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For the Love of Ideas
looking through the eyes of someone who's seen: europe's response to syrian refugees
'11 million people, half of the entire pre-war syrian population, have been displaced'. - mercy corps
Symbollic placment: Protesters march against Bashar al-Assad alongside a security wall
Such a complex issue required me to consider its political, ethical, and legal aspects. To gauge what Europe's reaction to the Crisis has been, I spoke to a journalist based on one of Europe's front lines.
Marianna Karakoulaki, based in Thessaloniki in Greece, offered me her take on the issue so close to her heart and home. Who better to give their diagnosis than a journalist who not only specialises in the matter, but has also witnessed it first hand for herself.
How have European countries reacted to one of the worst humanitarian crises the word has ever seen?
>To Hear the Full Podcast, Click the Player Below<
Since the Arab Spring in 2011, the Syrian Civil War has been raging. With it came the Syrian Refugee Crisis which has since dominated headlines across the world. No wonder. Half the country's population has been killed or made homeless by the conflict. One in four people in Lebanon is now a Syrian refugee. Around two million have escaped into Turkey, and many more into Iraq and Jordan; often, against the wishes of the nationals.
Worse still is the reaction many have endured from making the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean to seek solace in Europe. The prospect of safety, education, and income is what attracts many. Would it be the same for you?
Since 2015, various external forces have tried to intervene in the conflict. Russia has famously backed President Bashar al-Assad's widely criticised regime whilst the U.S has armed various Syrian militias fighting against it. The number of conflicting factions complicates matters inexorably. But one thing is certain, the external meddling has only made things worse for Syrian civilians.
Prayers to Allah speak volumes amidst the Syrian protest march