee Agency, which is also a social movement organization that advocates for Syrian refugees .The first policy is the fact that The United Nations Refugee Agency will not only implement a strategy in Lebanon that emphasizes the fact of they are working on strengthening its role in providing support for protection of Syrian refugees, but they will also ensure the inclusion of refugees in Government policies and development plans, particularly by building a better understanding of the specific needs of refugees and enhancing the capacity of service providers. At the same time, The United Nations Refugee Agency, will coordinate the overall refugee response in Lebanon, working closely with Government, UN. In addition, they will preserve their inter-agency commitment to address the most basic needs of refugees, and invest in host community support projects, public services and institutions. As a result, the second policy is a new program to help provide Syrian refugees with access to legal documentation and assistance in case of arbitrary detention and unlawful evictions. The United Nations Refugee Agency will also seek to strengthen community-based protection by capitalizing on refugee and host community competencies and skills. Particular attention will be given to supporting the most vulnerable (including people with disabilities, the elderly, minority groups, and the socially marginalized) and to ensuring social cohesion within their communities (The United Nations Refugee Agency Lebanon global focus report 2016).  

Yes, this program should be used as a role model for Policymakers in the United States. This is because it serves as a guide and inspiration for western nations to implement new policies that do not just encourage changes, but actually provoke actions to make things happen for Syrian refugees in order to solve the Refugee crisis. This program is seen as a success because Lebanon is taking action to lessen the refugee crisis by giving refugees hope and providing them with the services they need to get more opportunities for social mobility, so they can break free from the circumstances of the refugee crisis in order to move on from tragedy and live better lives where ever they are.  

  Another country with actions to support Syrian refugees is Turkey. As a result, according to United Nations, Turkey now hosts the world’s largest community of Syrians displaced by the ongoing conflict in their country. (Hamadan, 2014) Turkey’s Syrian refugee policies are flexible. Turkey has hosted refugees before from Iraq, however, since the start of the Syrian civil war, Turkey has implemented an unconditional “open door policy” toward Syrian refugees escaping from the conflict. At first Syrian refugees were considered guests rather than legal refugees, but since late October 2011 Turkey has afforded them temporary protection status, ensuring no forced return imposing no limit on their duration of their stay. Despite the fact that conditions in the camps managed by the United Nations Refugee Agency are extremely good, the refugees living outside the camps are more vulnerable, because most of them do not have the services provided by the Turkish government. However, there is one exception which is heath care because the Turkish government created a law that gives all Syrian refugees can benefit from free primary health care. (Hamadan, 2014)

Yes it would be nice if these policies were actually implemented by the policymakers in the United States. This is because it serves as a guide and inspiration for western nations to implement new policies that do not just encourage changes, but actually provoke actions to make things happen for Syrian refugees in order to solve the refugee crisis .They are very successful solutions to solve the Syrian refugee crisis however these policies are extremely idealistic, and there is no way that they could ever exist In the capitalist society of the United states. This is for two main reasons, first the main purpose of capitalism is to make a profit. As a result there is no way that the United States would ever implement policies for free health care for Americans, let alone Syrian refugees. Second even if the United States believes that it duty to protect Syrian refugees the United States would never have an open door policy for every single Syrian refugee because there is extreme fear of terrorism and Islamophobia. Therefore in order to cure Islamophobia, people need to have a cultural education of the Muslim religion and actual teachings. Muslims “practice the peaceful religion of Islam and renounce the violent practices of radical extremism. If people could address and recognize their Islamophobia, there would be no reason for people to fear Syrian refugees and stop them from coming to the United States therefore; people continue to struggle with Islamophobia because they do not address it.

Policies about Syrian refugees are not biased towards a specific goal other than helping Syrian refugees in countries such as Lebanon, and Turkey .In order to find solutions to the Syrian refugee crisis there is one important issue, Islamphobia that needs to be overcomed. With an increase in Islamophobia, and an irrational belief that all Muslims and refugees are terrorists. The understanding of Islam as a “peaceful religion that renounces the violent practices of radical extremism will lessen the fair of muslims which would allow people to see them separate from terroist groups, thus solving the Syrian refugee crisis. 

Work cited

Hamadan, S. (2014, November). Turkey’s Policy toward Syrian Refugees Domestic Repercussions and the Need for International Support. Retrieved October 17, 2016.

The United Nations Refugee Agency Lebanon global focus report. Retrieved October 17, 2016, from http://reporting.unhcr.org/node/2520?y=2016#year