The recent use of chemical warfare on the civilians of Syria again has caused for international concern. As many are struggling to survive in the war torn country Syrians need immediate aid. Reports have shown that more than 136 people have been killed in Ghouta (Eastern Syria) due to airstrikes (Al Jazeera). The combined effort from the Syrian and Russian governments to continue to expose their people to chemical warfare and airstrikes has lead to around 400,000 deaths (Wikipedia-death toll).
To understand the current conflict going back in the conflicted history of Syria is necessary. After being freed from the Ottoman rule in 1918 with the help of British troops. In the following years to come Syria-Lebanon were placed under a French Mandate. After an uprising in the 1940’s Syria gained independence from France but fell under control of the Baath party in the early 1963 after years of conflict between various Arab groups. However, Hafez al-Assad overthrows the government seizing power in 1973 (BBC). The authoritarian rule of the Assad family under Hafez was tolerated by the population. Nonetheless, when his second son Bashar al-Assad came to power in 2000 after Hafez’s death the Arab uprising was at bay. While in power Assad helped foreign relations with Lebanon and Iraq, while opening up the stock market. On the other hand the Assad regime had done everything to continue their power such as using chemical warfare towards rebelling forces along with imprisoning anyway who talked against the regime (BBC).
To Syrians during the bloody civil war they found their lives filled with fear as their own government in joint forces with Russia launch airstrikes after airstrike within heavily populated areas. After the civil war started in 2011 there was an uprising against the Assad regime. Subsequently, millions were displaced and the country was and is still in shambles from airstrikes and rebel forces. ISIS (Islamic State) soon entered Syria in the mid 2010’s.This caused for Syria to call upon help from Russia. With help from Putin, Syria has bombarded cities such as Aleppo and other sources of rebel insurgency. Along with airstrikes in 2013 Assad released rockets “filled with nerve agent sarin” and fired toward Damascus (Bbc News). The Syrian people have seen their beautiful homes and cities destroyed, their children bloodied and dying on the streets, while those in power continue to refuse aid. The recent attacks in Ghouta have held reports of chemical warfare. The UN has issued the statement that ‘the scale and ferocity of attacks has increased dramatically” (Vice News). The international community is quite aware of the millions displaced fleeing to other surrounding Arab countries and migrating to European countries. However, the people within Syria need aid the most. In certain de-escalation zones people “eat one meal a day” any type of humanitarian aid is heavily restricted etc.. food, water, medicine (the Independent). The Syrian people deserve better than to be bombed by their own leader for fighting for democracy. Before any action can be taken against Assad to remove him from power and instill a democracy the international community should prioritize the Syrian people struggling for survival.
I included a website that shows the beautiful views and historic buildings/streets of Syria before the damage due to the prolonged civil war. My hope is that people realize the strong culture and historically advanced society Syria was and amongst war and rubble still is.
https://petapixel.com/2016/08/02/26-photos-show-war-changed-syria/
Works Cited
https://www.thedailybeast.com/russia-is-launching-twice-as-many-airstrikes-as-the-us-in-syria
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-26116868
https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/12/22/syria/russia-airstrikes-siege-killing-civilians
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/02/110-people-killed-syria-eastern-ghouta-180207080342112.html
https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/comment/hands-power-rise-syrias-assad-family
February 8, 2018 at 5:25 pm
Given the incredibly fast news cycles in today’s world, and the infatuation of the American public with their own domestic issues, I’m surprised to hear that the civil war in Syria remains just as violent as had been. It always shocks me that a leader would use chemical weapons, which were banned by the Geneva Convention, against his own people. I expect that eventually, justice will come to the perpetrators of such atrocities, and I hope that more will be done to end this conflict as soon as possible.
February 8, 2018 at 5:28 pm
Syria has been a hodgepodge of conflict for so long because there are so many moving pieces. There’s conflict between the different Arab groups and the Kurds, the presence of ISIS, and the conflict between the government and foreign powers like Russia and the United States. However, I agree with you assessment that the people that matter the most in this are the bystanders who have no stake in the conflict and are simply being dragged because of where they live. Those are the people that really need help.
February 8, 2018 at 5:45 pm
A lot of Americans, including myself, often fall into the trap of seeing the Middle East as only an endless war. I appreciated that you provided greater context to the current Syrian civil war, since it humanizes the refugees who have to leave their homes because of it. It’s tragic that people have their lives ruined because of a conflict that has roots in a history that none of them could affect.