* Any views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Underfunding, low media coverage and lack of political resolve to end Syrian war prolonging suffering of refugees and piling pressure on neighbouring countries
If the international community and news organisations think it acceptable that Syria’s humanitarian crisis continues to deteriorate and, furthermore, does so while seemingly ‘disappearing’ from the mainstream news agenda then we are seeing a very unwelcome raising of the bar in terms of what constitutes ‘normal’ in today’s world.
Fourth anniversary aside, how can it be that we hear and see so little in the mainstream print and broadcast media about a conflict that has produced the largest displaced population in the world - seven million people internally displaced within Syria - and seen almost four million people seek refuge in other countries and depending assistance to survive?
How is it that the wider world isn’t being consistently told the real and personal stories of the women and children who constitute eighty percent of the refugees?
Meanwhile, the lack of progress towards a political solution has allowed the crisis to spread, with the potential to destabilise other countries in the region. There is no end in sight to the suffering and sense of abandonment and fear felt by the Syrian people caught up in a war not of their making, which has created the world’s biggest refugee population. Many live in makeshift settlements, sheds, garages and unfinished buildings and are scattered across some 1,700 communities in Lebanon.
Instead, what intermittent media coverage we see is in occasional TV reports of Syrian people, and those of other nationalities in the region, trying to escape their plight by taking to the sea on high-risk journeys that frequently end in tragedy. Even then the focus is largely on their attempts to enter European countries rather than the dire situation from which they are desperately trying to escape.
And where is the focus on host countries and communities for the displaced people of Syria?
Lebanon stands at a critical juncture. Supporting that country now can make the difference both for the millions of Syrian refugees in need there and for ensuring that Lebanon’s ability to cope is maintained. Lebanese infrastructure and public services are under severe pressure.
Although it bears the greatest refugee burden of any country in the world, the international response to support Lebanon is shockingly under-funded; the 2014 overall funding appeal was only 58% funded.
Alas, many donors who had pledged money have yet to fulfil their commitments.
It’s time for Lebanon’s generosity to be matched by greater contributions from countries around the world to help provide for those in need through the provision of food, shelter, clean water, and access to healthcare, education, and livelihoods opportunities that enable vulnerable host and refugee families to better support themselves. This will help to strengthen communities, infrastructure and institutions in Lebanon.
By taking in such a large proportion of the refugees in need of help, Lebanon is shouldering an unreasonably large burden.
Where will Syrians go if they cannot return to their homes in Syria and are turned away from international borders? The likely outcome is that families will live in a continuous state of extreme fear and hardship and risk becoming caught up in the conflict.
It is essential to uphold the right of all civilians fleeing a conflict to seek international protection, and the governments of countries neighbouring Syria cannot be expected to shoulder this responsibility on their own.
The absence of adequate international support has meant coping mechanisms within the five main host countries for Syrian refugees - Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt - have been placed under great pressure. Between them, they are hosting at least 95% of the refugees who have fled Syria and are disproportionately shouldering the burden of the crisis. A relatively low number of Syrian refugees have been offered asylum outside of these five countries.
We desperately need a political solution to end the war in Syria to avoid any further human suffering.
There must be a redoubling of diplomatic efforts to find a political solution to the Syrian conflict, which is ultimately the only way to prevent further terrible human suffering for years to come.
Only a political solution to the crisis will allow refugees to return to their homes in safety and where they can rebuild their shattered lives.
Until this happens, refugees will not be able to return home.
It is essential, in the meantime, that organisations like Concern Worldwide, the UN and other agencies give the most vulnerable refugees help and assistance to live with dignity.
This cannot be done without adequate funding.
And, yet, there appears to be growing apathy from the international community, and the media, in relation to the Syrian crisis, in particular, and, humanitarian emergencies and large population movements elsewhere.
For example, there are ongoing conflicts and emergencies in South Sudan and Central African Republic. These emergencies, too, are woefully underfunded and are falling off the international radar.
As individuals, citizens and members of the international community we need to work together to ensure these crises are kept on the political agenda with imminent solutions sought, that humanitarian funding does not run out for those who need it most, and that stories and voices of the men, women and children whose lives have been shattered are heard.
And not just on ‘significant’ anniversaries. Every day. And for as long as it takes.
Anne O’Mahony is Director of International Programmes at Concern Worldwide, an international humanitarian organisation dedicated to tackling poverty and suffering in the world’s poorest countries.
