Saturday, March 24, 2012

Why So Syria-us?

With everything that has been going down in Syria, it has been hard to turn my attention to writing. The grim news coming out of Assad's deadly crackdown on the freedom fighters there has been heartbreaking.  The Free Syria movement has resulted in cold blooded brutality against the Syrian citizens by their own government. A chilling estimate of 8,000 deaths in just the past year; these are crimes against humanity the likes of which have not been seen since the genocide during the Bosnian War. Still hope is alive and the courage of the Syrian people who are fighting their oppressors is awe-inspiring. 

I heard a pediatrician speak a couple weeks ago about her harrowing experiences when she travelled with a group of doctors from Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) to provide urgent medical care and relief for some of the 8 thousand displaced Syrians at several refugee camps situated in Turkey along the volatile Syrian border. I could barely hold back my tears as haunting images of the poor conditions of the camps and the refugee children screened during her heartfelt recounting of the humanitarian mission. The best part of her speech was giving all of us concrete ways we can help.

Here is what you can do to help:

-Pray for the courageous people of Syria.

-Donate to SAMS Midwest Foundation via www.sams-usa.net
This group's main mission is to help fundraise and raise awareness about worthy causes in Syria and here in the United States. It solicits public support and contributions, sponsors fundraisers, and channels humanitarian aid in the form of financial assistance to help local NGOs in Syria.

-Contact your local congressman about supporting sustained and aggressive political & economic sanctions against the Syrian government and all other nations or people that are supporting the Assad regime.

-Publicize the systematic rape occurring in Syria to other people in your social networks; follow and RT #rapeinsyria

It was only when the devastating UN reports of over 60,000 rapes in Bosnia were publicized in the media that the world governments finally intervened there.

#rapeinsyria
•Supported by Women Under Seige
•Crowdmapping: https://rapeinsyria.crowdmap.com

May God have mercy on the women, men and children of Syria, Ameen.