Situated in Northeast Syria, these are the unrecognised camps people rarely talk about. Thousands of internally displaces refugees here are languishing in extreme poverty, as they remain cut off from international assistance. Ghadi Francis gets you the story.

'Forgotten' Syrian refugee camps | The West Asia Post

China turned up in the news again. Nation's authoritative attitude is reaching new heights. China is pressuring Uyghurs living abroad to spy on human rights campaigners.

Is China blackmailing Uyghur refugees living abroad to spy for it?

The United Nations (UN) on Wednesday (June 14) said that a record 110 million people across the world have been forcibly displaced from their homes.&nbsp;

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, refugees fleeing Afghanistan and the fight&nbsp;in Sudan have pushed hundreds and thousands of people to seek shelter abroad and those displaced within their own country to an unprecedented level, AFP reported.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/three-killed-13-wounded-after-russia-missiles-strike-civilian-buildings-in-odesa-604213">Also read |&nbsp;Three killed, 13 wounded after Russian missiles strike civilian buildings in Odesa</a>

The UN refugee agency chief Filippo Grandi, during a press conference, said, "We have 110 million people that have fled because of conflict, persecution, discrimination and violence, often mixed with other motives -- in particular the impact of climate change." He added that it's quite an indictment of the state of our world.&nbsp;

Last year, the agency in its Global Trends in Forced Displacement report&nbsp;stated that 108.4 million people were displaced. It&nbsp;added that recent Sudan's conflict triggered further displacement reaching 110 million.&nbsp;

The number was 19.1 million up from 2021, making it to be the biggest increase since the records began in 1975. Stating data for 2022, Grandi said that globally 35.3 million refugees fled abroad, with 62.5 million displaced internally.

<h2>Numbers likely to increase</h2>

The UNHCR chief Grandi expressed his fear that the numbers might increase in the coming months and years.&nbsp;

He said that the swelling displacement this year might increase but they'll ensure a "more hostile" environment for refugees. "Leadership is about convincing your public opinion that there are people that deserve international protection."

The chief added that countries need to remain open so that people can seek shelter and asylum to feel safe.&nbsp;

Watch&nbsp;|&nbsp;Putin tells west to stop arming Ukraine

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<h2>Sudan continues to pose fear</h2>

Grandi said that the refugee agency is not in a good financial situation this year. He said that it has only 16 per cent fund needed for Sudan&nbsp;and&nbsp;added that the fight in Sudan might continue for a while.&nbsp;

Officials predict that some 467,000 people have fled Sudan since the fighting between parties broke out in April, while over 1.4 million have become internally displaced.&nbsp;

The countries hosting the most refugees are Turkey (3.6 million), Iran (3.4 million), Colombia (2.5 million), Germany (2.1 million) and Pakistan (1.7 million).&nbsp;

However, last year, over 390,000 refugees returned back to 38 countries, while some 5.7 million internally displaced people returned home.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
 
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The United Nations (UN) on Wednesday (June 14) said that a record 110 million people across the world have been forcibly displaced from their homes. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, refugees fleeing Afghanistan and the fight in Sudan have pushed hundreds and thousands of people to seek shelter abroad and those displaced within their own country to an unprecedented level, AFP reported.

The United Nations (UN) on Wednesday (June 14) said that a record 110 million people across the world have been forcibly displaced from their homes. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, refugees fleeing Afghanistan and the fight in Sudan have pushed hundreds and thousands of people to seek shelter abroad and those displaced within their own country to an unprecedented level, AFP reported. Also read | Three killed, 13 wounded after Russian missiles strike civilian buildings in Odesa The UN refugee agency chief Filippo Grandi, during a press conference, said, "We have 110 million people that have fled because of conflict, persecution, discrimination and violence, often mixed with other motives -- in particular the impact of climate change." He added that it's quite an indictment of the state of our world. Last year, the agency in its Global Trends in Forced Displacement report stated that 108.4 million people were displaced. It added that recent Sudan's conflict triggered further displacement reaching 110 million. The number was 19.1 million up from 2021, making it to be the biggest increase since the records began in 1975. Stating data for 2022, Grandi said that globally 35.3 million refugees fled abroad, with 62.5 million displaced internally. Numbers likely to increase The UNHCR chief Grandi expressed his fear that the numbers might increase in the coming months and years. He said that the swelling displacement this year might increase but they'll ensure a "more hostile" environment for refugees. "Leadership is about convincing your public opinion that there are people that deserve international protection." The chief added that countries need to remain open so that people can seek shelter and asylum to feel safe. Watch | Putin tells west to stop arming Ukraine Sudan continues to pose fear Grandi said that the refugee agency is not in a good financial situation this year. He said that it has only 16 per cent fund needed for Sudan and added that the fight in Sudan might continue for a while. Officials predict that some 467,000 people have fled Sudan since the fighting between parties broke out in April, while over 1.4 million have become internally displaced. The countries hosting the most refugees are Turkey (3.6 million), Iran (3.4 million), Colombia (2.5 million), Germany (2.1 million) and Pakistan (1.7 million). However, last year, over 390,000 refugees returned back to 38 countries, while some 5.7 million internally displaced people returned home. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Record 110 million people forcibly displaced worldwide, numbers might increase, says UN

The head of the United Nations refugee agency has warned that the earlier estimate of around one million people&nbsp;fleeing the nation due to the Sudan War by October is potentially an underestimation. As per Commissioner of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)&nbsp;Filippo Grandi, the escalating conflict could lead to increased human trafficking and arms proliferation throughout the fragile region.

<h2>What did the UN refugee agency chief say?</h2>

UNHCR initially predicted that around 800,000 Sudanese and 200,000 individuals of other nationalities would leave Sudan in six months, but the agency's head, Filippo Grandi, now believes these figures may be an underestimation.&nbsp;

Speaking during an interview in Cairo, Grandi said: "This projection, that in the next few months we'll reach these high figures, may even be conservative."

"At the beginning, I didn't believe it would be, but now I'm beginning to be worried."&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dozens-of-babies-die-in-orphanage-as-sudan-war-takes-grim-toll-on-khartoum-report-597873">Dozens of babies die in orphanage as Sudan war takes grim toll on Khartoum: Report</a>

He expressed concern about the collapse of law and order in Sudan and said that with "a lot of people desperate to move on" the situation is ripe for creating conditions for human trafficking. He also said that the circulation of arms across borders could exacerbate the violence.&nbsp;

"We've seen it in Libya with the Sahel. We don't want a repeat of that because that will be a multiplier of crisis and of humanitarian problems," he said.

<h2>Displacement to date</h2>

Reuters reports that since the outbreak of war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces on April 15, over 350,000 individuals have already fled Sudan, seeking refuge in neighbouring countries such as Egypt, Chad, and South Sudan.

Since the conflict began, nearly 160,000 people have crossed from Sudan into Egypt, which already had a significant Sudanese community residing within its borders.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudan-100000-refugees-have-fled-into-neighbouring-countries-number-could-rise-to-800000-un-588196">Sudan: 100,000 refugees have fled into neighbouring countries, number could rise to 800,000 - UN</a>

Furthermore, within Sudan itself, more than one million people have been displaced due to heavy fighting in the capital Khartoum and violence in Darfur.

<h2>International aid needed for Sudan</h2>

The UN has appealed for $470 million to address the refugee crisis in Sudan over a six-month period, but according to Grandi, only one&nbsp;per cent of the requested amount has been funded.&nbsp;

Emphasising the need for a donor-pledging conference, Grandi expressed concern that the international community's focus on other global issues, such as Ukraine, was diverting attention from the Sudanese crisis.&nbsp;

"You can clearly sense a disparity which is very dangerous. This crisis has the potential to destabilise an entire region and beyond as much as Ukraine does in Europe."

To address the urgent needs of those affected, UNHCR, as per Grandi, is trying to establish a presence in the northern Sudanese town of Wadi Halfa, where many Sudanese men aged 16 to 50 are waiting for visas to enter Egypt. Additionally, he said aid must be delivered to the buffer zone between Egyptian and Sudanese border posts, where displaced individuals have encountered lengthy delays.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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The head of the United Nations refugee agency has warned that the earlier estimate of around one million people fleeing the nation due to the Sudan War by October is potentially an underestimation.

The head of the United Nations refugee agency has warned that the earlier estimate of around one million people fleeing the nation due to the Sudan War by October is potentially an underestimation. As per Commissioner of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi, the escalating conflict could lead to increased human trafficking and arms proliferation throughout the fragile region. What did the UN refugee agency chief say? UNHCR initially predicted that around 800,000 Sudanese and 200,000 individuals of other nationalities would leave Sudan in six months, but the agency's head, Filippo Grandi, now believes these figures may be an underestimation. Speaking during an interview in Cairo, Grandi said: "This projection, that in the next few months we'll reach these high figures, may even be conservative." "At the beginning, I didn't believe it would be, but now I'm beginning to be worried." Also read | Dozens of babies die in orphanage as Sudan war takes grim toll on Khartoum: Report He expressed concern about the collapse of law and order in Sudan and said that with "a lot of people desperate to move on" the situation is ripe for creating conditions for human trafficking. He also said that the circulation of arms across borders could exacerbate the violence. "We've seen it in Libya with the Sahel. We don't want a repeat of that because that will be a multiplier of crisis and of humanitarian problems," he said. Displacement to date Reuters reports that since the outbreak of war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces on April 15, over 350,000 individuals have already fled Sudan, seeking refuge in neighbouring countries such as Egypt, Chad, and South Sudan. Since the conflict began, nearly 160,000 people have crossed from Sudan into Egypt, which already had a significant Sudanese community residing within its borders. Also read | Sudan: 100,000 refugees have fled into neighbouring countries, number could rise to 800,000 - UN Furthermore, within Sudan itself, more than one million people have been displaced due to heavy fighting in the capital Khartoum and violence in Darfur. International aid needed for Sudan The UN has appealed for $470 million to address the refugee crisis in Sudan over a six-month period, but according to Grandi, only one per cent of the requested amount has been funded. Emphasising the need for a donor-pledging conference, Grandi expressed concern that the international community's focus on other global issues, such as Ukraine, was diverting attention from the Sudanese crisis. "You can clearly sense a disparity which is very dangerous. This crisis has the potential to destabilise an entire region and beyond as much as Ukraine does in Europe." To address the urgent needs of those affected, UNHCR, as per Grandi, is trying to establish a presence in the northern Sudanese town of Wadi Halfa, where many Sudanese men aged 16 to 50 are waiting for visas to enter Egypt. Additionally, he said aid must be delivered to the buffer zone between Egyptian and Sudanese border posts, where displaced individuals have encountered lengthy delays. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Sudan war: UNHCR chief warns mass exodus estimates of one million people may be 'conservative'

Cyclone Mocha made landfall at the Bangladesh-Myanmar border on Sunday, according to Bangladesh's weather office. It is destroying trees and pouring torrential rain to the region threatening hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees.

Mocha struck between Cox's Bazar, where almost a million Rohingya refugees dwell in camps mostly made up of flimsy shelters, and Myanmar's Sittwe. Cyclone Mocha has gusts of up to 195 kilometres (120 miles) per hour.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thai-voting-begins-will-rule-of-conservative-military-backed-pm-to-maintain-power-592156">Thailand voting begins, will conservative military-backed PM maintain power?</a>

Cyclone speeds are as high as 140 knots, or 259 kph, according to the US Joint Typhoon Warning Centre earlier. This is the equivalent of a category 5 hurricane, according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

"Our camp houses, which are constructed with bamboo and tarpaulins, can be blown away in soft, light winds," the 28-year-old Mohammad Sayed told AFP from Nayapara refugee camp in Bangladesh.

"The schools, which are designated as cyclone shelters... are not strong shelters that can withstand the winds of a cyclone. We are scared."

Numerous people packed into trucks, automobiles, and tuk-tuks and left Sittwe on Saturday in search of higher ground inland after meteorologists issued a 3.5 m (11 ft) storm surge warning. "We are not OK because we didn't bring food and other things to cook," said 57-year-old Maung Win from Kyauktaw town.

"We can only wait to get food from people's donations."

Also Read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistani-held-in-biggest-drug-bust-in-india-crystal-meth-worth-145-bn-seized-592189">In India's biggest drug bust, crystal meth worth $1.45bn seized from Kerala coast, Pakistani held</a>

According to divisional commissioner Aminur Rahman, the Bangladeshi government relocated approximately 100,000 people from Chittagong and 190,000 from Cox's Bazar to safety on Saturday night. Residents in Yangon, the centre of commerce for Myanmar, reported on Sunday that they too received rain and fast winds.&nbsp;

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Authorities in Myanmar and Bangladesh are getting ready for a emergency response and are on high alert.&nbsp;The cyclone is expected to deliver torrential rain, which might cause landslips.

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According to Azizur Rahman, the head&nbsp;of Bangladesh's meteorological department, Cyclone Mocha is the storm that has struck Bangladesh with the greatest intensity since Cyclone Sidr. In November 2007, Sidr made landfall on Bangladesh's southern coast, killing over 3,000 people and caused billions of dollars' worth of damage.

Myanmar Airways International said that they have suspended all flights bound for Rakhine state until Monday.

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Cyclone Mocha made landfall at the Bangladesh-Myanmar border on Sunday, according to Bangladesh's weather office. It is destroying trees and pouring torrential rain to the region threatening hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees.

Cyclone Mocha made landfall at the Bangladesh-Myanmar border on Sunday, according to Bangladesh's weather office. It is destroying trees and pouring torrential rain to the region threatening hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees. Mocha struck between Cox's Bazar, where almost a million Rohingya refugees dwell in camps mostly made up of flimsy shelters, and Myanmar's Sittwe. Cyclone Mocha has gusts of up to 195 kilometres (120 miles) per hour. Also Read | Thailand voting begins, will conservative military-backed PM maintain power? Cyclone speeds are as high as 140 knots, or 259 kph, according to the US Joint Typhoon Warning Centre earlier. This is the equivalent of a category 5 hurricane, according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. "Our camp houses, which are constructed with bamboo and tarpaulins, can be blown away in soft, light winds," the 28-year-old Mohammad Sayed told AFP from Nayapara refugee camp in Bangladesh. "The schools, which are designated as cyclone shelters... are not strong shelters that can withstand the winds of a cyclone. We are scared." Numerous people packed into trucks, automobiles, and tuk-tuks and left Sittwe on Saturday in search of higher ground inland after meteorologists issued a 3.5 m (11 ft) storm surge warning. "We are not OK because we didn't bring food and other things to cook," said 57-year-old Maung Win from Kyauktaw town. "We can only wait to get food from people's donations." Also Read| In India's biggest drug bust, crystal meth worth $1.45bn seized from Kerala coast, Pakistani held According to divisional commissioner Aminur Rahman, the Bangladeshi government relocated approximately 100,000 people from Chittagong and 190,000 from Cox's Bazar to safety on Saturday night. Residents in Yangon, the centre of commerce for Myanmar, reported on Sunday that they too received rain and fast winds. The landfall process of Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm "Mocha" has commenced over north-west Myanmar coast.#CycloneMocha #India #WeatherForecast #IMD @DDNewslive @ndmaindia @airnewsalerts @moesgoi pic.twitter.com/uLvAsRCQwF — India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 14, 2023 × Authorities in Myanmar and Bangladesh are getting ready for a emergency response and are on high alert. The cyclone is expected to deliver torrential rain, which might cause landslips. Watch | Mother's Day Special: Sarah Todd shares easy cooking tips for busy parents × According to Azizur Rahman, the head of Bangladesh's meteorological department, Cyclone Mocha is the storm that has struck Bangladesh with the greatest intensity since Cyclone Sidr. In November 2007, Sidr made landfall on Bangladesh's southern coast, killing over 3,000 people and caused billions of dollars' worth of damage. Myanmar Airways International said that they have suspended all flights bound for Rakhine state until Monday. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

'Very severe' cyclone Mocha hits Myanmar-Bangladesh border, threatens Rohingya refugees in low-lying regions

"When the going gets tough, the tough get going." This adage sits very well with Dr. Waheed Arian, who despite all circumstances penned the tale of his life in the finest ink possible.&nbsp;

How many of us really keep refugees in our thoughts? Dr. Waheed Arian has come a long way from being an Afghan refugee himself to becoming an inspiration to millions.&nbsp;

A humanitarian at heart, he is an emergency doctor with National Health Service (NHS) in the UK, a global philanthropist and an author.&nbsp;

Dr. Waheed spoke with WION and shared his amazing life story, loaded with the harrowing recollections of his childhood spent in Afghanistan during the Soviet conflict, yet brimming with optimism and tenacity.&nbsp;

"I was born into the war during the Afghan-Soviet conflict in the mid-80s. I did not know any other reality except war, hiding in the cellars from the rockets, the bombs, and the shelling. These are the gothic memories I have... seeing soldiers outside tanks and planes in the sky," Dr. Waheed said as if it happened just yesterday.&nbsp;

Millions of refugees are denied basic human rights. Their stories go unheard and unnoticed. With his father in hiding from the military, Dr Waheed as a child would go and visit him every summer in the far-away province of Logar.&nbsp;

His mother would not tell him where they were going and then only once they'd arrived, his father would emerge out of a room suddenly.&nbsp;

These were magical moments for Waheed Arian. Looking back, he thinks of this fond memory and realises that people in conflict areas frequently experience this constant cycle of reunion and loss, which bruise them with traumas.

Waheed just have two happy childhood memories. Once when his mother took him to a local park for ice cream with his cousins and another of his father who once gave him a big kite.&nbsp;

In danger from constant shellings and tanks, Waheed's family decided to migrate to Pakistan as refugees. But the normal borders were closed so they had to take a very dangerous route: the same route used by the mujaheedin to bring in the weapons to fight the government.&nbsp;

Sadly, the family came under the attack three times.&nbsp;

At one time, his father hid him in an oven set in a floor. The spy planes were zooming in. That is when his father hugged him and said, "son if anything happened to me, you would be responsible for looking after our family and to take them back to Kabul."

Recalling that day and the words of his father, Waheed, with a heaviness in his voice, said, "that's when actually I lost my childhood. I knew I was second-in-command. I knew I had a responsibility for my family." 
&nbsp; 
Miraculously, they survived the attack. After that attack, the family arrived in Pakistan and were settled in one of the refugee camps.&nbsp;

Within three months, Waheed was detected with advanced tuberculosis.&nbsp;

But his father's resilience, despite so many adversities, made him healthy again.&nbsp;

His father could not afford toys. He would play doctor and patient with Waheed. Waheed recounted, "He would buy some syringes from the local pharmacy and he would allow me to inject boiled water into his arm. I was pretending that I was a doctor. His arms would turn black and blue because I kept missing the vein but he would let me do that."

"I would not let my son do that to me," he chuckled.&nbsp;

But then two and a half years later, the family went to Afghanistan and in 1996 the Taliban took over and again everything was already destroyed and the economy crumbled even more.&nbsp;

Then in 1999, when Waheed got to the age of 15, his parents felt that he could be asked to serve in military.&nbsp;

"My entire family could not come with me to the West and they sold the house and all the belongings to get enough money to put in the hands of an agent to get me out of Afghanistan. Well, I was sat on a plane in Peshawar city and then I landed in Dubai and from Dubai I landed in Heathrow in London."

<h2>Arriving in UK with $100 in his pocket only to be arrested</h2>

"I was first actually arrested. I was arrested because I did not have the correct documents so I was sent to prison and it was a young offenders institute called Feltham. I was there for two weeks."&nbsp;

But fortunately enough, there was a kind barrister who then fought his corner in the court and said that refugees should not be penalised for the route they take to safety according to the UN Geneva Convention.&nbsp;

"The judge agreed. The charges were dropped and then I started my asylum claim in the UK which was a lengthy process that took two and a half years before I was granted a refugee status."&nbsp;

<h2>Worked during day, studied during night</h2>

First he started working in three jobs which was cleaning, sales and kitchen porter during the day. In night time, he would study.&nbsp;

Along with safety, Waheed knew he also have found opportunities that he never had as a child.&nbsp;

"I was like a child in a candy shop... Now I knew. There is school, there is education. I have to get it all and I was really working extremely hard, day and night.&nbsp;

But things were not all glossy for Dr Waheed in UK as, being separated from family, he struggled with mental health issues: from PTSD to deep anxiety.&nbsp;

"I was suffering from a Post-Traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. I did not know what it was when I was walking in streets of London wherever I would see a red bus they turn into a tank and at night time, I would wake in the middle of the night because I had a nightmares of a sniper taking my head off so I had to open the window to see for myself that I was actually in London not in a war zone."

<h2>The route to Cambridge</h2>

Waheed applied to Cambridge University despite so many people, including his tutor telling him that he was crazy an it was silly of him because Cambridge is not for refugees.&nbsp;

"But I actually felt you know, if the Russian bombs and jets did not kill me, applying for Cambridge would not do any harm. Let's do it."&nbsp;

He got into Cambridge and studied there for three years. Then, he came to Imperial College in London to complete clinical studies and also got a scholarship at Harvard university in 2008.

But in 2009, Waheed hit rock bottom and had a breakdown.&nbsp;

That is when, for the first time, he opened up to his tutor, who gave Waheed a big hug. "I cried on his shoulders."&nbsp;

His tutor told him he cannot back off when he is so close now to becoming a doctor and be able to support his family back in Afghanistan.&nbsp;

"Then I started therapy from my clinical psychologist. Before therapy and even in the war zone, running and exercising kept me going."&nbsp;

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<h2>Arian WellBeing</h2>

Waheed founded Arian WellBeing, a mental health initiative to support people in conflict zones.&nbsp;"We have been supporting now medics in the UK and we are hoping to scale this more throughout the globe."&nbsp;

He expresses concerns that a lot of the times therapy is randomly used by people.&nbsp;"What sort of theraphy and who is providing this theraphy is really important," he said.&nbsp;

<h2>Message to children of war</h2>

"My message to children of war or any child who is going through really traumatic experience and going through really challenging times is not to give up on hope of living. Even if we cant see anything hopeful just imagine that one day things will be okay. Number two is to continue dreaming. Its very easy to forget our dreams to forget what we want for our future." 
&nbsp; 
"Another would be to think about compassion, compassion to give to other people. We dont have to have a lot of money. wheather its serving your parents, your neighbours, somebody who is in need... close to you. It could be with your words of kindness. It could be with giving your hand and telling them things are okay. That is giving."

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"When the going gets tough, the tough get going." This adage sits very well with Dr. Waheed Arian, who despite all circumstances penned the tale of his life in the finest ink possible.

"When the going gets tough, the tough get going." This adage sits very well with Dr. Waheed Arian, who despite all circumstances penned the tale of his life in the finest ink possible. How many of us really keep refugees in our thoughts? Dr. Waheed Arian has come a long way from being an Afghan refugee himself to becoming an inspiration to millions. A humanitarian at heart, he is an emergency doctor with National Health Service (NHS) in the UK, a global philanthropist and an author. Dr. Waheed spoke with WION and shared his amazing life story, loaded with the harrowing recollections of his childhood spent in Afghanistan during the Soviet conflict, yet brimming with optimism and tenacity. "I was born into the war during the Afghan-Soviet conflict in the mid-80s. I did not know any other reality except war, hiding in the cellars from the rockets, the bombs, and the shelling. These are the gothic memories I have... seeing soldiers outside tanks and planes in the sky," Dr. Waheed said as if it happened just yesterday. Millions of refugees are denied basic human rights. Their stories go unheard and unnoticed. With his father in hiding from the military, Dr Waheed as a child would go and visit him every summer in the far-away province of Logar. His mother would not tell him where they were going and then only once they'd arrived, his father would emerge out of a room suddenly. These were magical moments for Waheed Arian. Looking back, he thinks of this fond memory and realises that people in conflict areas frequently experience this constant cycle of reunion and loss, which bruise them with traumas. Waheed just have two happy childhood memories. Once when his mother took him to a local park for ice cream with his cousins and another of his father who once gave him a big kite. In danger from constant shellings and tanks, Waheed's family decided to migrate to Pakistan as refugees. But the normal borders were closed so they had to take a very dangerous route: the same route used by the mujaheedin to bring in the weapons to fight the government. Sadly, the family came under the attack three times. At one time, his father hid him in an oven set in a floor. The spy planes were zooming in. That is when his father hugged him and said, "son if anything happened to me, you would be responsible for looking after our family and to take them back to Kabul." Recalling that day and the words of his father, Waheed, with a heaviness in his voice, said, "that's when actually I lost my childhood. I knew I was second-in-command. I knew I had a responsibility for my family." Miraculously, they survived the attack. After that attack, the family arrived in Pakistan and were settled in one of the refugee camps. Within three months, Waheed was detected with advanced tuberculosis. But his father's resilience, despite so many adversities, made him healthy again. His father could not afford toys. He would play doctor and patient with Waheed. Waheed recounted, "He would buy some syringes from the local pharmacy and he would allow me to inject boiled water into his arm. I was pretending that I was a doctor. His arms would turn black and blue because I kept missing the vein but he would let me do that." "I would not let my son do that to me," he chuckled. But then two and a half years later, the family went to Afghanistan and in 1996 the Taliban took over and again everything was already destroyed and the economy crumbled even more. Then in 1999, when Waheed got to the age of 15, his parents felt that he could be asked to serve in military. "My entire family could not come with me to the West and they sold the house and all the belongings to get enough money to put in the hands of an agent to get me out of Afghanistan. Well, I was sat on a plane in Peshawar city and then I landed in Dubai and from Dubai I landed in Heathrow in London." Arriving in UK with $100 in his pocket only to be arrested "I was first actually arrested. I was arrested because I did not have the correct documents so I was sent to prison and it was a young offenders institute called Feltham. I was there for two weeks." But fortunately enough, there was a kind barrister who then fought his corner in the court and said that refugees should not be penalised for the route they take to safety according to the UN Geneva Convention. "The judge agreed. The charges were dropped and then I started my asylum claim in the UK which was a lengthy process that took two and a half years before I was granted a refugee status." Worked during day, studied during night First he started working in three jobs which was cleaning, sales and kitchen porter during the day. In night time, he would study. Along with safety, Waheed knew he also have found opportunities that he never had as a child. "I was like a child in a candy shop... Now I knew. There is school, there is education. I have to get it all and I was really working extremely hard, day and night. But things were not all glossy for Dr Waheed in UK as, being separated from family, he struggled with mental health issues: from PTSD to deep anxiety. "I was suffering from a Post-Traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. I did not know what it was when I was walking in streets of London wherever I would see a red bus they turn into a tank and at night time, I would wake in the middle of the night because I had a nightmares of a sniper taking my head off so I had to open the window to see for myself that I was actually in London not in a war zone." The route to Cambridge Waheed applied to Cambridge University despite so many people, including his tutor telling him that he was crazy an it was silly of him because Cambridge is not for refugees. "But I actually felt you know, if the Russian bombs and jets did not kill me, applying for Cambridge would not do any harm. Let's do it." He got into Cambridge and studied there for three years. Then, he came to Imperial College in London to complete clinical studies and also got a scholarship at Harvard university in 2008. But in 2009, Waheed hit rock bottom and had a breakdown. That is when, for the first time, he opened up to his tutor, who gave Waheed a big hug. "I cried on his shoulders." His tutor told him he cannot back off when he is so close now to becoming a doctor and be able to support his family back in Afghanistan. "Then I started therapy from my clinical psychologist. Before therapy and even in the war zone, running and exercising kept me going." × Arian WellBeing Waheed founded Arian WellBeing, a mental health initiative to support people in conflict zones. "We have been supporting now medics in the UK and we are hoping to scale this more throughout the globe." He expresses concerns that a lot of the times therapy is randomly used by people. "What sort of theraphy and who is providing this theraphy is really important," he said. Message to children of war "My message to children of war or any child who is going through really traumatic experience and going through really challenging times is not to give up on hope of living. Even if we cant see anything hopeful just imagine that one day things will be okay. Number two is to continue dreaming. Its very easy to forget our dreams to forget what we want for our future." "Another would be to think about compassion, compassion to give to other people. We dont have to have a lot of money. wheather its serving your parents, your neighbours, somebody who is in need... close to you. It could be with your words of kindness. It could be with giving your hand and telling them things are okay. That is giving." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

EXCLUSIVE | Afghan child of war, once a refugee, Dr Waheed Arian now heals ailing in war zones

Every day, hundreds of people make the treacherous journey across volatile borders, to escape some of the problems they face in their home countries. Case in point, Somalia where thousands flee the war into neighbouring Kenya and Uganda. Now migrants in the Sahel are finding themselves in the same conundrum as the Somalis.

Refugees, migrants recount horror | World of Africa

The Army and rebel organisations are currently engaged in an escalating violent war in Myanmar's border regions. According to Thai officials, this has caused an evacuation of more than 5,000 people into nearby Thai officials

Officials: Over 5,000 refugees enter Thailand

There are up to 9,000 Afghan refugees staying in hotels in the United Kingdom after fleeing from Kabul following the Taliban takeover in 2021 and under the British government’s new plans, humanitarian groups have warned that they are at risk of becoming homeless.&nbsp;

What does the government plan to do?

The government announced on Tuesday (March 28) that it would move the refugees out of temporary hotel accommodation and into permanent homes on the condition they accept the first offer made to them.&nbsp;

The government has said Afghans living in “temporary bridging accommodation” in the UK under the two settlement schemes will be given additional support to find settled accommodation after 18 months in hotels, reported the Guardian.&nbsp;

The veterans’ affairs minister, Johnny Mercer, told MPs that it was an “unsustainable situation” that “needs to change,” referring to the temporary hotel accommodation. He added, “Bridging hotels were not and were never designed to be a permanent solution…we have a duty to end this practice.”&nbsp;

The veterans’ affairs minister also noted that those in hotels will begin receiving letters in April, saying they have three months to find a settled accommodation, reported AFP. The UK government will also provide extra support, advising on how to rent in the private sector and find jobs, said Mercer.

However, the veterans’ affairs minister has also said that those who do not accept the first offer will not be offered a second alternative. This has since sparked concerns that many around 8,000 refugees, half of them children, could end up homeless. Meanwhile, Downing Street has insisted that refugees will be forced onto the street.

“This is about how we’re accelerating support for Afghans who have been forced to remain in hotel accommodation for sometimes more than a year,” said a Downing Street spokesman. He added, we have made a “large commitment” to support them and make a new life in the UK and this will be the “next stage of that.”

What are the concerns raised?

“We are deeply concerned about many elements of these plans, in particular the risk that they could lead to people who fled the Taliban in Afghanistan being left homeless and destitute on the streets of Britain,” said the chief executive of the Refugee Council, Enver Solomon.&nbsp;

Solomon also slammed the government saying that while hotels are not the right place to live for refugees, the fact that the government has left them there for months is a “consequence of government mismanagement and a failure to work successfully in partnership with local councils and other agencies” to find homes for thousands of refugees.&nbsp;

He added that expecting to suddenly move them by putting pressure on Afghan families “risks causing great misery and anxiety for those who have already experienced trauma and upheaval.”

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

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There are up to 9,000 Afghan refugees staying in hotels in the United Kingdom after fleeing from Kabul following the Taliban takeover in 2021 and under the British government’s new plans, humanitarian groups have warned that they are at risk of becoming homeless.

There are up to 9,000 Afghan refugees staying in hotels in the United Kingdom after fleeing from Kabul following the Taliban takeover in 2021 and under the British government’s new plans, humanitarian groups have warned that they are at risk of becoming homeless. What does the government plan to do? The government announced on Tuesday (March 28) that it would move the refugees out of temporary hotel accommodation and into permanent homes on the condition they accept the first offer made to them. The government has said Afghans living in “temporary bridging accommodation” in the UK under the two settlement schemes will be given additional support to find settled accommodation after 18 months in hotels, reported the Guardian. The veterans’ affairs minister, Johnny Mercer, told MPs that it was an “unsustainable situation” that “needs to change,” referring to the temporary hotel accommodation. He added, “Bridging hotels were not and were never designed to be a permanent solution…we have a duty to end this practice.” The veterans’ affairs minister also noted that those in hotels will begin receiving letters in April, saying they have three months to find a settled accommodation, reported AFP. The UK government will also provide extra support, advising on how to rent in the private sector and find jobs, said Mercer. However, the veterans’ affairs minister has also said that those who do not accept the first offer will not be offered a second alternative. This has since sparked concerns that many around 8,000 refugees, half of them children, could end up homeless. Meanwhile, Downing Street has insisted that refugees will be forced onto the street. “This is about how we’re accelerating support for Afghans who have been forced to remain in hotel accommodation for sometimes more than a year,” said a Downing Street spokesman. He added, we have made a “large commitment” to support them and make a new life in the UK and this will be the “next stage of that.” What are the concerns raised? “We are deeply concerned about many elements of these plans, in particular the risk that they could lead to people who fled the Taliban in Afghanistan being left homeless and destitute on the streets of Britain,” said the chief executive of the Refugee Council, Enver Solomon. Solomon also slammed the government saying that while hotels are not the right place to live for refugees, the fact that the government has left them there for months is a “consequence of government mismanagement and a failure to work successfully in partnership with local councils and other agencies” to find homes for thousands of refugees. He added that expecting to suddenly move them by putting pressure on Afghan families “risks causing great misery and anxiety for those who have already experienced trauma and upheaval.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

UK: Thousands of Afghan refugees may become homeless under govt’s new plans

France's top audit body said on Tuesday (February 28) that the country spent more than 630 million euros last year as it hosted almost 115,000 refugees who were fleeing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The state auditor, the Cour des Comptes, said in a report that Ukrainians seeking shelter had enjoyed "satisfactory" conditions under a never-before-seen "temporary protection" scheme in 2022.

This scheme has allowed refugees to have right that are denied to other asylum seekers. These include ability to work, health services, schooling for children and even emergency accommodation.

Costs for the comparatively generous programme reached 634 million euros ($673 million), with most spent on housing (250 million euros) and cash payouts (220 million euros).

Per person, Paris spent around twice as much on Ukrainian refugees as on "classic asylum seekers", the auditor found.

For instance, housing for Ukrainians cost around 38 euros daily per person, compared with less than 18 in pre-existing asylum facilities.

The auditors encouraged the government to make sure support is kept up for ordinary people hosting refugees in their homes.

At present, Paris is spending almost 800,000 euros per month supporting 900 households who volunteered as hosts, the housing ministry told AFP last week.

(With inputs from agencies)

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France's top audit body said on Tuesday (February 28) that the country spent more than 630 million euros last year as it hosted almost 115,000 refugees who were fleeing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

France's top audit body said on Tuesday (February 28) that the country spent more than 630 million euros last year as it hosted almost 115,000 refugees who were fleeing Russian invasion of Ukraine. The state auditor, the Cour des Comptes, said in a report that Ukrainians seeking shelter had enjoyed "satisfactory" conditions under a never-before-seen "temporary protection" scheme in 2022. This scheme has allowed refugees to have right that are denied to other asylum seekers. These include ability to work, health services, schooling for children and even emergency accommodation. Costs for the comparatively generous programme reached 634 million euros ($673 million), with most spent on housing (250 million euros) and cash payouts (220 million euros). Per person, Paris spent around twice as much on Ukrainian refugees as on "classic asylum seekers", the auditor found. For instance, housing for Ukrainians cost around 38 euros daily per person, compared with less than 18 in pre-existing asylum facilities. The auditors encouraged the government to make sure support is kept up for ordinary people hosting refugees in their homes. At present, Paris is spending almost 800,000 euros per month supporting 900 households who volunteered as hosts, the housing ministry told AFP last week. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

France spent millions of euros hosting refugees from Ukraine in 2022

A prestigious UN award was awarded to Germany's former chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday for allowing refugees into the country when she was in office.&nbsp;

Merkel received appreciation for allowing entry of more than 1.2 million asylum seekers and refugees to Germany in 2015 and 2016 and was awarded the Felix Houphouet-Boigny UNESCO Peace Prize in Yamoussoukro, the capital of the Ivory Coast.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's director-general Audrey Azoulay said, "The jury wanted to honour the courageous decision taken in 2015 to welcome more than a million refugees... when at the same time so many voices were calling for the closure of Europe. You were, at that time, the vision of courage in politics."

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-german-chancellor-angela-merkel-wins-un-refugee-prize-522361">Former German chancellor Angela Merkel wins UN refugee prize</a>

The decision was taken by Merkel when the refugee crisis, fuelled by the war in Syria, was at its peak.&nbsp;

"Respecting, preserving and sharing human rights is the mission of each of us. We decided that it was necessary to respect these principles in our migration policy," the veteran former leader said.

Merkel spent 16 years in the office of chancellor and resigned in 2021.

"This was only possible because many people rolled up their sleeves on the ground," Merkel said while speaking at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Foundation, which derived its name after Ivory Coast's first president.

WATCH | Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel defends her Russian policy

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Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara said, "Despite the hostility of public opinion, you took the decision to open Germany's borders to refugees fleeing conflict zones. You have reminded all world leaders of their duty of solidarity towards all humans."&nbsp;

Almost 2,000 people received invitation to the ceremony, which was started in 1989 and previously has given awards to Nelson Mandela, Yasser Arafat, Yitzhak Rabin and Francois Hollande.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A prestigious UN award was awarded to Germany's former chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday for allowing refugees into the country when she was in office. Merkel received appreciation for allowing entry of more than 1.

A prestigious UN award was awarded to Germany's former chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday for allowing refugees into the country when she was in office. Merkel received appreciation for allowing entry of more than 1.2 million asylum seekers and refugees to Germany in 2015 and 2016 and was awarded the Felix Houphouet-Boigny UNESCO Peace Prize in Yamoussoukro, the capital of the Ivory Coast. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's director-general Audrey Azoulay said, "The jury wanted to honour the courageous decision taken in 2015 to welcome more than a million refugees... when at the same time so many voices were calling for the closure of Europe. You were, at that time, the vision of courage in politics." ALSO READ | Former German chancellor Angela Merkel wins UN refugee prize The decision was taken by Merkel when the refugee crisis, fuelled by the war in Syria, was at its peak. "Respecting, preserving and sharing human rights is the mission of each of us. We decided that it was necessary to respect these principles in our migration policy," the veteran former leader said. Merkel spent 16 years in the office of chancellor and resigned in 2021. "This was only possible because many people rolled up their sleeves on the ground," Merkel said while speaking at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Foundation, which derived its name after Ivory Coast's first president. WATCH | Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel defends her Russian policy Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara said, "Despite the hostility of public opinion, you took the decision to open Germany's borders to refugees fleeing conflict zones. You have reminded all world leaders of their duty of solidarity towards all humans." Almost 2,000 people received invitation to the ceremony, which was started in 1989 and previously has given awards to Nelson Mandela, Yasser Arafat, Yitzhak Rabin and Francois Hollande. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Merkel awarded UNESCO peace prize for opening Germany to refugees

U.S to fund housing for Tibetan refugees in India. U.S. wants to establish a consulate in Lhasa. Watch further to know more.

WION Dispatch: U.S to fund housing for Tibetan refugees

According to the officials, at least 185 men, women and children have landed on Ujong Pie Beach in Indonesia. This is the second group of Rohingya refugees to arrive in Indonesia. Watch this video to know more.

At least 185 Rohingya refugees arrive in Indonesia

As Russia's war in Ukraine rages on, some Ukrainians are facing uncertainty in the UK as a six month commitment for hosts of refugees ends and the struggle to find affordable housing begins.

First phase of UK's Ukrainian refugees hosting scheme to get over

3 men were found on the rudder of a ship that sailed for 11 days from Nigeria to Canary Island. Another migrant was spotted paragliding over a border fence into Spain. Millions risk their lives for the sake of safety, better future. Listen in to Molly Gambhir.

Gravitas Plus: The global refugee crisis

As tens of thousands of refugees shiver in the cold on Turkey’s borders with Europe and a new phase of the brutal Syrian war erupts - Russia, Turkey, the European Union (EU) and the international community are being presented with the bill for a flawed, short-term approach to the nine-year-old conflict that largely lacked empathy for millions of victims and was likely to magnify rather than resolve problems.

The failure of Western policymakers to adopt an approach that would have served Europe’s longer-term security interests and sought to end Syria’s suffering in ways that may have held out the promise of a sustainable resolution of the conflict is compounded by the failure to exploit what was always a fragile alliance between Russia and NATO-member Turkey.

With that alliance under strain, both in Syria, where Russia has warned that it cannot guarantee the safety of Turkish aircraft in Syrian airspace, and in Libya, where the two allies support opposing sides, multiple regional conflicts have begun to mesh.

Some analysts have suggested that Russia was seeking to enlist the support of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in Syria so that it could dump Turkey with which it is on the brink of military blows. The two Gulf states oppose Turkish ambitions in the Middle East and beyond.

The analysts point to recent contacts between Emirati, Russian and Syrian officials and the establishment of relations between Syria and Libya’s UAE and Russian-backed rebel force led by renegade commander Khalifa Haftar.

The various manoeuvres constitute variations on a theme.

The international community, including Russia, did little in the early years of the war to stop militant groups and regional powers from contributing to the violence by exploiting Syria’s power vacuum to their immediate advantage. That changed selectively when the Islamic State gained a territorial foothold in Syria and Iraq.

Similarly, much of the international community falsely assumed that a Syrian victory in Idlib, Syria’s last rebel stronghold, would create a fait accompli that Turkey would accept and that would pave the way to an end to the war and reconstruction.

Like in much of the Middle East where a failure to put one’s ears to the ground and hear the widespread discontent simmering at the surface that produced a decade of revolution and brutal counterrevolution, neither Russia nor its detractors read the writing on Syria’s walls.

If militants and external powers turned what started in 2011 as peaceful protests demanding reform rather than the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the international community failed to recognise that nine years later criticism of the regime is widespread among an impoverished population traumatised by war.

Rather than creating an environment for reconciliation and reconstruction, Russian-supported Syrian military successes in retaking territory from rebels by force or in negotiated handovers have not been accompanied by a relieving of economic and social hardship, sparking intermittent anti-government protests and stepped up repression.

Much of the criticism focuses on the government’s failure to improve economic and living conditions, but like in the early days of the popular revolt, shies away from calls for regime change.

The improbability of a Russian-Syrian military victory putting Syria on a road towards peaceful resolution and recovery is highlighted by the fact that snap polling suggests that less than ten per cent of the millions of Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons would be willing to return to or remain in a country that continues to be ruled by Al-Assad and his regime.

As a result, Russia and Al-Assad appear to have adopted the kind of scorched earth policy that Israel’s military rejected in the late 1980s during the first Palestinian intifada or uprising.

In contrast to the military that told then Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin that the resolution needed to be political because the cost of a military solution would be too high, Russia and Al-Assad have concluded that no cost is too high. It is an approach that emulates Russia’s brutal crushing of rebellions in Chechnya in the 1990s.

“Russia realised that it cannot cement its military victories into permanent political gains through diplomacy within the projected remaining lifetime of the regime. Instead, it decided to employ the ‘Grozny doctrine’ of complete annihilation of all those who stand in the way of its strategic goals and bring the conflict to an end before the regime collapses,” said Syrian activist Labib al-Nahhas De La Ossa, referring to the Chechen capital that was virtually destroyed by Russian forces.

It's an approach that in violation of international law takes no heed of the consequences for innocent millions in Idlib or the fact that many, rather than supporting Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an erstwhile Al-Qaeda affiliate that controls part of the province, have repeatedly protested against it.

It's also an approach that potentially could spark a renewed refugee crisis in Europe with Turkey, already home to some four million refugees, no longer stopping fleeing Syrians and others from trying to cross its Greek and Bulgarian borders with the European Union.

Russia, in a cynical twist of irony, would likely be happy to see a repeat of the 2015 refugee crisis that fuelled support for far-right, anti-immigration and nativist forces in Europe who are empathetic to Moscow’s effort to weaken the trans-Atlantic alliance as well as the European Union with its adherence to Western values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

Even with that being the case, Russian policy towards Idlib and the rest of Syria is likely to only produce problematic outcomes: ensuring total victory for Al-Assad risks a break-up with Turkey, a key regional player, and forecloses chances for a sustainable resolution of the Syrian conflict that would allow for the voluntary return of refugees and displaced persons.

Continued Russian and Iranian-backed support for Al-Assad’s brutal regime will at best temporarily stabilise Syria and potentially open the door to a forced return of some refugees and displaced persons while setting the stage for another round of conflict.

An equally unsustainable alternative scenario, envisioned by De La Ossa, would involve a Russian-Turkish agreement to cram three million refugees into a tiny slice of Idlib in what would amount to sub-human conditions.

Said De La Ossa: “The humanitarian catastrophe that is Idlib has shown that the lessons from the beginning of World War II still apply: Appeasing dictators who are willing to kill massive numbers of people to realise their delusions of grandeur never works. But if the US, Europe, and the international community at large fail to heed these lessons, it will not only be Syrians who pay the price. “ 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

As tens of thousands of refugees shiver in the cold on Turkey’s borders with Europe and a new phase of the brutal Syrian war erupts - Russia, Turkey, the European Union (EU) and the international community are being presented with the bill for a flawed, short-term approach to the nine-year-old conflict that largely lacked empathy for millions of victims and was likely to magnify rather than resolve problems.

As tens of thousands of refugees shiver in the cold on Turkey’s borders with Europe and a new phase of the brutal Syrian war erupts - Russia, Turkey, the European Union (EU) and the international community are being presented with the bill for a flawed, short-term approach to the nine-year-old conflict that largely lacked empathy for millions of victims and was likely to magnify rather than resolve problems. The failure of Western policymakers to adopt an approach that would have served Europe’s longer-term security interests and sought to end Syria’s suffering in ways that may have held out the promise of a sustainable resolution of the conflict is compounded by the failure to exploit what was always a fragile alliance between Russia and NATO-member Turkey. With that alliance under strain, both in Syria, where Russia has warned that it cannot guarantee the safety of Turkish aircraft in Syrian airspace, and in Libya, where the two allies support opposing sides, multiple regional conflicts have begun to mesh. Some analysts have suggested that Russia was seeking to enlist the support of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in Syria so that it could dump Turkey with which it is on the brink of military blows. The two Gulf states oppose Turkish ambitions in the Middle East and beyond. The analysts point to recent contacts between Emirati, Russian and Syrian officials and the establishment of relations between Syria and Libya’s UAE and Russian-backed rebel force led by renegade commander Khalifa Haftar. The various manoeuvres constitute variations on a theme. The international community, including Russia, did little in the early years of the war to stop militant groups and regional powers from contributing to the violence by exploiting Syria’s power vacuum to their immediate advantage. That changed selectively when the Islamic State gained a territorial foothold in Syria and Iraq. Similarly, much of the international community falsely assumed that a Syrian victory in Idlib, Syria’s last rebel stronghold, would create a fait accompli that Turkey would accept and that would pave the way to an end to the war and reconstruction. Like in much of the Middle East where a failure to put one’s ears to the ground and hear the widespread discontent simmering at the surface that produced a decade of revolution and brutal counterrevolution, neither Russia nor its detractors read the writing on Syria’s walls. If militants and external powers turned what started in 2011 as peaceful protests demanding reform rather than the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the international community failed to recognise that nine years later criticism of the regime is widespread among an impoverished population traumatised by war. Rather than creating an environment for reconciliation and reconstruction, Russian-supported Syrian military successes in retaking territory from rebels by force or in negotiated handovers have not been accompanied by a relieving of economic and social hardship, sparking intermittent anti-government protests and stepped up repression. Much of the criticism focuses on the government’s failure to improve economic and living conditions, but like in the early days of the popular revolt, shies away from calls for regime change. The improbability of a Russian-Syrian military victory putting Syria on a road towards peaceful resolution and recovery is highlighted by the fact that snap polling suggests that less than ten per cent of the millions of Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons would be willing to return to or remain in a country that continues to be ruled by Al-Assad and his regime. As a result, Russia and Al-Assad appear to have adopted the kind of scorched earth policy that Israel’s military rejected in the late 1980s during the first Palestinian intifada or uprising. In contrast to the military that told then Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin that the resolution needed to be political because the cost of a military solution would be too high, Russia and Al-Assad have concluded that no cost is too high. It is an approach that emulates Russia’s brutal crushing of rebellions in Chechnya in the 1990s. “Russia realised that it cannot cement its military victories into permanent political gains through diplomacy within the projected remaining lifetime of the regime. Instead, it decided to employ the ‘Grozny doctrine’ of complete annihilation of all those who stand in the way of its strategic goals and bring the conflict to an end before the regime collapses,” said Syrian activist Labib al-Nahhas De La Ossa, referring to the Chechen capital that was virtually destroyed by Russian forces. It's an approach that in violation of international law takes no heed of the consequences for innocent millions in Idlib or the fact that many, rather than supporting Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an erstwhile Al-Qaeda affiliate that controls part of the province, have repeatedly protested against it. It's also an approach that potentially could spark a renewed refugee crisis in Europe with Turkey, already home to some four million refugees, no longer stopping fleeing Syrians and others from trying to cross its Greek and Bulgarian borders with the European Union. Russia, in a cynical twist of irony, would likely be happy to see a repeat of the 2015 refugee crisis that fuelled support for far-right, anti-immigration and nativist forces in Europe who are empathetic to Moscow’s effort to weaken the trans-Atlantic alliance as well as the European Union with its adherence to Western values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Even with that being the case, Russian policy towards Idlib and the rest of Syria is likely to only produce problematic outcomes: ensuring total victory for Al-Assad risks a break-up with Turkey, a key regional player, and forecloses chances for a sustainable resolution of the Syrian conflict that would allow for the voluntary return of refugees and displaced persons. Continued Russian and Iranian-backed support for Al-Assad’s brutal regime will at best temporarily stabilise Syria and potentially open the door to a forced return of some refugees and displaced persons while setting the stage for another round of conflict. An equally unsustainable alternative scenario, envisioned by De La Ossa, would involve a Russian-Turkish agreement to cram three million refugees into a tiny slice of Idlib in what would amount to sub-human conditions. Said De La Ossa: “The humanitarian catastrophe that is Idlib has shown that the lessons from the beginning of World War II still apply: Appeasing dictators who are willing to kill massive numbers of people to realise their delusions of grandeur never works. But if the US, Europe, and the international community at large fail to heed these lessons, it will not only be Syrians who pay the price. “ (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

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