If anyone is interested in why there has been such a surge of Syrian refugees lately, The Washington Post‘s article 8 reasons Europe’s refugee crisis is happening now gives a good explanation. Basically the Syrians are giving up hope that they will ever have a decent life, including education for their children, if they stay in the Middle East. The interesting thing is Assad is making it easy for them to get passports, even if they are currently living in other countries. He is also conscripting men under 30, but allowing them to defer their enlistment if they pay $300.
This has confirmed the suspicions of many Syria watchers that Assad has deliberately encouraged the refugee flow, both to neighboring countries and to Europe, as part of a strategy to empty the country of potential opponents. “The humanitarian catastrophe we are witnessing is an outcome of Assad’s survival strategy,” said Emile Hokayem of the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies. “Assad has sought to shift the burden of dealing with those in Syria who are opposed to him onto other actors.”
Assad disagrees, of course.
Another relevant article by the Post is For many Syrians in Lebanon and Jordan, now is the time to go. The migrant/refugee problem is going to get a lot worse.
September 22, 2015
As you say, Jean, it is going to get a lot worse. Both for refugees and Europe.
The Germany and Merkel bashing going on unabashed without taking the actual facts into account. It’s the eternal question: What do you do when someone/a stranger is drowning (metaphorically speaking)? I know, for a fact, that a human’s first impulse is to hold out a helping hand. However, there are those – and I won’t write down the name they deserve – who think of themselves first.
Yes, sure, as once witnessed by my mother (she saved someone drowning), the one drowning will take your strength away (not deliberately) by putting up a fight but you just have to struggle on.
It’s a fucking tragedy and when I read readers’ comments (below the actual reporting in the press) I despair. What I despair most about that they say most the refugees are young men, strong and of fighting age. That they should stay in their country of origin and FIGHT. Fight? I left one comment on that one: “Women do not give birth to canon fodder”.
We’ll see.
U
I don’t think it’s Merkel or Germany bashing to say Germany giving the idea it was welcoming refugees with open arms encouraged a lot more refugees to come — and more refugees than Germany or the EU can handle. And I think trying to force other countries to take more refugees is going to be a disaster for the poor refugees who have to go there. It’s a tragic mess.
The Shia / Sunni / Kurd conundrum with rulers being different from the ruled and rising aspirations due to the easy access to information about what is happening in the rest of the world is the reason. Each case is different but the underlying conflict is one of lack of a say in governance.
It’s a mess and is going to get a lot worse.
I think there are several causes of the huge exodus from Syria. Constant civil war with no end in sight, Assad’s ruthless dictatorship and years of drought that have ruined thousands of farmers. What’s the point of struggling on when the odds of an normal life seem hopelessly stacked against you?
The Syrians who moved to adjoining countries with the hopes of eventually going back home are realizing that’s not likely to happen. They’re understandably desperate, and there’s not likely to be a happy ending for most of them. .
such an egomaniac.
his country in ruins.
what will be left for him to ‘lord it over?’
i would be fleeing for a better life too.
as a matter of fact… i would have left long ago.
as to how it affects the rest of the world…
it is almost to me just part of the ebb and flow of humanity.
the last time was during ice age. now it has repercussions because of the modernity of man and its own complications.
it will play out on the stage of time.
oh brother. where did THAT line come from tammy!!! LOLOL!
thank you for the links monk. i’ll definitely read them.
Fleeing your home country doesn’t mean you will have a better life. Most people in refugee camps aren’t allowed to work and establish a decent life for themselves and their families. And now there’s not enough aid even for those camps. That’s why Germany’s welcome was so appealing.
I say a silent prayer of gratitude to the Universe, thankful that I was born here.
Whatever the motives, the reasons… My heart breaks seeing those crying terrified children on the news.
The whole thing is heartbreaking because there’s no good solution except for a fortunate few. I’m with you, be grateful for what we have.