[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 632 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 632

  Commending the Government of Turkey for its efforts to facilitate, 
 host, and care for refugees fleeing the Al-Assad regime's escalating 
                           violence in Syria.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 25, 2012

  Mr. Meeks (for himself, Mr. Connolly of Virginia, Ms. Foxx, and Mr. 
 Cohen) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Commending the Government of Turkey for its efforts to facilitate, 
 host, and care for refugees fleeing the Al-Assad regime's escalating 
                           violence in Syria.

Whereas the ongoing brutality of the Syrian Government against its own citizenry 
        targets innocent civilians, resulting in the loss of nearly 9,000 
        Syrians, including women and children, destroying communities and 
        livelihoods, triggering massive population displacement within Syria and 
        throughout the region, and creating a deepening humanitarian crisis;
Whereas the international community has called for an end to the violence 
        against civilians, facilitation of humanitarian access, and support for 
        a genuine political transition that protects the rights of all Syrians 
        and Turkey has been a forceful proponent of these demands;
Whereas the humanitarian needs continue to grow, with as many as 3,000,000 
        individuals in Syria affected by violence, including a United Nations-
        estimated 300,000 internally displaced persons, and with the number of 
        Syrians seeking refuge in neighboring countries exceeding 60,000 
        individuals as of mid-April 2012;
Whereas the United States has committed substantial humanitarian assistance to 
        relieve suffering and to protect civilians, and will continue to support 
        fleeing and displaced Syrians in need;
Whereas the Government of Turkey, as of mid-April 2012, is hosting nearly 25,000 
        Syrian refugees in camps in eastern provinces and has allowed visa-free 
        entry of tens of thousands of Syrians who have fled Syria but not sought 
        refuge in the camps;
Whereas despite significant increases in the number of Syrians seeking refuge in 
        Turkey, the Turkish Government is demonstrating generous abundant 
        hospitality, accepting full responsibility for assisting displaced 
        Syrians within its borders, maintaining an open border to fleeing 
        Syrians, and responding robustly to their humanitarian needs;
Whereas Turkey has hosted Syrian opposition groups to facilitate realization of 
        a vision for a democratic Syria, and hosted a major international 
        Friends of the Syrian People Conference in Istanbul on April 1, 2012, 
        with participation of 83 countries and international organizations;
Whereas Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated that Syrian 
        President Bashir Al-Assad must step down, if he fails to meet the 
        legitimate demands of the Syrian people;
Whereas the Turkish Government and the Turkish Red Crescent are cooperating 
        closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the 
        International Committee of the Red Cross to address the needs of fleeing 
        and displaced Syrians;
Whereas the Turkish Government has called for Syria to facilitate the delivery 
        of critical care, and essential goods and services, and to allow the 
        treatment of wounded and unimpeded exodus of civilians;
Whereas the initial humanitarian assistance provided through the Turkish Red 
        Crescent to address the needs of Syrians who have fled the violence has 
        exceeded international standards for refugee relief;
Whereas the Turkish population in the areas of Hatay, Gaziantep, Kilis, and 
        Sanliurfa has been extremely generous and hospitable, offering housing, 
        food, bicycles, school supplies, and other assistance to the refugees; 
        and
Whereas Turkey is an emerging global humanitarian actor that has played 
        important roles in various international relief efforts, including in 
        Afghanistan, Somalia, and Sudan: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends the leadership of the Government of Turkey in 
        calling for an end to the violence in Syria and the restoration 
        of human rights and democracy;
            (2) commends the Turkish Government's responsiveness to the 
        humanitarian needs of Syrian refugees;
            (3) supports the response of international organizations 
        including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 
        and the international family of Red Cross, and Red Crescent 
        organizations in their efforts to support internally displaced 
        persons within Syria and Syrian refugees throughout the region; 
        and
            (4) acknowledges Turkey as an emerging global humanitarian 
        actor.
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