Help People Struggling to Survive in Syria
- by: Amnesty International Canada.
- recipient: Prime Minister Trudeau
Horrific images and stories are emerging from Syria, most recently of people suffering and dying in regions of the country because starvation is being used as a weapon of war by both the Syrian government and armed groups. As the brutal civil war continues into its sixth year, more lives are at risk due to intensifying military operations, restricted humanitarian aid and prolonged blockading of entire towns and communities.
The people of Syria are ever-more desperate for safety. They long to raise their families in a secure and nurturing environment, free of the daily horrors of life under attack.
Canada can do more to protect people in Syria. Canada has been generous in providing funding to UN and humanitarian agencies working with refugees and internally displaced people on the ground in Syria and neighbouring countries, but those needs remain dramatically underfunded. Canada can also intensify its efforts to find a resolution to the crisis in Syria, such as working for a comprehensive global arms embargo against Syria.
The people of Syria have suffered enough.
Tell Prime Minister Justin Trudeau it's time for Canada to take a leadership role in the protection of civilians in Syria.
Dear Prime Minister Trudeau,
Over 250,000 lives have been lost since the Syrian conflict began, and now even more lives are at risk due to intensifying military operations.
Amnesty International welcomes the Canadian government’s commitment to the resettlement of 25,000 Syrian refugees in 2016. But we must not forget the need for the protection of civilians who remain in Syria. Today we must take action to demand their protection.
Canada has been generous in providing funding to UN and humanitarian agencies working with refugees and internally displaced people on the ground in Syria and neighbouring countries. But still those needs remain dramatically underfunded. Canada should continue writing those cheques and encouraging other nations to do similarly.
Canada can and should also intensify its efforts to find a resolution to the crisis in Syria that has provoked such massive displacement. One place to start would be to work for a comprehensive global arms embargo against Syria.
We call on the Canadian government to:
- Play a leading international role in crafting and coordinating a more coherent and rights-based global approach to the Syrian refugee crisis.
- Demand all parties to the conflict abide by the rules of war and protect civilians;
- Support humanitarian assistance and human rights monitors to reach vulnerable people on the ground;
- Take all possible steps to avoid harming civilians during military operations; and
- Ensure people fleeing the horrors of Syria are treated fairly, including by increasing assistance to refugee hosting countries
[Your comments here]
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
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