Introduction
Today you are going to be answering many questions about refugees and the war in Syria.
Process
- In 2011, some people were peacefully protesting their government, and soon the government punished them in a violent crackdown. Civilians joined the soldiers who left the army (Free Syrian Army), while the other side was President Assad with his forces.
- Assad has supporters in Iran, Russia, and Lebanon. Many different groups joined the fighting against Assad (and often against each other) including help from the US, Turkey, the Gulf Arabs, and most of the Western world.
- One group that opposes Assad is the Islamic State, who is also an enemy to most of the others who oppose Assad.
- Another minority group who is fighting Assad is the Kurdish fighters, who want independence in the region.
WHY ARE THE REFUGEES LEAVING SYRIA?
The war in Syria has been going on for over 6 years, and at least 470,000 people have been killed. The cities have been destroyed by bombs, and there is little food and medical care.The economy has been destroyed and poverty is everywhere. Thousands of people are fleeing the violence and evacuating Syria every day. The UN says that 4.8 million refugees have fled to neighboring countries; many have gone to Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq. More than half of these are children under the age of 18. The kids in the Syrian refugee crisis have lost their home, their school, their friends, and often family members. Some refugees have escaped to the north into Turkey, and many are trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea from Turkey to Greece.