Syria has turned into the greatest catastrophe of our time. Over the past five years, Syrian victims have been subjected to chemical and gas attacks, starvation, air strikes, barrel bombs, and so on. According to the UN, up to 400,000 people have been killed since the conflict began in March 2011, and __more than half the population has been displaced. 15,948 children and 10,540 women have been killed, as per reports of Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). Aleppo has been a key battleground in the war between forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and rebels who want to overthrow him. Millions of Syrians have fled abroad in search of better conditions as almost 275,000 people remain trapped. Eastern Aleppo is running out of food, electricity and pure water. Children affected by the Syrian conflict are at risk of malnourishment, diseases and abuse, and are forced to drop out of school.
Syrian civilians no longer believe in the UN or any international community. They are simply desperate for freedom. What will it take for the East and the West, for the global community at large, to show an ounce of humanity to these people?
Selim Reza Mridha
Department of Anthropology
Chittagong University