Civilians forced to flee from Israel’s bombardment in neighboring Lebanon are creating enormous needs in Syria.
– We are facing the third humanitarian crisis in the region in just twelve months, amidst a number of already ongoing challenges, says the Norwegian Refugee Council’s regional director Angelita Caredda for the Middle East and North Africa.
After 13 years of conflict, Syria is already on its knees, she points out.
– Thousands of families crossing the border into Syria will struggle to find a safe place to live or the basic needs of their children. This is a crisis within several crises.
Most of those who flee are women and children, and some of the children are sent over alone, statistics from the UN show. The journey into Syria itself is risky. An Israeli airstrike on the main border crossing between the two countries forced thousands of people to abandon their cars and cross the border on foot.
– We can no longer see the situation in the Middle East as a series of isolated conflicts and refugee crises. Political failure risks destabilizing an entire region and condemning millions of people to disaster. Global diplomacy must move beyond platitudes and promises that are not kept, says Caredda.
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