This was an assignment for a Global Economics and Politics class. We were to assume the role of a United Nations Officer.
TO: Rex W. Tillerson, Secretary of State, United States Government
FROM: Annabel Benjamin, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
RE: Proposal to US government to offer aid for Syrian Refugees
DATE: Thursday, March 15, 2018
The Problem
As civil violence continues to erupt within the country of Syria, millions of Syrian families are seeking safety from the violence that is directly threatening their survival. With increasing violence comes increasing numbers of refugees fleeing their home country with little choice of where to go. A refugee is differentiated from a migrant in that they are coming to a different country in need of safety, fleeing from life threatening danger or religious, racial, political persecution. Specifically, in Syria, mass displacement has occurred with over twelve million people forced to flee the country (Al Rifai). The cause of this mass displacement is the
Syrian Civil War which has killed over 456,000 people and injured over a million more (Al Rifai). The eruption of civil violence stemmed from local protests against Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad in 2011. A vicious positive feedback loop was initiated as more protests erupted with retaliation by the Syrian government, followed by increased local anger and violence (Syria: The
story of the conflict). Local fighters took up arms to fight but also to protect themselves from the government which eventually descended into a full blown civil war between the government in support of Bashar al-Assad and the people. Yet, this fighting continued to escalate as it adopted religious undertones becoming a fight between Sunni and Shia Muslims, the majority of the
nation being of the Sunni sect and the leader al-Assad being of the Shia sect (Syria: The story of the conflict). This adds an addition level of unrest as ISIS, a Sunni extremist and terrorist group, as become involved and violently react to any forms of resistance. As the government attempts to gain control of land, they do so by atrocious acts of violence against the Syrian people. The government has murdered its people through aerial bombings and starved its people to death by depriving them of food and water. The government is committing war crimes by depriving the people of their basic human rights and by torturing them to the point of starvation and death (Syria: The story of the conflict). One of the most deadly and in-humane tactics also being used
is chemical warfare, not only by the Syrian government but also by ISIS, such as the attacks on Damascus in 2014 and on Marea in 2015 (Syria: The story of the conflict).
With such a large amount people being forced to the leave, the problem then becomes where they are going to. The majority of Syrian refugees are going to surrounding countries in the Middle East such as Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon. Even within the country there are about 6.5 million people being displaced and left without any resources being refused humanitarian aid relief by the authoritarian regime (Syria: The story of the conflict). This leaves the majority of the country in poverty with “one in three people are unable to meet their basic food needs, and more than 2 million children are out of school” (Syria: The story of the conflict).
Why the United States is Qualified to Help
The US is one the world’s richest countries with a large budget and great amounts of infrastructure making it qualified to assist a country like Syria. Yet although US is capable of helping other countries it only uses about 1.3 percent of its budget on foreign aid and an even smaller fraction (16%) of that foreign aid on global humanitarian efforts (McBride). On the other hand, the US spends about 54% of its budget on military spending. Therefore, I am specifically writing to you, Mr. Tillerson, because the United States is fully capable economically of using what would only be a fraction of the national budget on international aid that would greatly improve the lives of Syrian refugees. With the US holding over 23% of the global GDP, there is no reason for the US to only be supporting 4% of all refugees and asylum seekers, not only the ones from Syria (Urban). Therefore, Mr. Tillerson, as Secretary of State it is your responsibility to ensure that our national income is being used to benefit other nations in need. First and foremost, the US should increase its aid efforts because as a world leader it is necessary to perpetuate humanitarian efforts internationally as well as locally. Yet, there are political benefits for the US by partaking in aid efforts by helping stabilize the area. With Russian support for Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, weapons are being funneled into the Syrian army while Russian assets in the naval and air bases remain (Syria Crisis: where key countries stand). Therefore, with Russia in the region, it is also United States interest to remain active as well to foster national stability with Syria by continuing to fight against Jihadist groups in Syria whose violent actions continue to foster Civil War in the region (Syria Crisis: where key countries stand).
What Has Already Been Done
There have been various responses to the global refugee crisis by multiple countries yet major problems still persist leaving many refugees without support and creating issues which stem from these responses. As reported by CNN on February 22, 2017, “US President Donald Trump is expected to sign a new executive order that would temporarily halt travel from citizens of seven nations he says pose a high risk of terrorism” which would target majority Muslim countries and ban any Syrian refugees from entering the United States (Vonberg). Yet, this response to the refugee crisis abroad is not only leaving families vulnerable but it is increasing religious violence abroad. Furthermore, many European nations are mirroring the United States’ response to refugees by also attempting to keep refugees from migrating to their nations through fortifying their borders (Vonberg). For example, immigration to Germany spiked in 2015 and 2016 as over 250,000 people were given refugee status when Chancellor Angela Merkel opened
the country up to refugees, many of which came from Syria (Vonberg). Since the main proposed solution to this international crisis has been to allow more refuges in to foreign nations “Germany has given asylum to 38,180 Syrians between 2011 and 2014, vastly more than the number given asylum by Britain since 2011 (5,102)” (Bennett). But, now Germany and other European countries are not only internally fortifying their borders but they also plan to deport many of the refugees who had already come to their nation (Vonberg). In Germany specifically, many refugees are being sent to camps in Greece that are seen as inhumane because of such low quality living conditions (Vonberg). This negative response to refuges has echoed through many European nations such the UK, Poland, the Netherlands etc. yet, similar to the US, the EU hold 24% of global GDP (Urban).
The main response to refugees in the United States, Europe and in surrounding Middle Eastern countries has been to allow refugees into their nation yet this attempt at aid seems to be failing. The United States alone only admitted 12, 587 Syrian refugees within the past year but with increasing policies against refugee migration to the United States, the rate of this aid will most likely continue to decrease (Vonberg). With the disproportionate spending of national income in the US government, a new solution presents itself. Andrew Mitchell, who worked as the UK’s minister of international development presented his own solution to the refugee crisis in Europe suggesting that a different stance must be taken within the nations from which these refugees are fleeing. He suggested that British troops should be sent to Syria in order to protect the people, creating safe spaces for them (Bennett). Therefore, if the United States uses a proportion of its large military power to protect the people in Syria, it could be contributing to a solution. If the majority of national spending is being funneled into the US military rather than international aid, then this spending can be indirectly put to use to aid the Syrian refugees.
Possible Solutions to the Syrian Refugee Crisis:
Help Refugees Become Independent Members of Society
When the millions of Syrian refugees leave their home country they are displaced into poverty stricken areas or are placed in camps with poor, almost inhumane conditions. Therefore, although they are safe from the civil unrest and violence plaguing their home country, they still are stuck facing struggles abroad. Numerous testimonies of Syrian children who were relocated with their families to surrounding Middle-Eastern countries have shown that they are unable to get an education because their families are in need of their support economically, forcing them to work rather than get an education. As many of them explain in these testimonies, it is an education that will grant them further success and stability. Therefore, in order to help support long-term rather that short-term efforts, it is important for developed governments such as the United States to focus their funding in programs such as education. With an increasing number of refugee children becoming educated they will have a higher chance of success in the future and therefore become autonomous agents without the help of additional aid from national or international sources. An additional way to ensure the education of young refugees is for the US to focus the money used to aid into specific sectors abroad. These would be sectors such as infrastructure to build schools and buy supplies, hiring qualified teachers, and transportation if necessary for the child to go to school. Furthermore, with refugees facing discrimination and resistance once moving abroad, many young refugees are treated poorly by others in their schools. Therefore, schools should be built in refugee camps and should be targeted on meeting the needs of these young people. With overcrowded class rooms, poor learning conditions, and emotional distress from being uprooted as a child in the midst of violent conflict, many refugee children are being deprived of educational opportunities. It is important to understand that their unique situation needs to be handled in a particular way and to take extra caution with the understanding that their lives have been aggressively overturned at a point in their lives which is crucial to their development.
Selective Migration to the US for High Risk Populations
With increasing backlash against immigration in the United States and the institution of laws that are meant to decrease the amount of refugees, especially from Middle Eastern countries, there needs to be policy solutions that will not only appease those in office who are pushing for less refugee migration but also contribute to help solving a problem that the US has the power and resources to assist in. Therefore, one can propose a type of selective migration that would filter which refugees were in the greatest need of being relocated. Certain areas in Syria have the high levels of violence as the government tries to claim territories around the nation which become targets for air strikes and deprivation of human rights. For example, the city of Homs is plagued with heavy violence and has been deemed “the capital of the revolution” when local opposition forces rebelled against the government who attempted to take back the city (Syria: Mapping the Conflict). Additionally, Syria’s capital city of Damascus has become the target of sieges and air strikes because of its strategic position (Syria: Mapping the Conflict). Other cities such as Aleppo where continued violent battle between the government, rebels and jihadist has left the city in ruins, and the Kurdish populated city of Kobane, are sites of high risk violence. (Syria: Mapping the conflict). Furthermore, certain religious minorities and political descendants are being targeted and are therefore at the highest risk for being tortured or executed. For example, Syria’s minority Christian population, making up only 10% of the population, has been caught in the violence and has been targeted by the rebel groups and Sunni fundamentalists and has faced immense religious persecution (Burke- CNN). Therefore, it is groups like these who the US government should focus on helping transport to the United States or other safe locations. Because of such large numbers of refugees in need of assistance, by focusing on those with the highest risk, the US can target aid more effectively.
Helping on the Home Front Rather Than Focusing on Issues of Migration
Since the crisis has been active for a prolonged period of time and many international efforts in countries outside of the Middle East and Syria have not had a great positive effect in the violence taking place, I think it is important to further the approach suggested by Andrew Mitchell. Therefore, rather than taking a defensive position in Syria, the United States should take a more personal position abroad. In this way, the US would be targeting the problem at the source rather than attempting to solve it as it continues to spread internationally. Mitchell calls for the British armed forces to protect refugees in their home countries and the United States could use this model to use a fraction of their grand military force as protection in Syria itself. More specifically, this does not suggest direct intervention which could potentially further destabilize the area as past US military intervention in the Middle East has proven. An example of such destabilization is the war that took place in Afghanistan in 2001 when the US began a war on terror against the Taliban and the leaders of al Qaeda. But, this war was actually a continuation of US intervention in the 1970s when the CIA armed rebel forces, in turn fueling the creation of al-Qaeda (Azikewi). Becoming the United States’ longest war, the war in Afghanistan continues, not only costing the US one trillion dollars but the lives of countless US troops begin sent abroad and further perpetuating violence and great destabilization in the region. (Westcott). Therefore, to prevent further destabilization, the US would serve to create a “safe heaven” and act defensively against the aggressive local regime. The US would not be entering Syria to fight a war but to help dilute the current war that is taking place by using their defensive force. This would also be a strategic way of providing aid because it does not require further displacement of refugees and allows for problems to be targeted at the source rather than perpetuating the prominent migration issues which are taking place globally.
Conclusion
It is crucial that the Syrian refuge crisis is attended to and that current aid efforts continue but it is even more crucial that aggressive action is taken immediately. With millions displaced or forced to leave their own nation out of fear for their lives, continued attempts at failed action need to be transformed into new and innovative procedures. The solutions proposed above should, at the very least, be considered by the U.S. Department of State in regards to U.S. military power and economic stability. Without reform to the education system for refugee children, drop-out rates will continue to increase and a generation of capable young people will be robbed of an education and a hope for a successful future in professional fields. If this solution is implemented poverty-stricken areas will have greater functional capabilities and the possibility of young Syrian children achieving more successful futures. Furthermore, by targeting high-risk populations directly, the possibility of more lives being saved is greater.
Though organization of a system which pin-points the areas that should be aided first may be regarded as complex, it is fully possible and extremely necessary to increase efficiency and ensure that no aid efforts go to waste. Finally, with a defensive approach on the home front, the U.S. will be able to utilize the sector in which receives the majority of government spending, the
military, as well as target the problem at the source rather than attempting to solve the expanding crisis internationally.
Works Cited
Al Rifai, Diana . “Syrian refugee crisis: All your questions answered.” Syria | Al Jazeera, 25 May 2017, www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/2015/07/syria-refugee-crisis- 150709120935092.html#crisis-start.
Azikiwe , Abayomi. “United States Imperialism Continues War in Afghanistan and the Destabilization of Africa.” Global Research , 4 Oct. 2017, www.globalresearch.ca/united-states-imperialism-continues-war-in-afghanistan-and-the-destabilization-of-
africa/5611975.
Bennett, Asa. “Seven proposed solutions for the EU refugee crisis.” The Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group, 4 Sept. 2015,
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/11843234/Seven-proposed-solutions-for- the-EU-refugee-crisis.html.
Burke, Daniel. “Syria explained: How it became a religious war.” CNN, Cable News Network, 4 Sept. 2013, religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/09/04/syrian-wars-got-religion-and-that-aint-good/.
McBride, James . “How Does the U.S. Spend Its Foreign Aid?” Council on Foreign Relations, Council on Foreign Relations, 11 Apr. 2017, www.cfr.org/backgrounder/how-does-us- spend-its-foreign-aid.
“Military Spending in the United States.” National Priorities Project, www.nationalpriorities.org/campaigns/military-spending-united-states/.
“Syria crisis: Where key countries stand.” BBC News, BBC, 30 Oct. 2015, www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-23849587.
“Syria's civil war explained from the beginning.” News | Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 4 Mar. 2018, www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/05/syria-civil-war-explained-160505084119966.html.
“Syria: Mapping the conflict.” BBC News, BBC, 10 July 2015, www.bbc.com/news/world- middle-east-22798391.
“Syria: The story of the conflict.” BBC News, BBC, 11 Mar. 2016, www.bbc.com/news/world- middle-east-26116868.
Urban, Samantha. “8 shocking facts about refugees from our new data tool.” ONE, 20 June 2017,
www.one.org/us/2017/06/20/refugee- facts/?gclid=CjwKCAiAxJPVBRB4EiwAsCA4aZGTH9KTGXNcvFbOv-
B0EebgS_ogobNxN4YBE4G_Rqfy3_LyC0RZ3hoCo4cQAvD_BwE.
Vonberg, Judith. “How some European countries are tightening their refugee policies.” CNN, Cable News Network, 22 Feb. 2017, www.cnn.com/2017/02/22/europe/europe-refugee- policy/index.html.
Westcott, Ben. “Afghanistan: 16 years, thousands dead and no clear end in sight.” CNN, Cable News Network, 31 Oct. 2017, www.cnn.com/2017/08/21/asia/afghanistan-war- explainer/index.html.
FROM: Annabel Benjamin, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
RE: Proposal to US government to offer aid for Syrian Refugees
DATE: Thursday, March 15, 2018
The Problem
As civil violence continues to erupt within the country of Syria, millions of Syrian families are seeking safety from the violence that is directly threatening their survival. With increasing violence comes increasing numbers of refugees fleeing their home country with little choice of where to go. A refugee is differentiated from a migrant in that they are coming to a different country in need of safety, fleeing from life threatening danger or religious, racial, political persecution. Specifically, in Syria, mass displacement has occurred with over twelve million people forced to flee the country (Al Rifai). The cause of this mass displacement is the
Syrian Civil War which has killed over 456,000 people and injured over a million more (Al Rifai). The eruption of civil violence stemmed from local protests against Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad in 2011. A vicious positive feedback loop was initiated as more protests erupted with retaliation by the Syrian government, followed by increased local anger and violence (Syria: The
story of the conflict). Local fighters took up arms to fight but also to protect themselves from the government which eventually descended into a full blown civil war between the government in support of Bashar al-Assad and the people. Yet, this fighting continued to escalate as it adopted religious undertones becoming a fight between Sunni and Shia Muslims, the majority of the
nation being of the Sunni sect and the leader al-Assad being of the Shia sect (Syria: The story of the conflict). This adds an addition level of unrest as ISIS, a Sunni extremist and terrorist group, as become involved and violently react to any forms of resistance. As the government attempts to gain control of land, they do so by atrocious acts of violence against the Syrian people. The government has murdered its people through aerial bombings and starved its people to death by depriving them of food and water. The government is committing war crimes by depriving the people of their basic human rights and by torturing them to the point of starvation and death (Syria: The story of the conflict). One of the most deadly and in-humane tactics also being used
is chemical warfare, not only by the Syrian government but also by ISIS, such as the attacks on Damascus in 2014 and on Marea in 2015 (Syria: The story of the conflict).
With such a large amount people being forced to the leave, the problem then becomes where they are going to. The majority of Syrian refugees are going to surrounding countries in the Middle East such as Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon. Even within the country there are about 6.5 million people being displaced and left without any resources being refused humanitarian aid relief by the authoritarian regime (Syria: The story of the conflict). This leaves the majority of the country in poverty with “one in three people are unable to meet their basic food needs, and more than 2 million children are out of school” (Syria: The story of the conflict).
Why the United States is Qualified to Help
The US is one the world’s richest countries with a large budget and great amounts of infrastructure making it qualified to assist a country like Syria. Yet although US is capable of helping other countries it only uses about 1.3 percent of its budget on foreign aid and an even smaller fraction (16%) of that foreign aid on global humanitarian efforts (McBride). On the other hand, the US spends about 54% of its budget on military spending. Therefore, I am specifically writing to you, Mr. Tillerson, because the United States is fully capable economically of using what would only be a fraction of the national budget on international aid that would greatly improve the lives of Syrian refugees. With the US holding over 23% of the global GDP, there is no reason for the US to only be supporting 4% of all refugees and asylum seekers, not only the ones from Syria (Urban). Therefore, Mr. Tillerson, as Secretary of State it is your responsibility to ensure that our national income is being used to benefit other nations in need. First and foremost, the US should increase its aid efforts because as a world leader it is necessary to perpetuate humanitarian efforts internationally as well as locally. Yet, there are political benefits for the US by partaking in aid efforts by helping stabilize the area. With Russian support for Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, weapons are being funneled into the Syrian army while Russian assets in the naval and air bases remain (Syria Crisis: where key countries stand). Therefore, with Russia in the region, it is also United States interest to remain active as well to foster national stability with Syria by continuing to fight against Jihadist groups in Syria whose violent actions continue to foster Civil War in the region (Syria Crisis: where key countries stand).
What Has Already Been Done
There have been various responses to the global refugee crisis by multiple countries yet major problems still persist leaving many refugees without support and creating issues which stem from these responses. As reported by CNN on February 22, 2017, “US President Donald Trump is expected to sign a new executive order that would temporarily halt travel from citizens of seven nations he says pose a high risk of terrorism” which would target majority Muslim countries and ban any Syrian refugees from entering the United States (Vonberg). Yet, this response to the refugee crisis abroad is not only leaving families vulnerable but it is increasing religious violence abroad. Furthermore, many European nations are mirroring the United States’ response to refugees by also attempting to keep refugees from migrating to their nations through fortifying their borders (Vonberg). For example, immigration to Germany spiked in 2015 and 2016 as over 250,000 people were given refugee status when Chancellor Angela Merkel opened
the country up to refugees, many of which came from Syria (Vonberg). Since the main proposed solution to this international crisis has been to allow more refuges in to foreign nations “Germany has given asylum to 38,180 Syrians between 2011 and 2014, vastly more than the number given asylum by Britain since 2011 (5,102)” (Bennett). But, now Germany and other European countries are not only internally fortifying their borders but they also plan to deport many of the refugees who had already come to their nation (Vonberg). In Germany specifically, many refugees are being sent to camps in Greece that are seen as inhumane because of such low quality living conditions (Vonberg). This negative response to refuges has echoed through many European nations such the UK, Poland, the Netherlands etc. yet, similar to the US, the EU hold 24% of global GDP (Urban).
The main response to refugees in the United States, Europe and in surrounding Middle Eastern countries has been to allow refugees into their nation yet this attempt at aid seems to be failing. The United States alone only admitted 12, 587 Syrian refugees within the past year but with increasing policies against refugee migration to the United States, the rate of this aid will most likely continue to decrease (Vonberg). With the disproportionate spending of national income in the US government, a new solution presents itself. Andrew Mitchell, who worked as the UK’s minister of international development presented his own solution to the refugee crisis in Europe suggesting that a different stance must be taken within the nations from which these refugees are fleeing. He suggested that British troops should be sent to Syria in order to protect the people, creating safe spaces for them (Bennett). Therefore, if the United States uses a proportion of its large military power to protect the people in Syria, it could be contributing to a solution. If the majority of national spending is being funneled into the US military rather than international aid, then this spending can be indirectly put to use to aid the Syrian refugees.
Possible Solutions to the Syrian Refugee Crisis:
Help Refugees Become Independent Members of Society
When the millions of Syrian refugees leave their home country they are displaced into poverty stricken areas or are placed in camps with poor, almost inhumane conditions. Therefore, although they are safe from the civil unrest and violence plaguing their home country, they still are stuck facing struggles abroad. Numerous testimonies of Syrian children who were relocated with their families to surrounding Middle-Eastern countries have shown that they are unable to get an education because their families are in need of their support economically, forcing them to work rather than get an education. As many of them explain in these testimonies, it is an education that will grant them further success and stability. Therefore, in order to help support long-term rather that short-term efforts, it is important for developed governments such as the United States to focus their funding in programs such as education. With an increasing number of refugee children becoming educated they will have a higher chance of success in the future and therefore become autonomous agents without the help of additional aid from national or international sources. An additional way to ensure the education of young refugees is for the US to focus the money used to aid into specific sectors abroad. These would be sectors such as infrastructure to build schools and buy supplies, hiring qualified teachers, and transportation if necessary for the child to go to school. Furthermore, with refugees facing discrimination and resistance once moving abroad, many young refugees are treated poorly by others in their schools. Therefore, schools should be built in refugee camps and should be targeted on meeting the needs of these young people. With overcrowded class rooms, poor learning conditions, and emotional distress from being uprooted as a child in the midst of violent conflict, many refugee children are being deprived of educational opportunities. It is important to understand that their unique situation needs to be handled in a particular way and to take extra caution with the understanding that their lives have been aggressively overturned at a point in their lives which is crucial to their development.
Selective Migration to the US for High Risk Populations
With increasing backlash against immigration in the United States and the institution of laws that are meant to decrease the amount of refugees, especially from Middle Eastern countries, there needs to be policy solutions that will not only appease those in office who are pushing for less refugee migration but also contribute to help solving a problem that the US has the power and resources to assist in. Therefore, one can propose a type of selective migration that would filter which refugees were in the greatest need of being relocated. Certain areas in Syria have the high levels of violence as the government tries to claim territories around the nation which become targets for air strikes and deprivation of human rights. For example, the city of Homs is plagued with heavy violence and has been deemed “the capital of the revolution” when local opposition forces rebelled against the government who attempted to take back the city (Syria: Mapping the Conflict). Additionally, Syria’s capital city of Damascus has become the target of sieges and air strikes because of its strategic position (Syria: Mapping the Conflict). Other cities such as Aleppo where continued violent battle between the government, rebels and jihadist has left the city in ruins, and the Kurdish populated city of Kobane, are sites of high risk violence. (Syria: Mapping the conflict). Furthermore, certain religious minorities and political descendants are being targeted and are therefore at the highest risk for being tortured or executed. For example, Syria’s minority Christian population, making up only 10% of the population, has been caught in the violence and has been targeted by the rebel groups and Sunni fundamentalists and has faced immense religious persecution (Burke- CNN). Therefore, it is groups like these who the US government should focus on helping transport to the United States or other safe locations. Because of such large numbers of refugees in need of assistance, by focusing on those with the highest risk, the US can target aid more effectively.
Helping on the Home Front Rather Than Focusing on Issues of Migration
Since the crisis has been active for a prolonged period of time and many international efforts in countries outside of the Middle East and Syria have not had a great positive effect in the violence taking place, I think it is important to further the approach suggested by Andrew Mitchell. Therefore, rather than taking a defensive position in Syria, the United States should take a more personal position abroad. In this way, the US would be targeting the problem at the source rather than attempting to solve it as it continues to spread internationally. Mitchell calls for the British armed forces to protect refugees in their home countries and the United States could use this model to use a fraction of their grand military force as protection in Syria itself. More specifically, this does not suggest direct intervention which could potentially further destabilize the area as past US military intervention in the Middle East has proven. An example of such destabilization is the war that took place in Afghanistan in 2001 when the US began a war on terror against the Taliban and the leaders of al Qaeda. But, this war was actually a continuation of US intervention in the 1970s when the CIA armed rebel forces, in turn fueling the creation of al-Qaeda (Azikewi). Becoming the United States’ longest war, the war in Afghanistan continues, not only costing the US one trillion dollars but the lives of countless US troops begin sent abroad and further perpetuating violence and great destabilization in the region. (Westcott). Therefore, to prevent further destabilization, the US would serve to create a “safe heaven” and act defensively against the aggressive local regime. The US would not be entering Syria to fight a war but to help dilute the current war that is taking place by using their defensive force. This would also be a strategic way of providing aid because it does not require further displacement of refugees and allows for problems to be targeted at the source rather than perpetuating the prominent migration issues which are taking place globally.
Conclusion
It is crucial that the Syrian refuge crisis is attended to and that current aid efforts continue but it is even more crucial that aggressive action is taken immediately. With millions displaced or forced to leave their own nation out of fear for their lives, continued attempts at failed action need to be transformed into new and innovative procedures. The solutions proposed above should, at the very least, be considered by the U.S. Department of State in regards to U.S. military power and economic stability. Without reform to the education system for refugee children, drop-out rates will continue to increase and a generation of capable young people will be robbed of an education and a hope for a successful future in professional fields. If this solution is implemented poverty-stricken areas will have greater functional capabilities and the possibility of young Syrian children achieving more successful futures. Furthermore, by targeting high-risk populations directly, the possibility of more lives being saved is greater.
Though organization of a system which pin-points the areas that should be aided first may be regarded as complex, it is fully possible and extremely necessary to increase efficiency and ensure that no aid efforts go to waste. Finally, with a defensive approach on the home front, the U.S. will be able to utilize the sector in which receives the majority of government spending, the
military, as well as target the problem at the source rather than attempting to solve the expanding crisis internationally.
Works Cited
Al Rifai, Diana . “Syrian refugee crisis: All your questions answered.” Syria | Al Jazeera, 25 May 2017, www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/2015/07/syria-refugee-crisis- 150709120935092.html#crisis-start.
Azikiwe , Abayomi. “United States Imperialism Continues War in Afghanistan and the Destabilization of Africa.” Global Research , 4 Oct. 2017, www.globalresearch.ca/united-states-imperialism-continues-war-in-afghanistan-and-the-destabilization-of-
africa/5611975.
Bennett, Asa. “Seven proposed solutions for the EU refugee crisis.” The Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group, 4 Sept. 2015,
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/11843234/Seven-proposed-solutions-for- the-EU-refugee-crisis.html.
Burke, Daniel. “Syria explained: How it became a religious war.” CNN, Cable News Network, 4 Sept. 2013, religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/09/04/syrian-wars-got-religion-and-that-aint-good/.
McBride, James . “How Does the U.S. Spend Its Foreign Aid?” Council on Foreign Relations, Council on Foreign Relations, 11 Apr. 2017, www.cfr.org/backgrounder/how-does-us- spend-its-foreign-aid.
“Military Spending in the United States.” National Priorities Project, www.nationalpriorities.org/campaigns/military-spending-united-states/.
“Syria crisis: Where key countries stand.” BBC News, BBC, 30 Oct. 2015, www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-23849587.
“Syria's civil war explained from the beginning.” News | Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 4 Mar. 2018, www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/05/syria-civil-war-explained-160505084119966.html.
“Syria: Mapping the conflict.” BBC News, BBC, 10 July 2015, www.bbc.com/news/world- middle-east-22798391.
“Syria: The story of the conflict.” BBC News, BBC, 11 Mar. 2016, www.bbc.com/news/world- middle-east-26116868.
Urban, Samantha. “8 shocking facts about refugees from our new data tool.” ONE, 20 June 2017,
www.one.org/us/2017/06/20/refugee- facts/?gclid=CjwKCAiAxJPVBRB4EiwAsCA4aZGTH9KTGXNcvFbOv-
B0EebgS_ogobNxN4YBE4G_Rqfy3_LyC0RZ3hoCo4cQAvD_BwE.
Vonberg, Judith. “How some European countries are tightening their refugee policies.” CNN, Cable News Network, 22 Feb. 2017, www.cnn.com/2017/02/22/europe/europe-refugee- policy/index.html.
Westcott, Ben. “Afghanistan: 16 years, thousands dead and no clear end in sight.” CNN, Cable News Network, 31 Oct. 2017, www.cnn.com/2017/08/21/asia/afghanistan-war- explainer/index.html.