However long it takes before the Syrian civil war comes to an end, one thing is certain: Syria will never be the same again.
The country is already in ruins, as the bloody battle between President Bashar al-Assad’s forces and the Free Syrian Army has taken the lives of tens of thousands, including innocent men, women, children and the elderly who had played no part in the conflict.
Millions more have been displaced from their homes, with nearly 1.8 million known to be seeking refugee in neighbouring Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq.
And with President Assad’s government continuing to strengthen with the support of both Iranian forces and Lebanese Hezbollah militants, one can only imagine what will happen in the coming months. The recent spill-over of conflict across the Lebanese and Turkish borders bodes ill for the region.
And neither are we in the west immune from the civil war’s effects, as an increasing number of Syrians seeks refuge on our shores. They and their compatriots seeking shelter in the Middle East need the urgent support of the international community. But who will step up to help?
Already the UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres has said he is concerned about serious gaps in the protection of Syrians arriving in Europe. He called on Europeans to be more sympathetic, and adapt a consistent plan to help Syrians looking for shelter and asylum. More than that, Europe needs to take the lead in doing whatever it takes to restore peace in Syria.
