EU needs action plan humanitarian crisis Syria

The ever-increasing danger that the war in Syria spills over into neighbouring countries forces the EU to take drastic measures. This afternoon, on the initiative of Member of the European Parliament Marietje Schaake (D66/ALDE), the European Parliament will debate the situation of almost 2 million Syrian refugees that have fled to neighbouring countries. Schaake: “Jordan and Lebanon are at their breaking point, while enormous hospitality was shown by the populations of these countries, a critical limit is now reached. The social tensions are growing. Also, the infrastructure cannot cope with the sudden increase of the population. All these challenges come on top of an economic crisis. These ingredients are a recipe for disaster.” Regional action plan In a draft resolution, MEPs call for a regional emergency action plan consisting of three key elements. Firstly, there is more money needed to provide basic relief and support. Furthermore, the infrastructure of the host-nations must be strengthened to help them accommodate the continuing flow of refugees. Lastly, the EU should grant the host-nations favourable loans. Schaake: “The United Nations expects the number of refugees outside Syria to grow to 3.5 million at the end of this year, on top of the 5 million Syrians that have been internally displaced. It estimates that the total cost of the humanitarian operation in Syria will amount to 3 million Euros for the second half of 2013. This unprecedented catastrophe is taking place in our own backyard, it is in the EU’s strategic interests to retain control of this disaster, and to seek to minimize the damage.” A hopeless situation According to Schaake, there is no end to the violence in sight. Through a number of strategic victories, the Assad regime, with help from Hezbollah, even seems to be strengthening its position. In spite of a joint effort with the United States for a peace summit, Russia keeps on supplying the regime with advanced weaponry. The rebels are threatening to boycott any negotiations concerning a political solution as long as the West does not supply them with weapons. Schaake: “While the international community looks for a political solution, the violence continues. I fear the death toll will continue to rise. The international community should not make promises that it cannot keep: by promising weapons or a no fly zone, while doing nothing, we will lose the Syrian opposition and at the same time allow Assad to remain in control. However painful it may be, a political solution seems to be the most realistic option now.”