Syrian civil war began in
2011 had resulted in more than 4 million people fleeing to neighboring
countries by far and over half of them are children as per the Unites Nations
refugee agency. Besides, Amnesty International estimates that 220,000 people
have been killed due to the clashes between Syrian Government led by President
Bashar al-Assad and the rebel forces who are trying to topple his regime. Around
12.8 million people are in the urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
Background
Syria became an independent republic in the year 1946. However democratic rule
was ended by a military rebellion in March 1949. In year 1954 Syria witnessed
an uprising against the military power followed by two more uprisings in year
1963 and 1966. Finally in year 1970, General Hafez al-Assad, the Minister of Defense
seized the power and became prime minister and in the following year 1971, he
declared himself as President and he held that position until his death in 2000.
Bashar al-Assad took over as President after the death of his father Hafez, had
initially promised and instigated hopes for democratic reforms in the country.
Syria witnessed the birth of democratic forums and various political activists
started debating political and social issues. However democratic climate ended
with the arrest of ten leading activists propagating for democratic elections.
Despite of the promising talks, Bashar al-Assad has failed to make Syria an
Independent Republic.
Causes for uprising against
Assad regime
Except for a minority of population like people with close contacts with the
government officials and merchant class of Damascus (Capital city of Syria)
Discontentment was prevailing very strongly against the Syrian government among
the citizens of Syria particularly poor class. Social and Economic inequalities
had increased dramatically in the Presidency of Hafez al-Assad and the
situation was no different in the current regime of his successor Bashar
al-Assad. Syria was also facing high unemployment rates. Adding fuel to
the fire, Syria experienced a most intense drought ever recorded
in 2007 which lasted till 2010. Unlike the previous droughts, it had
the devastating consequences on the Syrians and the Syrian economy. It led
to widespread crop failure and increase in food prices and mass migration to
urban areas. As per one estimate by top UN Official, drought has
pushed 2-3 Million people in extreme Poverty. Growing discontentment for
the Assad regime started taking wings and had a far reaching impact including
the school children which the government decided to contain it by any means
necessary. One such incident was arrest of 15 school children in 2011 for
painting anti-government graffiti on the walls of school which led to huge
outrage from the family members as well as the citizens. A protest started on
15 March 2011 demanding democratic reforms and release of the school children.
However the peaceful protest had received an unwelcoming and a humiliating
response from the authorities. As per the report by CNN, one official
reportedly said to the family members pleading for the release of the children.
“Forget your children. If you
really want your children, you should make more children. If you don't know how
to make more children, we'll show you how to do it."
Eventually, the friction between the government authorities
and protesters had grown and slowly the peaceful protest turned violent when
police started attacking the protesters and killed four people on 18 March
2011. Violent protest have led to the emergence of numerous armed rebellion
groups like “Ahrar al-Sham” implies Free Men of Syria(FSA) and Al-Nusra Front
an affiliate of “Al Qaeda” in Syria who have waged a war against the
government forces and the escalation continued till 2014 until a
self-proclaimed Islamic caliphate from neighboring country Iraq called ISIL –
So called Islamic State of Iraq and Levant, an international terrorist group
had started gaining grounds in Syria and by July 2014, ISIL controlled a third
of Syrian territory. Ongoing war between rebel groups and Government forces has
continued and the 4.5 years of civil war have resulted in the death of around
220,000 people, more than 4 million people from Syria fleeing to Europe for
asylum and 50% of Syria’s Population is now displaced.
Dangerous Sea Journey towards Europe
More than 300,000 people have crossed to
Europe by sea so far this year and more than 2,600 died doing so. Europe
flooded by the migrants is facing the most dramatic refugee crisis since the
end of World War 2. Countries with pro asylum policies like Germany and Sweden
have promised to take the Syrian refugees and Germany alone have promised to
absorb 800,000 refugees in this year. However Ex-Communist states like Hungary,
the Czech Republic and Slovakia are against to accepting refugees and resisting
the migrants from reaching their countries by constructing metal fences,
deploying the military and Hungary Police have fired tear gas and water cannons
on the migrants trying to cross the borders. Germany is willing to accept
the refugees. However the German chancellor Angela Merkel wants the refugee
burden to be shared by the entire Europe as Germany alone can’t provide the
asylum for all the migrants. 28 member nations of European bloc are divided on
the acceptance of the refugees, so unwilling countries were given exemption to
buy out their obligation on a temporary basis.
Besides, Europe many countries have promised to
provide asylum for the refugees as listed below.
United States of America: As per the statement by US secretary of State John Kerry, United
States will increase the number of refugees it takes in by 15,000 over each of
the next two years, bringing the total by 100,000 by 2017.
Britain: Britain is to resettle 20,000 refugees over next 5 Years.
Australia: Australia is to accept 12,000 refugees from Syria after bowing
to pressure from critics.
Lebanon: Lebanon hosts approximately 1.2 million refugees from Syria
which amounts one in five people in the country.
Jordan: Jordan hosts 650,000 refugees from Syria, which accounts 10% of
the population
Turkey: Turkey hosts 1.9 million refugees from Syria more than any other
country worldwide.
Iraq: Iraq where 3 million people have been internally displaced in
last 18 months hosts 249,463 Syrian refugees.
Egypt: Egypt hosts 132,375 refugees from Syria
Proxy war & Diplomacy
Instability in Syria may apparently look because of a civil war, however Syria
have become a platform for Proxy war between United States and Russia. Besides
powerful Middle East countries like Saudi Kingdom, Turkey, Israel and Iran had
already took sides in this Civil war. United States and Saudi Kingdom wants to
topple the Assad regime, So US is providing full ammunition support to the
rebels including training to the rebels. Saudi, Israel and Turkey are working
as allies with US. On the flip side, Assad enjoys the patronage of Iran and
Russia. Iran and Russia are leaving no stone unturned to retain the Assad’s
leadership which includes military and financial support. In recent times
Russia has increased the military buildup in the Syria dramatically. Hence,
turning the Syrian civil war into Proxy war between arch rivals i.e., US and
Russia.
Until and unless USA and Russia reach
to an agreement with respect to the Assad’s Leadership in Syria there is no
solution for Syrian refugee crisis. If the world leaders doesn't figure out a
diplomatic solution to this alarming crisis, Syria will turn into one more
Afghanistan. After all, entire episode of Syrian war is no different from
Afghanistan from a proxy war perspective. I hope we had learned enough from our
history; else the quote by German Philosopher “Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel”
will suit apt for our actions.
“The only thing we learn from history is that we learn
nothing from history”
