The Syrian civil war has caused more than 12 million Syrians to flee their homes due to violence and conflict. So far, the international humanitarian response has been insufficient, and many refugees face deplorable humanitarian conditions. This Task Force outlines a comprehensive international response to improve the quality of life of those affected by the conflict and reform the International Refugee Regime to better address similar crises in the future.
ISSUE DESCRIPTION
- Section one of our report addresses the humanitarian concerns for refugees in countries of local integration and how multilateral attention, coordination, and action can improve the international humanitarian response and the daily lives of refugees.
- Section two of our report focuses on the major geo-political, security, and socio-economic concerns for countries of local integration, and how international support from state governments, NGOs, and the private sector can help mitigate these concerns.
- Section three of our report discusses the major geo-political, security, and socio-economic concerns for third countries of resettlement—mainly the U.S. and Europe—and how they can improve their response to assist more refugees.
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
- FACILITATE MACRO-LEVEL COOPERATION between NGOs, local governments, and the United Nations in regards to delivery of humanitarian services such as food, healthcare, and education.
- EMPOWER REFUGEES by allowing them access to work in local countries of integration, providing access to higher education through international funding, insuring Syrian children can continue attending school while displaced, and offering culture and language classes to refugees in third countries of resettlement.
- INCREASE INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN AID SPENDING to countries of local integration and NGOs in order to improve humanitarian assistance.
- IMPROVE RESETTLEMENT TO U.S. AND EUROPE by implementing humanitarian admission to the EU, allowing refugees to enter Europe legally. Increase responsibility sharing and annual resettlement quotas in the U.S and EU.