Syria Refugee Crisis
Elisabeth Novak
260581648
INTD 200
The Syrian Refugee Crisis: Canada is Not Playing its Role.
The Syrian civil war originating in 2011 has put millions in perilous situations, now involving most of the international community. With approximately 6.5 million people internally displaced, and millions more fleeing the country as refugees or seeking refugee status, the Syrian war has become a worldwide refugee crisis, in desperate need of international help1. Over the past couple decades, Canada has proved to be a leader in the acceptance of refugees from around the world, especially during a crisis. But as of today, the country has done little to fulfill its global role in protecting those affected in Syria, mainly due to processing delays and poor management of refugee applications, but also due to an insufficient commitment to helping those in need.
First of all, it is important to understand how Canada defines refugees, what programs it has to fund the arrival and care for these people, and how it goes about selecting them. According to the government of Canada, refugees are “individuals with a well-founded fear of persecution or are persons at risk of torture or cruel and unusual treatment or punishment if they were to return to their country of nationality or residence.”2 People seeking protection from within Canada and are afraid of returning to their country of origin must go through the domestic asylum system, whereas anyone seeking assistance from outside Canada must go through the Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program (RHSP), and can be sponsored by private groups. 3 Sponsors include church groups as well as ethnic organizations, which “agree to provide emotional and financial support to refugees, including housing, clothing and food, for at least a year”4. These sponsorships as well as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) play an important role in the selection and referral of those seeking refugee status and aid.5
It is
260581648
INTD 200
The Syrian Refugee Crisis: Canada is Not Playing its Role.
The Syrian civil war originating in 2011 has put millions in perilous situations, now involving most of the international community. With approximately 6.5 million people internally displaced, and millions more fleeing the country as refugees or seeking refugee status, the Syrian war has become a worldwide refugee crisis, in desperate need of international help1. Over the past couple decades, Canada has proved to be a leader in the acceptance of refugees from around the world, especially during a crisis. But as of today, the country has done little to fulfill its global role in protecting those affected in Syria, mainly due to processing delays and poor management of refugee applications, but also due to an insufficient commitment to helping those in need.
First of all, it is important to understand how Canada defines refugees, what programs it has to fund the arrival and care for these people, and how it goes about selecting them. According to the government of Canada, refugees are “individuals with a well-founded fear of persecution or are persons at risk of torture or cruel and unusual treatment or punishment if they were to return to their country of nationality or residence.”2 People seeking protection from within Canada and are afraid of returning to their country of origin must go through the domestic asylum system, whereas anyone seeking assistance from outside Canada must go through the Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program (RHSP), and can be sponsored by private groups. 3 Sponsors include church groups as well as ethnic organizations, which “agree to provide emotional and financial support to refugees, including housing, clothing and food, for at least a year”4. These sponsorships as well as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) play an important role in the selection and referral of those seeking refugee status and aid.5
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