Ready for Return?
- September 30th, 2018
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Foreign minister Walid al-Moualem announced that Syria was ready for the return of refugees. He stated that Syria would welcome help rebuilding but will not accept aid from sponsors of the rebels. This statement to the UN General Assembly, is meant to demonstrate Syria’s stability and place all the blame on the rebel factions. His statement claimed only “terrorists” caused the destruction and abnormality of life, along with their “unilateral economic measures” which forced the Syria people to seek refuge elsewhere. This diminishes the fact that a civil war requires fighting from both sides. Although this is possibly a move to solidify Assad’s legitimacy, it seems improbable that the international community will turn a blind eye to the reality that is the civil war.
The US is involved because it is one of the world’s largest givers of humanitarian and development aid. Additionally, the US supported the YPG, a Kurdish nationalist group and the Syrian Democratic Forces. If Assad will not accept US aid it is likely to be difficult for Syria to gain enough international aid to rebuild. The inability for US aid to Syria will further eliminate US influence in the state.
Anna K.
https://www.euronews.com/2018/09/29/syria-ready-for-refugees-to-return