• Date: April 6, 2013
• Author: The Time-Crunched Traveler
• 5 Comments

Nearly 70,000 people have died.

Over 2.5 million people have been displaced from their homes — an estimated one million of whom have been forced to flee their own country.

Ancient cities have fallen and chaos reigns.

Two years have passed.

If you live in the U.S., it’s highly possible you’ve heard little of this matter. The nightly news has instead been dominated for months with the endless bickering between gun control advocates and gun enthusiasts; between advocates and opponents of same-sex marriage; between Democrats and Republicans refusing to make tough budget decisions.

Elsewhere, in a rocky, desert land on the other side of the world, families huddle together in concrete basements as buildings crumble all around; parents dodge sniper fire to retrieve food and supplies for their families; and nearly everyone mourns the violent death of a loved one. No one is safe. No one is immune. And no one is sure what will happen next.

I am talking about Syria.

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When the Arab Spring spread across the Middle East in early 2011, seeing uprisings and regime changes in Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia, the world watched with both hope and horror.

But to be honest, I think we got a little tired of it. The entire Middle East seemed to be collapsing and it became difficult to differentiate between all the various uprisings. And the American population appeared rather apathetic after having spent nearly a decade fighting simultaneous wars of “regime change” in Iraq and Afghanistan. We didn’t have the stomach for more war. Osama bin Laden had finally been killed and our appetites for war, for revenge, were quelled. Military intervention in Libya to help topple the regime of Muamar Ghadaffi only exacerbated our distrust; solidified our disinterest. Many felt the Arab Spring, particularly the revolution in Tunisia, was proof that American intervention was not needed after all; that the people could fight for themselves to overcome oppressive regimes and did not need America’s help.

But then came Syria. Its uprising was unlike the others in that it was less expected and less quickly resolved. Unlike the relatively quick resolutions to conflicts in Egypt, Tunisia, and even Libya, Syria’s conflict flew under the radar, overshadowed by news-maker Egypt and U.S. involvement in Libya, as well as a host of other distractions at home on U.S. soil. But Syria’s revolution did not reach a resolution.

Two years have now passed and the war rages on between Syrian President Bashar Al Assad’s army and the rebel opposition.

An ancient civilization, a beautiful country, has been torn apart.

Neighborhoods have been ravaged. Communities destroyed. Families separated.

The Syrian government’s ban on journalists has prevented reporters from gaining access to the on-going conflict. There are a few who have dared to cross the border illegally, risking their lives to tell the story of the Syrian people. Some have even lost their lives in the process. Syrian youth record amateur video of street combat and make-shift clinics treating the wounded, circumnavigating government internet restrictions to post these images on YouTube in hopes that the world will take notice.

But for the most part, the truth remains elusive. The story remains untold. The world receives only snapshots of life on the ground in Syria today.

Cable and nightly news reports give it occasional lip-service, sharing the limited information they obtain.

And as the war rages on in Syria, the world continues to show little interest.

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I am not writing about Syria because it is the only conflict going on in the world right now. Hardly. Violence and oppression rage throughout Mali, Central African Republic, Myanmar, North Korea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and dozens more countries throughout the world.

And I am not writing about Syria because I support U.S. military intervention. I am not writing about Syria because I think Al Assad’s regime should be deposed. Violence has been perpetrated by both sides.

To be honest, I am not sure what the solution is; the options are not necessarily clear; the outcomes not strictly black and white.

I just know these people deserve to have their story told; their voices heard. I just know that the world can do more than sit idly by and ignore the problem.

I am writing about Syria because it breaks my heart.

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The needs facing Syria’s refugees are urgent.

The greatest needs include access to food, safe water, and medical care. Most refugees have fled to camps in the neighboring countries of Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt, and even Iraq.

Several of these countries are small and have fragile economies. Others are still struggling to adapt to regime changes themselves. Almost all harbor refugees from other conflicts in the region as well.

Their military and social service infrastructure is responsive, but limited. They, too, are being stretched thin. Greater influx of people fleeing Syria threatens political and economic stability in these countries as well.

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So what can you do to help?

Here are 3 ways you can take action now on behalf of the people of Syria:
1.) Get educated. Learn all you can about the history of the uprising in Syria and its impact on the country’s population.
2.) Share your knowledge. Publish a blog post or write an Op-Ed for your local newspaper. Share information through your social media networks. Very few people in the media are driving the dialogue surrounding this conflict, so it is unlikely your social connections have anything more than a general knowledge that a revolution is occurring. Be gracious as you share your knowledge; don’t expect others to be as informed as you — and don’t expect them to share your passion … yet.
3.) Contribute your financial resources to help Syrian refugees. See below for an opportunity to partner with us in helping to meet the basic needs of food, water, shelter, and medical care for Syrian refugees in Jordan.

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Here’s how you can make a difference in the lives of displaced Syrian families NOW:

In June, we plan to travel to Jordan to assist humanitarian aid organizations on the ground in providing services and basic supplies to Syrian refugees.

Although we are covering the cost of our travel to Jordan ourselves, we are asking for your support in helping to raise $5,000 to purchase needed supplies for the refugees once we arrive in Jordan.

Your financial support - no matter how large or small — is vital to helping meet the continued needs of Syrian refugees flooding into Jordan.

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I believe that peace is possible in Syria.

I believe that justice is possible for those who have been tortured and displaced.

I believe there is hope.

And I believe we can all be part of the solution.

 

Thank you for taking the time to learn more and to help us raise $5,000 for Syrian refugees in Jordan.

Please use the social sharing buttons below to pass this important information along to help spread awareness about the conflict in Syria.

 

Want to learn more about the uprising in Syria?

Additional Resources & Recommended Readings:
- Inside the Syrian uprising in Aleppo: A great Photo Essay on the uprising in Aleppo from The Guardian’s Ghaith Abdul-Ahad

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