Hundreds of Syrian families were displaced from the Idlib countryside following the heaviest bombardment in years, where about 1,000 shells were fires by the Syrian regime on the villages of Idlib.
Since the outbreak of the Syrian revolution, the humanitarian situation in Idlib has been tragic due to its location between areas under the control of the opposition and the Syrian regime. The continued bombardment of Idlib resulted in successive waves of displacement and dire humanitarian conditions for its residents.
Idlib was also greatly affected by the February 2023 earthquake, especially with its poor infrastructure and lack of basic services that makes life difficult under normal circumstances.
New waves of displacement continue to take place despite global refugee crisis and inability of neighbouring countries to host more refugees.
The Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs stated that his country “will not be able to receive more refugees”, and the Prime Minister of the Lebanese government expressed his concern about the continued displacement through illegal channels, while Turkey always stresses the necessity of the “voluntary” return of refugees.
Syrian refugees cannot find a place to settle, and their “voluntary” return seems impossible given the continued military attacks and the waves of arbitrary detention. Places under the control of the regime are also witnessing demonstrations demanding the removal of the regime and the improvement of living conditions.
The refugee crisis in the world reflects the hegemony of criminal and dictatorial regimes that crushes its own people.
International silence to the crimes of those regimes, and the non application of international laws and treaties, has led to the current situation.
The lack of international will to apply those laws and conventions makes it nothing but hollow words added to official statements that do not correlate with reality.
The Syrian refugees had no choice to but to leave their home to the unknown. They were forced to flee death, and racist statements or laws to terrorise them will not stop them from trying to escape death and cling to life, which is a human instinct.
The Syrian refugee crisis requires a serious international intervention to stop the Syrian regime’s crimes against the people. The world cannot bear the political, humanitarian, or even financial implications of turning a blind eye to these crimes, especially with the escalating waves of racism against refugees around the world.
Arab Organisation for Human Rights in the UK calls on all NGOs supporting refugees and decision makers around the world to take the necessary measures to stop the crimes of the Syrian regime against civilians, improve the conditions of the displaced and provide security to the most vulnerable groups such as children, women and people with special needs.
