This documentary on the Syrian Conflict examines the theme of survival during conflict from the lens of Syrian children who are fleeing the conflict with their families through the most arduous situations and trying to continue life in other countries as refugees. It also explores the diplomatic and social dynamics around their acceptance and rejection by various countries across Europe.
The Syrian war which started in 2011 after pro-democratic protests triggered violent government responses, has resulted in the deaths of over 585,000 people as of December 2020[1]. Although various international and non-state actors have joined the conflict, the Syrian government is being held responsible for most of the killings[2] . According to UNICEF, over 12,000 children have been killed, amounting to an average of 3 children per day[3]. The war has also resulted in the displacement of 6.2 million people within Syria and of another 6.6 million people[4], many of whom are now seeking refuge around Europe. The children seem to be the biggest losers in this conflict as many of them have lost families, suffered permanent physical disabilities, and have little to no access to basic needs such as shelter, healthcare, and education[5]. The war having reached its 10th year is essentially wasting a generation of Syrian children.
I believe the failure of the international community to swiftly intervene beyond the imposition of economic sanctions and the provision of humanitarian aid has contributed immensely to the level of unprecedented human suffering Syria is experiencing today. With such grave harm already done, the world must now intensify interventions aimed at restoring peace and promoting stability if it is to preserve what is left of Syria, for Syrians’ home and displaced.
The documentary raised issues regarding the protection of the human rights of and acceptance of refugees, Syrian and otherwise. Most refugees are people forced to flee conflict and violence. With Syrians making up the largest number of refugee population in the world,[6] there is need for developed countries to not only to tackle “the causes of the flight” as Chancellor Merkel puts it, but to also consider long-term approaches to addressing challenges facing refugees as the latter try to continue their lives in countries other than their home countries. Shockingly, despite their limited resources, developing countries host 85% of the world’s total refugee population[7]. Consequently, it is imperative that developed countries take on a bigger responsibility for and share of the refugee population and strengthen existing international frameworks around integration and resettlement of refugees.
Additionally, concerted efforts must be made to address the long-term impacts of conflicts, particularly with regards to how they affect children. The documentary, in narrating the war experience through the eyes of some Syrian children, shows how the war altered their lives and how they have handled both the physical (i.e. fatalities and permanent injuries) and social (i.e., breakdown of family and essential societal structures) brunt. All the children had quit schooling and were trying to escape being killed or having to join the war as child soldiers. They had also been exposed to varying degrees of dehumanizing conditions, including school bullying in their new homes, and were struggling to understand why some nations chose to reject them. It seemed that every minute spent in inaction or reluctance in providing the necessary structural support increased the risks of children being exposed to worse forms of exploitation.
Considering this reality, I find it crucial for host countries to strategize to create institutions targeted at protecting refugees, while harnessing the potentials and opportunities they could create in a society. I, thus, agree with the European Union’s and United Nations’ recommendation of fostering a culture of acceptance by highlighting the economic and social benefits that integration of refugees could bring [8]. This would not only ensure that Syrian refugees feel safer, at-home, and more productive, but would also reduce some of the social struggles Syrian children refugees face.
Another perspective I reflected upon in the light of the documentary is the role of the Doctrine of Responsibility to Protect (R2P) in conflict situations. In the instant case, the commission established by the UN Secretary-General had concluded that the government of Syria failed in its responsibility to protect its people as far back as August 2011[9] but the international community was slow to take decisive action. It seems that despite the consensus that protection of populations at risk should be paramount, the enforceability of the doctrine relies heavily on political will of the security council and other powerful governments. While I identify the concerns that have arisen with respect to preemptive interventions, it is my view that each conflict must be examined on a case-by-case basis. The approach of depending on the full backing of the security council should be reexamined to guarantee that in subsequent conflicts, proactive steps would be taken to ensure timely and collective action in prevention of atrocities against civilians irrespective of political undertones.
[1] Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, accessed via https://www.syriahr.com/en/152189/ May 16, 2021. [2] Violations Documentation Centre (2020) accessed via https://scm.bz/en/violations-watch/vdc-annual-statistical-report-on-casualties-in-syria [3] https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/syria-conflict-10-years-90-cent-children-need-support-violence-economic-crisis-and [4] https://www.worldvision.org/refugees-news-stories/syrian-refugee-crisis-facts [5] Ibid [6] UNHCR: Global Trends in Forced Displacement 2019, accessed via https://www.unhcr.org/be/wp-content/uploads/sites/46/2020/07/Global-Trends-Report-2019.pdf [7] Ibid [8] European Union and the United Nations, 2018: Expert Group on Refugee and Internally Displaced Persons Statistics International Recommendations on Refugee Statistics, accessed via https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic-social/Standards-and-Methods/files/Principles_and_Recommendations/International-Migration/2018_1746_EN_08-E.pdf [9] Report of the independent international commission of inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, accessed via https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/SY/A.HRC.S-17.2.Add.1_en.pdf
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