If number of people leaving Syria to save their life is the highest in the world, elsewhere too, many are on the run with the same resolve. As we write, more than 60 million migrants are living on tenterhooks in different parts of our planet. Hypothetically speaking, if an expanse of earth was earmarked for their rehabilitation, that would be world’s 24th most populous country after Italy.

Thanks to emergence of a Sunni Muslim Jihadist group Daesh, also called Islamic State who kidnap people, behead innocents, rape and sell women into slavery in areas under their control thus pushing them to leave their homes and become refugees. Half of them are children, growing up far from home, without any safety, consistent education or emotional support,

Syrian Refugees

The words Syria and refugees have become synonymous after large number of people have either been killed or fled from there. Many warring groups have established their rule over parts of this besieged nation. If one chunk is under control of President Bashar al-Assad, other one is occupied by rebels fighting against his regime. If Islamic State control swaths in Syria and neighboring Iraq al-Qaida affiliated terrorists al-Nusra hanged around Syria’s North. Kurds in Syria have also some territory under their control. All are also at war amongst themselves.

Who is fighting against whom and for what, isn’t clear, is it a religious campaign or simply a struggle for political dominance isn’t known either. For example, if Iran has come to support Shia regime of Assad, Sunni Saudi Arabia is backing up seculars and moderate rebels standing against him. If Russia bombed rebels strong hold, NATO forces led by US are engaged in air attacks against Assad, Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. If Turkey aided al-Nusra (another terrorists outfit) in Syria against Kurds, they simultaneously are fighting both al-Nusra and Daesh- ironically speaking all followers of Sunni sect of Islam.

It is a hodgepodge of totalitarian, pro-democracy, fundamentalist and secular forces engaged in mutually destructive War that has generated the worst ever refugee crises in this century. That also made Syria a hell where more than 11 million people, half the country’s pre-war (2011) population have either died or been forced from their homes.

A Great Migration

With death dangling over their head people opted to leave their country and many lost their lives in transit. An account of their journey through land and water to escape death is the tale of tragedy. That way about four million Syrians have moved out to neighboring countries like Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan Iraq and Egypt creating ripples in economic and social setup of these nations. For example, influx of 600,000 refugees in Jordan has caused Jordanians a serious concern of water shortage because it is an arid nation already known as water poor country. Lebanon, another neighbor with small border has let millions of refugees in and as a result one in every five people in Lebanon is a refugee putting extra ordinary pressure on its limited resources. Iraq is already a home to the displaced persons since long. Syrians now look beyond that to reach Europe and US and Canada in North American Continent.

Reaching West

Hundreds of thousands of refugees in Turkey had undertaken hazardous trip to reach Greece via Mediterranean but all couldn’t make that alive. Those who reach Greece face steep challenges because the host country is passing through its economic downfall and the services made available to them are minimal. Germany is leading Europe to accommodate large number of refugees in that country.

In Canada after Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government took over, they welcome refugees and help them to settle here permanently. More are likely to be received in future. But all isn’t well in USA where Mr. Donald Trump one of the Republican aspirants in Presidential Race draws big supportive crowds for making funny and unscrupulous noises against acceptance of Muslims and black skinned persons during his election campaign. His entertaining utterances could create difficulties for Obama Administration to adjust refugees, most of them being Muslims.

Rascals arrive too

Some of the stories emerging from Germany about rogues entering along refugees are rather frustrating. If media reports were to be believed, some among migrants in Germany have defaced gravestones in one of the cemeteries there with slogans like, “Germans out of Syria,” “Christ is Dead” and “Islamic State.” Others have sexually assaulted women in cities across Germany on new year eve. Three teenage migrants from North Africa tried to stone to death two transsexuals in Dortmund after they were seen walking around in women’s clothing. The victims were saved by police. Some refugees have sued the German government for delays in processing their asylum applications. Such developments have caused alarm among European governments.

Chancellor Angela Merkel began to face a rising people backlash to her open-door migration policy. With 1.1 million refugees having already arrived, it is becoming clear that her country can no longer bear financial load involved and Germans won’t allow invasion on their culture. The Political Parties with anti immigration platform are gaining popularity in Germany.

In the end

We have dealt briefly with the story of persecution of migrants in Mid East and help coming to them from many quarters in the world. But it isn’t just the political or religious persecution of man by man that make people refugees but at times natural disaster or economic collapse also forces people to stay away from homes and become refugees. Another class of refugees unheard earlier, is on way to make its appearance soon. They would be the victims of manmade global warming as result of which, the land they lived on for generations would soon be devoured by rising sea levels. They would be our Climate Change Refugees in days to come.

But all refugees need help and it is heartening to note that besides governments various NGO  are engaged in relief work. For example, UNHCR (United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees) Canada has issued a clarion call for help to refugees. That could be done by the adoption of a refugee family or by donating furniture, suitable clothing or money, to those who’re in dire need of everything. Refugees need tents, blankets, cooking sets, medicine and other life-saving stuffs. Financial donations made on monthly basis would be 100% tax-deductible. Let us rise to the occasion and help those whom destiny has rendered helpless.