Alhurra Focuses the Spotlight on the Syrian Refugee Crisis
Alhurra Television takes a candid and in-depth look at the Syrian refugee crisis with a former UNHCR Manager of the Zaatari Camp in Jordan and Syrians refugees living in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey. During the hour-long discussion on Special Report, Kilian Kleinschmidt, who worked as a former UNCHR camp manager told the audience that only about 17 percent (or 100,000) of the Syrian refugees in Jordan are living in camps. He said that even though the UNHCR provides aid, it is still very difficult living conditions.
Dulishan Suliman, a former engineer and a current resident at a Syrian refugee camp in Turkey, discussed the plight of the children living in the Turkey camps. He noted that there are 300,000 Syrian children not getting an education in Turkey. Some Turkish schools have opened their doors, but the language barrier has been an ongoing problem.
Syrian refugee Alaa Alhalabi talked about the lack of education, employment and housing in Lebanon for Syrians. He also discussed the sectarian discrimination that he faces in Lebanon and the calls by some politicians to limit the numbers of Syrians allowed to enter the country.
Kleinschmidt stated that this is the fourth year of this crisis and that it is difficult for UNHCR to keep up with the demand that was needed. He urged for there to be a long term strategy to deal with the refugee crisis and it needed involvement from the global community.
Special Report showed viewers the challenging living conditions with reports from inside the camps in Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon. The show also included interviews with the Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration Anne C. Richard and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres.