Refugees In America Essay

Throughout our history, persons fleeing their country to seek asylum elsewhere is not new to us. The job of policy makers and government officials is to enact laws that will accommodate these people and allow them to have a smooth transition into new societies. The necessities that refugees need stretches beyond the basic food, shelter and water. In addition to that, they need proper humanitarian care. That includes the same civil rights that us citizens have.

Today, most Americans would consider themselves pretty open minded. This country was built on the hard work of immigrants, and therefore should empathize with the plight of refugees. However, this is not the case. America seems to fear the influx of immigrants and refugees. Perhaps even more controversial, is that government workers seem to share that mindset. In my opinion, while the UNHCR does provide some help, they are not doing enough.

The term refugee refers to persons fleeing their country due to religious persecution, war or violence. In the history of refugees there have been many instances in which thousands of refugees had to flee, or were forcefully evicted from their country. Among these instances include the Armenian Genocide, the expulsion of Germans from and the Syrian

Civil war to name a few. In order for the UNHCR to properly help refugees, we need to have an in depth look at their life.
The Armenian Genocide according to historians had several main causes. They include European meddling in Ottoman internal affairs, nationalism, economic jealousy and Armenian involvement in the Russian War effort. This tragedy was a state orchestrated machine of mass-murder, torture and rape of the Armenian people and several other ethics groups, of the Ottoman Empire, from 1915-1923. The Armenian people lived in the eastern Asian Minor for around three thousand years prior to the atrocity. Approximately 600,000 murdered Armenians could be accounted for, however those numbers could be as high as one million. Years after, the U.S Congress and a succession of American presidents refuse to recognize the genocide. In my opinion, this must be shocking, since around 1.5 million Armenians live in America. Turkey on the other hand, claims that the casualties were not a result of the Ottoman Empire’s desire to exterminate an entire race, but as a result of World War 1.
On March 18, 2015, U.S Congressman Robert Dold, Adam Schiff, David Valadao and Frank Pallone introduced a bipartisan resolution to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide at the federal level. Turkey, the successor state of the Ottoman Empire refused to admit that the genocide occurred. The mass killings were characterized as a mere side effect due to World War 1. When members of the Senate committee agreed to the resolution on April 24th, Turkey strongly disagreed. They claimed that it would distort history and they would condemn all who agree. I think that using the deaths of so many innocent individuals to garner and maintain political power is utterly deplorable. For America to side with Turkey just to maintain relations is hypocritical because this country prides itself in “liberty” and “freedom”. Instead of learning from this horrible time in history, it seems that the opposite effect took place. For instance, the expulsion of Germans from Poland.
This was the largest of as series of German displacement in Europe during and after World War II. Germans fled or were expelled from every region that are currently within the territories of Poland. The first mass movements of German civilians was due to the Red Army’s advance and was caused by the Soviet’s. The reason was an organized execution starting in the summer of 1944 and continuing through the spring of 1945. Approximately 3.5 million people were affected, mainly because of fear of the advancing Soviet Army. There is an estimated 7 million people expelled from the Recovered Territories until 1948, later joined by an additional 700,000 from areas of pre-War Poland.
Soldiers commited rapes and other brutal crimes. The implementation of evacuation plans were delayed until Soviet and Allied forces defeated the Nazi’s. Millions of German’s were left
In vulnerable and open areas until combat conditions became extreme. This situation brings me back to the idea that America and the UNHCR should have the mindset of the main principle being the rights of an individual.
The commonly held idea is that people migrate to another country for better opportunities for themselves and/or family.

In extreme circumstances people may be forced to leave a country. When they have no alternative but to flee, it is usually due to political conflict or governmental force.This situation is known as forced migration. The reasons for a forced migration has been controversial and more often than not is the cause of radical conflict situations. These conflicts have often morphed into war that ultimately results in blood and tragedy. We can see this in The Great Partition. We see the results of this conflict in the relations between Pakistan and India and between Hindus and

Muslims.
Although many groups called for the separation of India based on religion, the majority of Congress members were secular and opposed to dividing the country solely based on religion.Bythe late 1930s, Muslims begin exiting congress and forming separate groups that were pushing the formation of a new Muslim state: Pakistan.At this time Britain did not directly rule India, but just oversaw the whole country. Local and Regional governments comprised of full Indian rule.In 1943, The Muslim League proposes a quick plan to divide and gain independence; also known as “Divide and Quit.”Soon India was ready to be partitioned. Muslims and Hindus were constantly in quarrels, and a plan was proposed to the British.Nationalist feelings began arising in the country due to modernization and the taking up of western ideas. It wasn’t long before the groups wanting to self govern themselves. Two Major Nationalist Groups formed,In 1885, the Indian National Government formed- comprised mainly of Hindus wanting to break free from British rule. In 1885, the Indian National Government formed- comprised mainly of Hindus wanting to break free from British rule.
India was formed out of the mostly Hindu regions and Pakistan was formed out of the mainly Muslim regions. Pakistan was formed in two dominions- East Pakistan and West Pakistan, which were separated geographically by India. The partition of India left both India and Pakistan devastated. Riots erupted, and looting broke out widespread. Women were raped and battered by both the Hindus and Muslims, and trains full of battered women and children would arrive between the borders of India and Pakistan daily.

Over 15 million refugees were forced into regions completely new to them. Even though they shared the same religion of their new home, they still had not lost the bond to the region their family and ancestors grew up in. The provinces of Bengal and Punjab were divided causing outrage in many Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs alike.

Even after almost six decades after the partition, India and Pakistan have still not healed from the wounds left by the partition. India and Pakistan have been to war twice since the partition, and Pakistan suffered the bloody war of the breaking away of East Pakistan into Bangladesh. The two countries are still arguing over the landlocked region of Kashmir. Many believe the partition not only broke the unity of India, but also took away the sense of belonging to many people who were tore apart from their native regions. “Rape was used as a weapon, as a sport, and as a punishment” (Khan, 133). Woman and young girls were used as pawns in a twisted show of power. Survivors were often too ashamed and fearful of the response they’d receive. Often they feared abandonment from their families or the possibility that they were ruined for potential husbands. The horror that occurred to both Muslims and Hindus is unimaginable.
Therefore, my resulting issue with the United Nations is that the primary institution to deal with war is ineffective. My theory is that the council’s founding premise of a world ordered by states no longer holds. I think the U.N is not equipped to deal with war and its aftermath. The result of this obstacle is lack of aid distribution, or aid that is not adequate to support refugees that have been resettled. During discussion, it was proven that there is not enough funding to meet the needs of every refugee and this is a huge issue.
Last but certainly not least, I would like to discuss the Syrian Civil War. The cause of the war can be traced back from 2011. In a period known as the Arab Spring, revolts erupted. During the following March, 15 school boys were detained and tortured, sparking national outcry. The Syrian government, led by President Bashar al-Assad, responded by killing and imprisoning thousands of protestors and demonstrators. (Burning Country, Chapter 3). According to my research, displaced persons fled to Greece and other European countries. In the Za’atari Camp in Jordan, children are shown as the most affected victims of war. Bashar Al-Assad and his army are determined to take control of Syria despite the strife that they’re leaving behind.
The Syrian conflict is now multifaceted with many moving parts. These moving parts are more than just tensions between rebel and governmental forces. The country faces ethnic tensions, the introduction of world powers, jihadist groups, the Islamic State and other terrorist organizations. According to the United Nations Women and children make up 3/4 of the refugee population. By the end of 2014, over 50% of the Syrian population will be in need of aid. Refugees have little more than the clothes on their backs when arriving at refugee camps.6.5 million internally displaced within Syria as of 2015.An estimated 9 million total persons have fled their homes as of 2015.Over 1 million people have registered from 2012 to 2013.
In videos that I found in my research, refugee camps were flimsy. Tents provided by the UNHCR are not durable enough to survive harsh weather conditions, children are still not allowed to attend schools with the rest of the population and for the most part they are isolated from society. In addition, refugees aren’t allowed to work right away. Personally, I believe that this hinders efforts of creating a semi-normal life. Refugees from Syria fled for protection from persecution and to ensure their children and future generations have a foundation of a good life.