Following the recently launched airstrikes in Syria by The Trump administration and its allies, innocent civilians are at an increased risk of harm. As a response to the chemical attack that was responsible for the lives of dozens in the city of Douma on April 7th, 2018, the airstrikes were a necessary and crucial call to action, as MILLIONS of lives have been and will continue to be taken.
Time and time again, discussions and debates have taken place, while limited action has generally followed. While the airstrike effort was in good nature, the reality of the situation is that as this very moment, hundreds of thousands of men, woman, and children are left hungry, without shelter, and facing life-threatening conditions. The people of Syria need our help more than ever and while diplomatic strategy is crucial, assistance towards the refugees holds just as much weight.
Even more so, Syrian refugees are not newcomers to the world of destruction. Their homeland is and has been in complete disarray for the better part of the 21st century. These people can no longer be treated as just another number. Admittedly, I myself have subconsciously been guilty of this because, when it comes down to it, I am going to end up sleeping in a bed tonight, with a roof over my head, and a stomach full of food; the imperativeness of the situation was glazed over while I slept and lost on me the following day. I refuse to let that happen this time.
At the end of the day, these people are humans, and whether widely realized or not, we humans have just as many similarities as we do differences. These people, are people. No different than you and me. By the grace of the universe, we somehow ended up in a society that fulfills the majority of our basic needs: food, water, shelter, safety, and security. The people of Syria have enormous room for growth and prosperity, provided their basic needs are fulfilled. While I wish I had the ability to help all Syrian refugees, I simply cannot - at least, by myself.
In order to save a village, it takes a village.
As privileged americans (privileged in the sense that you are using some sort of device to even be reading this), it is our responsibility and duty to help those less privileged than us and even out the playing field, as much as we can. For that reason, I am partnering with the International Rescue Committee of Syria, in an effort to aid the people who have become just another statistic.
Our effort will resemble the phenomenon widely known as the Domino Effect. Each and every one of you are the dominoes, and as more dominoes are lined up, we will have exponentially more power to knock over the obstacles in place. From the words of IRC president David Miliband: "Syrian civilians need urgent humanitarian aid to relieve poverty, Syria’s neighbors need support for the refugees they are housing.”
This is a call to action and I urge anyone reading this to think of their support from a global perspective. People CAN and WILL ignite change. Combining our resources, no matter how big or small, is the best way possible to help civilians who want the same things we do: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Any donation is extremely appreciated and will make a difference.
