Solidarity for Syria
What's Happening In Syria?
Syria has always been under some form of a dictatorship: the Ottoman Empire's rule in the 16th century, French rule in the mid-1990s, and even now, civilians are under the rule of the Bashar al-Assad family.
The Syrian Civil War:
Although many assume that this conflict had begun in 2011, its roots actually extend decades back to the authoritarian rule under Hafiz al-Assad, later continued by his son, Bashar al-Assad. It initially emreged as a response to the oppressive practices performed by the Assad regime. What began as peaceful means of democratic reform eventually spiraled into a full-scale civil war, drawing in a myriad of actors, including the Syrian government forces, various opposition groups, Kurdish militias, and extremist factions like ISIS. International involvement from countries such as Russia, Iran, Turkey, and the United States has further complicated the situation.
The ongoing conflict has created a volatile political environment in Syria. With the Assad regime maintaining power in most areas, other areas are controlled by various opposition groups, the most notable being ISIS. As a notorious terrorist organization in Syria, it has perpetrated many atrocities. Employing extreme measures to assert dominance, ISIS engages in sexual violence, torture, and brutality. They frequently carry out ethnic and religious cleansing campaigns as well, targeting Shia Muslims in particular, coercing conversion, and subjecting them to enslavement.
Life in Syria:
Since the outbreak of the civil war in 2011, millions of Syrians have been forced to flee their homes to escape violence, persecution, and the destruction of their communities. Many have sought refuge within Syria, becoming internally displaced persons, while others have fled across international borders, becoming refugees in neighboring countries and beyond. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there are over 6.7 million internally displaced Syrians within the country, and more than 5.6 million Syrian refugees registered in neighboring countries such as Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt.
In addition to the myriad challenges facing Syria, the environment has emerged as a primary target, with widespread depletion of natural resources. The destruction of infrastructure has led to a scarcity of water, which is further compounded by contamination and sanitation issues. Air and soil pollution pose significant health risks to civilians, while deforestation and carbon emissions contribute to poor air quality, impacting population health. Inadequate waste management exacerbates disease outbreaks, compounding the environmental and public health crises gripping the nation.
Syrian civilians endure daily hardships, with women and children bearing the brunt of the suffering. Children are forced to witness the loss of their parents at a young age, while many lack access to education due to the destruction of school buildings. Women often find themselves as sole caregivers for their children, as the conflict claims the lives of husbands and disrupts family structures. Additionally, many women face challenges in accessing basic sanitary products, further compounding their struggles in an already dire humanitarian crisis.
RECENT NEWS:
MORE THAN 40 PEOPLE KILLED IN ISRAELI STRIKES ON SYRIA'S ALEPPO - 29 March 2024
CAR BOMB KILLS SEVEN AT CROWDED MARKET IN SYRIAN TOWN NEAR TURKISH BORDER - 31 March 2024
ISRAELI STRIKE ON IRAN'S SYRIA CONSULATE KILLS 7, INCLUDING 2 IRGC GENERALS - 1 April 2024
ANTI-ASSAD SYRIANS LEAD PROTESTS AGAINST PRISON TORTURE BY REBEL GROUP - 2 April 2024
FIGHTING IN SOUTHERN SYRIA FOLLOWING BOMBING KILLS 17: WAR MONITOR - 7 April 2024
