If it wasn't already, the Syrian crisis is now clearly a global problem

Since the conflict in Syria began in 2011, around 250,000 people have been killed and half of the country’s population has migrated to different states

The socio-political unrest and targeted bombing on densely populated Syrian towns sparked an unprecedented increase in the migration of Syrians. With countless forced to leave their houses and live under the sky, all the promises made by the west for bringing in peace and serenity have turned to dust so far.

Circumstances brought children out of school, patient out of hospitals and people out of the shelter and compelled them to flee their homes. Nevertheless, power players involved in the game can still provide a standalone justification over airstrikes in Syria and northern Iraq.

People try to cling on to what has been left behind in two ways. One is to stay in the ruins of their homes and sigh on their fate the other is to flee their homes. As a result, a wave of refugees is running to the other countries, mainly Europe. 

Maybe the West is already trying to overcome its fears caused by unexpected terrorist attacks? Most of the European countries are afraid to let the refugees enter their borders. There are mainly two reasons: one is acceleration of terrorism and the other one is a fear of financial loss.

Germany is the only country that not only welcomed the refugees but also took care of them. For example in Frankfurt the city government partially closed the water on its own residents to provide the warm water to the refugees.

Meanwhile, German chancellor Angela Merkel, Time magazine’s Person of the Year and the second most influential personality in the world, has been highly criticized by her own people on her stance regarding refugees. The Cologne incident has added fuel to it, but still most in Germany believe that linking the perpetrators with refugees isn’t right. And this is what is remarkable.

On the other hand, Canadian prime minister’s reception of the first planeloads of Syrian refugees was splendid. It prompted overwhelming response toward refugees and their rehabilitation.

But ironically this is one aspect of this gloomy picture. People are displaced, starved and deprived of basic necessities. They are looking up to the world’s leadership to put an end to the humanitarian suffering in Afghanistan, northern Iraq and Syria.

Recently, Saudi Arabia announced the formation of a 34-state Islamic military coalition to combat terrorism in Middle East. Pakistan would be a part of this Saudi-led alliance. But this alliance will bring no fruit to Arab world as it will incite the Shia-Sunni conflict in the Middle East.

The dispute between Saudi Arabia and Iran is an open secret. This ideological difference and sectarian violence are fueling Middle East’s political instability. Tensions between both countries have persisted over the years. After 2011 Iran’s financial and military support for Syria and Saudi’s close ties with America and United Kingdom, the tension has been escalated. Saudi’s execution of Sheikh Nimr al-nimr has thrown the cat among the pigeons.

The irresponsible attitude of the Arab countries toward the whole region is highly deplorable. For their vested interests they are adding fuel to the fire.

Astonishingly, while the whole world has been concerned about the refugee crisis, the Gulf States have refused to accept refugees as if they have nothing to do with them.

However, these displaced people seem in hot waters both in their own countries and in foreign lands. They face horrors in their homes and are maltreated in Balkan states. On the Hungarian-Serbian border a female camera operator Petra László tripped and kicked an old man carrying his son and two young girls. After being fired and accused of criminal charges she apologized.

Some rigid people are even ignoring the fact that these refugees can easily become their work force as they face dearth of working class in their own countries due to massive economic migration. The notion that these few million refugees will permanently change the culture of Europe is preposterous.

Moreover, the Europeans can easily legislate to ensure that these refugees will go back to their native countries, once the war is over.

Incredibly, German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has rightfully said that if the EU countries do not accept the refugees under the bloc’s quota programme they would face legal procedures. The minister spoke specifically about Slovakia and Hungary.

It is appreciated but eventually this is not a solution. Since the Second World War, this refugee crisis is considered to be the worst of its kind. In spite of receiving a large number of refugees every passing day, the situation is yet to be tackled by the EU leaders appropriately.

According to the UN statistics more than a million people have already been displaced from their homes. They have lost their homes, their children, their parents, their kin and everything that they once owned.

Conspicuously toppling Assad’s regime without filling power vacuum is a disaster and a big mistake on the part of the West. The West claims that Bashar-ul-Assad treated his own people brutally; hence it is imperative to get rid of him. But what justifies their self-centered brutally executed plans in the Middle East? They shoot themselves in the foot because the refugee crisis is sending shockwaves in the West too.

Since the conflict in Syria began in 2011, around 250,000 people have been killed and half of the country’s population has migrated to different states.

United Nation’s official Yacoub el- Hillo said, “We still have the opportunity to invest and help many Syrians stay in Syria. Otherwise, this human train will continue running in all directions, including Europe.”

He further explained that “The world Food Programme has zero dollars to provide food to 5 million people inside Syria come November."

This situation is undoubtedly alarming for Europe. This might be one of the key reasons why West wants to reach a truce in Syria. This truce is a message to all power players to stop browbeating into this matter.

It is high time we considered peace in Syria and Iraq. Otherwise it seems this war would bring nothing but destruction on both sides.

Even so, this agreement still has to be endorsed by the signatories because America and Russia both have a difference of opinion on how an inclusive government will be set up to bring “peace” in Syria and northern Iraq. Perhaps in the long run these people have a future in different other countries or may be in their own country. 

Khadija Khan is a journalist and commentator based in Germany. You can follow her on Twitter @khadijakhanlodh

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