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The Syrian Refugee Crisis Essay

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A refugee is defined as an individual who has been forced to leave their country due to political or religious reasons, or due to threat of war or violence. There were 19.5 million refugees worldwide at the end of 2014, 14.4 million under the mandate of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), around 2.9 million more than in 2013. The other 5.1 million Palestinian refugees are registered with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). With the displacement of so many people, it is difficult to find countries willing to accept all the refugees. There are over 125 different countries that currently host refugees, and with this commitment comes the responsibility of ensuring these refugees have access to …show more content…

Despite the efforts of parents to keep traditions alive, children are changing, fighting over food, clothing and anything of any value. Many children feel like they are prisoners in their host countries. Many are not allowed to leave their homes due to safety concerns and chores that need to be completed. Twenty-nine percent of Syrian refugees leave their home less than once a week. In many cases, multiple families are crammed into the same, often one-roomed house. People who held jobs, and often led successful lives now live off of handouts, or by working odd jobs. Many children have been out of school for over two years, and there is no opportunity to begin school in their host country. Last year, over 40% of elementary children dropped out of school due to the civil war and resulting displacement. With no job and no opportunity of education for their children, there is little hope for those who have fled Syria. Aside from the difficulty of finding a place within a school, many children are also expected to work and to help provide for their families, as many parents cannot find a job. Many go to school all day, and then work night shifts at restaurants or factories. Many children are often exposed to extremely long working hours, dangerous types of work and many are exposed to illegal activities. Those that do manage to go to school are faced with harsh discrimination, and often segregation. The parents of Jordanian and Lebanese

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