If you are not caught up in current events or have not had the time to look up what modern influencers such as J. K. Rowling, Ellen, and even the Pope meant by their Instagram and Twitter posts here is quick history of what is going on in Aleppo.
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and is also one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities dating back to before the Ottoman Empire. The Syrian civil war started in 2012 between the Syrian Army and its opposition, including the Free Syrian Army and the Levant Front. Aleppo stands as a crucial position dividing the Rebel-held east and the government-held east. The vantage point the city holds is currently making it a very dangerous place for those who live within its borders. For the last four years, Aleppo has been held by Rebel Forces but was recently seized by the Syrian Government. However, the military significance of the city is not nearly as important of the lives that are at risk. Evacuations have started by the Red Cross and it was reported by CNN that it will take several more days to completely clear the city.
This might not sound like a problem that affects us in America but it is. The attack on Aleppo included the dropping of bombs from helicopters killing thousands of civilians and was combined with an intentional targeting of schools and hospitals. This is a direct violation of human rights and should be a problem for everyone regardless of their nationality. The most horrifying part of this attack is that the majority of people who were affected by this were not part of either army but instead civilians trying to live their daily lives. Adding to the list of reasons why we should pay attention to Aleppo is the medical convoys, including Doctors without Borders and the Red Cross, who risk their lives to save those injured or trapped in the city.
So that leaves to the even larger question of where do the survivors go? These people had no choice of where they were born and the destruction that affected their homes and livelihoods and renders them refugees running into a world that directs large amounts of hate toward them. Many countries have chosen to stop allowing refugees to enter their borders or to only allow a small number in ever since ISIS and its related violence has become an everyday topic. Prior to the attack on Aleppo, 4.6 million Syrians had already become refugees as a result of the civil war. More than ever it's crucial that our world leaders come together to find viable solutions for this crisis. For now, raising awareness and sending aid is the only option for us watching it happen.
