[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 18, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E403]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 MARKING THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONFLICT IN SYRIA AND THE PLIGHT 
                          OF SYRIA'S REFUGEES

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEPHEN F. LYNCH

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 18, 2014

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join with my colleagues from 
the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission to mark a tragic milestone in 
the conflict in Syria. It has now been three years that the nation of 
Syria has been engulfed in a war that has only grown more violent over 
time and has fomented increasing stability throughout the region. The 
men, women, and children of Syria have endured unspeakable violence and 
devastating attacks that have ruined their homes and neighborhoods.
  The scale of displacement in Syria has been called the worst refugee 
crisis in recent history. Indeed, approximately one-third of the entire 
population has been forced to flee their homes. According to the United 
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, over 2.5 Syrians have fled the 
country since March 2011, while another 6.5 million Syrians have been 
internally displaced. Syria has gone from being one of the largest 
refugee-hosting nations to surpassing Afghanistan as the largest source 
of refugees in the world today.
  Syria's neighbors have been profoundly affected by the conflict, both 
by the spillover of violence and the massive influx of refugees that 
have sought, and continue to seek, safety abroad. Jordan, Lebanon, 
Turkey, and Iraq have already taken in about 2.1 million refugees. One 
million refugees are in Lebanon. As a result, Lebanon's total 
population has increased by one-fifth. That would be like adding an 
additional 60 million people to the U.S. population all at once. Turkey 
has 634,900 refugees and Jordan is sheltering 584,000 Syrians, with 
100,000 in the Zaatari refugee camp alone. Even Iraq, which once saw a 
vast flow of refugees into Syria, is now seeing a significant reverse 
flow.
  These nations, with assistance from the United States, the European 
Union, the United Nations, and the international community are doing 
all they can. However, resources are limited and the refugee camps are 
overcrowded. Additionally, while the refugees may have found protection 
from the war, many Syrian women and girls are instead encountering 
alarming levels of sexual and domestic violence. This is no way for the 
Syrian people to live.
  The only solution is for the global community to come together to 
support a final lasting political resolution that will bring peace and 
stability and allow these refugees to come home and rebuild their 
country. I join with my fellow Members to call for renewed efforts to 
help support the refugees and their host nations, and to finally end 
this reprehensible conflict once and for all.

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