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Jr. Model United Nations Preparatory Conference The Refugee Crisis in Syria Presented by: Mr. Samer Abboud, Arcadia University. Wednesday, March 12 & Thursday, March 13, 2014 Temple University, Fox School of Business · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Refugee Crisis in Syria.
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Jr. Model United Nations Preparatory Conference The Refugee Crisis in Syria Presented by: Mr. Samer Abboud, Arcadia University Wednesday, March 12 & Thursday, March 13, 2014 Temple University, Fox School of Business · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Refugee Crisis in Syria Samer AbboudAssistant Professor, International Studies Arcadia University
Some key questions • What has caused the Syrian refugee crisis? • Who are the refugees and where are the refugees going? • What is being done to help them?
The beginning of the crisis • The Syrian uprising began in March 2011 • The uprising was slowly militarized – more violence led to more people leaving their homes • Internally displaced people versus refugees • Why would someone stay within their country as opposed to leaving it?
The severity of the crisis • Syria’s population is about 22.5 million • 1/3 of this population now live outside of their homes • The United States population is 314 million • If 1/3 of Americans were displaced, that would be around 105 million people • What do you think would be some of the long-term consequences if that happened here?
Meeting refugee needs • Basic service provision is lacking • Donor commitments do not match actual contributions • Refugees have very few protections, very few rights • Reliance on international organizations for relief and support
Life in the camps • Very few are able to leave the camps • Impermanence and permanence at the same time • Reliance on aid • Attempts to establish social structures of support • Loss of assets, jobs, skills and economic opportunities • Informality and loss of education possibilities • Poor services
Future impacts • Social ruptures and cultural destruction • Loss of economic capacity and development • Resentment and retribution • How will Syrians live together after this collective experience?
Refugee options • Integration • Repatriation • Resettlement
Looking forward • Refugee support services are slow to materialize • Economic and political resentment is growing against Syrians • The conflict is getting worse, not better