Study Guide
League of
Arab States
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Acknowledgements This document has been drafted, laid out, corrected, editorialized and published by a multicultural team of authors from an academic background in their free time without any form of financial compensation. Special Thanks for the creation of this document goes to: The Chairs: Manal Shehade, David Tschorr The Academics Team: Julia Bialek, Leonard Heberer and Lars Brandt The Purpose of this Guide …is to prepare you for your role as a participant in a diplomatic simulation. We expect that you take the preparation of your topics seriously and that you conduct the negotiations in your committee with exemplary style and formidable resolve. Please do not underestimate the time and effort your fellow delegates and chairs have put into their preparation. Reward and acknowledge their effort by committing a valuable contribution to your committee. Page 2 / 22 Hamburg Model United Nations 2015 | www.hammun.de Study Guide for the League of Arab States Contents Welcome Letter and Introduction of the chairs ................................................................... 4 Get to know your chair: David Tschorr ......................................................................................... 5 Get to know your chair: Manal Shehade ...................................................................................... 5 Committee overview: League of Arab States ...................................................................... 6 History ........................................................................................................................................ 6 Goals and Competences .............................................................................................................. 6 Topic 1: “Yemeni Civil War and the influence of the Saudi-­‐Arab coalition” ......................... 7 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 7 Timeline ...................................................................................................................................... 8 Discussion of the problem ......................................................................................................... 10 Questions a resolution should answer ....................................................................................... 13 Further (up-­‐to-­‐date) reading ..................................................................................................... 14 Bibliography .............................................................................................................................. 14 Topic 2: Addressing the growing refugee crisis in bordering Arab states with special regard for the administration of humanitarian aid, the protection of women and children, as well as implications for host countries ..................................................................................... 16 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 16 Timeline .................................................................................................................................... 17 Discussion of the Problem ......................................................................................................... 18 Questions a resolution should answer ....................................................................................... 20 Further reading ......................................................................................................................... 21 Bibliography .............................................................................................................................. 22 Page 3 / 22 Hamburg Model United Nations 2015 | www.hammun.de Study Guide for the League of Arab States Welcome Letter and Introduction of the chairs
Dear Delegates,
We would like to give a warm welcome to all delegates participating at Hamburg Model United
Nations (HamMUN) 2015. In the next four days, you will have the opportunity to debate on
current and more importantly quiet demanding topics, learn about different cultures, and make
friendships for life. The current situations and dangers that the world faces are diverse and
numerous. Understandably, crisis conflict situations, such as those currently occurring in the
Middle East, require a large amount of attention. However, it is not sufficient to search only for
a short-term solution but to encounter the roots that cause the problems and to find a response
that leads to a satisfying outcome.
That is why this year at HamMUN; the League of Arab States will be discussing the following
two topics:
Topic 1: Yemeni Civil War and the influence of the Saudi-Arab coalition
Topic 2: Addressing the growing refugee crisis in bordering Arab states with special regard for
the administration of humanitarian aid, the protection of women and children, as well as
implications for host countries
The following study-guide represents a starting point for your own individual research as well
as preparation for the sessions of our committee which are taking place between the 3th and 6th
of December 2015 in Hamburg. We, your chairs, are looking forward to passionate discussions
and speeches that will lead to a satisfying resolution for each of the two topics.
Yours faithfully,
Manal Shehade
David Tschorr
Chair
Vice-Chair
Page 4 / 22 Hamburg Model United Nations 2015 | www.hammun.de Study Guide for the League of Arab States Get to know your chair: David Tschorr
David Tschorr is a 26-year old postgraduate student born and raised in Berlin who is currently
undergoing his second Master’s degree at the University of Bamberg in Upper Franconia,
Bavaria. The last year he spent in Birmingham, UK to pursue his first Master’s degree in the
field of International Relations after completing his Bachelor degree in European Studies in
Saxony. David currently focuses on the topics of International Security, the European Union’s
Foreign Policy and to some minor extent East Asia Relations as well as current British Politics.
Beginning with a small MUN in East-Germany he attended five MUNs so far. He is very happy
and also determined to take part in this year’s HamMUN, especially with his first time being
involved as a (vice) chair in this MUN.
Get to know your chair: Manal Shehade
Manal Shehade, is a Palestinian citizen of Israel from Nazareth. At the moment she is
pursuing her M.A in Peace & Conflict Management Studies in the University of Haifa.
Additionally, she is a part of a project called women leading change by Vital Voices and at
the moment she is the Head of Mission for an NGO in Lesvos, Greece, that provides
psychosocial support and medical care for Syrian and Iraqi refugees. It is Manal’s third year
doing Model United Nations. She participated in several national and international
conferences both as a delegate and as a Chair. Furthermore, last year she was an MUN Board
Member at Haifa University Model UN Society.
Page 5 / 22 Hamburg Model United Nations 2015 | www.hammun.de Study Guide for the League of Arab States Committee overview: League of Arab States
History
The League of Arab States is a regional
organisation
which
consists
of
22
permanent member states and 4 observer
countries from North Africa, Middle East
and South Asia. The Arab League was
formed in Cairo on 22 March of 1945 by 6
of the current 22 members, namely Egypt,
Iraq, Transjordan (name changed to
Jordan after 1946), Lebanon, Saudi Arabia
and Syria. However, the foundation of the
Arab League was laid by the British in 1942 in the attempt to convince the Arab States to join
Britain in the WWII fight against Nazi Germany. Two years later several representatives of
Arab States met in Egypt to agree to form the League of Arab States. In 1945 the Arab League
Pact is signed and the League thereby officially formed with Yemen – back then North Yemen
– joining in May 1945. It is important to note that in 1950, the Arab League member states
signed the “Joint Defence and Economic Cooperation Treaty” which urges members to “treat
acts of aggression on any member state as an act against all” (Masters and Sergie, 2015). In
the 1950s and 1960s, more countries like Sudan, Morocco, Tunisia, Kuwait and Algeria (in that
order) join the league. Moreover, in 1958 the Arab League becomes recognized by the United
Nations, making it an important actor not only in the Middle East but on a global level.
Goals and Competences
“Its stated aims are to strengthen ties among member states, coordinate their policies and
direct them towards a common good.” (BBC News, 15.11.2011)
The aim of the Arab League is to stabilise the Middle East and to help facilitate growth and
peace in the region. An example for the importance of the later one is the suspension of the
Syrian membership in the League of Arab States in 2011 due to its domestic violence and civil
war brutality. Due to that incident, the LAS currently consists of 21 not 22 member states.
Additionally, economic support and cooperation is focused on like the free trade zone
established in 2005 between 17 out of the 22 member states. The Arab League has a Council
that meets twice a year, discussing relevant topics with every representative having an equal of
one vote. Page 6 / 22 Hamburg Model United Nations 2015 | www.hammun.de Study Guide for the League of Arab States Topic 1: “Yemeni Civil War and the influence of the Saudi-Arab
coalition”
Introduction
Ever since the unification of both South and North Yemen and the following introduction into
the Arab League as a united country, the Houthis were not satisfied with the way their country
was ruled. Therefore the events of 2004 were not surprising when the Houthi rebellion under
dissident cleric Hussein Badr al-Din al-Houthito started against the Yemeni government under
president Saleh. However, the Houthi leader was killed in that very year by the Yemeni military,
leading to his family continuing his legacy to fight against what the Houthi call discrimination
of their community. Since 2004, the conflict between the Houthi rebels and the Yemeni
government has been ongoing and does not seem to find an end. The two figures below show
the current status quo in Yemen, portraying the growing influence of the Houthi rebellion in
their fight against the Yemeni government.
Figure 2+3: The conflict over control in Yemen
Page 7 / 22 Hamburg Model United Nations 2015 | www.hammun.de Study Guide for the League of Arab States Until spring of 2015, when the Houthi progressed in an unprecedented way, outside
interference was, at least to a notable amount, necessary. However, with the
growing influence of the rebellion and the resignation of president Hadi, Saudi
Arabia decided that it is time to intervene. With the Saudi-Arab coalition formed,
the question remains what effects will the airstrikes have on the Houthis and what
goal is the coalition aiming at?
Timeline
1944: North Yemen agrees to establish the League of Arab States
1967: South Yemen joins the Arab League
1990 (1): Yemen Arab Republic and People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen unite
1990 (2): Unified Yemen joins the Arab League
1994: Former Southern Yemeni start civil war in attempt to reverse unification
2004 (1): First Houthi uprising under eponym Hussein Badr al-Din al-Houthito in order to
achieve more autonomy in the Saada province
2004 (2): In late 2004, Houthito was killed by Yemeni military leading to five more rebellions
2009: Saudi Arabia joined the Yemeni army in attacking the Houthis' stronghold Saada
Page 8 / 22 Hamburg Model United Nations 2015 | www.hammun.de Study Guide for the League of Arab States 2010: Houthi, Yemeni government as well as Saudi Arabia agree to a ceasefire (short-lived)
2011(1): Former President Ali Abdullah Saleh resigned after mass protests
2011 (2): Houthi expand due to power vacuum left by Saleh
2014, February: Hadi announced plans for Yemen to become a federation of six regions
2014, September: Houthi rebels seized control over the Yemeni capital of Sanaa
2015, January: Houthis attack the presidential palace leading to Hadi resigning
2015, February (1): President Hadi flew the country; parliament is dissolved
2015, February (2): UNSC Resolution 2201 adopted
2015, March (1): Arab League agrees to form a unified military force
2015, March (2): Coalition launches air strikes against Houthi rebels
2015, March (3): Massive progress for the Houthi rebels in seizing Yemeni cities
2015, April: UNSC Resolution 2216 adopted
2015, May: Saudi Arabia continues airstrikes under new Operation Restoring Hope
2015, September: Coalition forces intercepted Iran fishing boat loaded with weapons
Page 9 / 22 Hamburg Model United Nations 2015 | www.hammun.de Study Guide for the League of Arab States Discussion of the problem
With the Houthi rebellion ongoing since 2004,
not only the country of Yemen but also the
surrounding regions are drawn into the
clashes. Therefore, it is not surprisingly that
it was only a matter of time until an outsider
steps into this civil war. After controversy
around the election of Yemen’s president Hadi
in 2011 and the violent attacks of the Houthi in
the following years, president Hadi flew to the
city of Aden and later to Saudi Arabia in early
2015
(International
Crisis
Group,
27.03.2015). To support its neighbour who is
also a Sunni nation, Saudi Arabia – after the
Arab League Secretariat proposed such force in
January 2015 (Gaub, 2015ab) – brought together
a coalition to fight the Shiite rebels in Yemen,
mainly with airstrikes. This coalition is
represented by Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait,
Morocco, Qatar. This changed the stakes from a
domestic war to one that is fought between a Sunni
Figure 4: Saudi Arabia launches airstrikes Sudan and
coalition against a Shiite group in Yemen.
UAE.
The Iran, several humanitarian NGOs but also UN
Secretary General Ban Ki Moon demanded a stop of the airstrikes and an elaboration of a peace
agreement in February 2015. In the wake of the Houthi takeover of the city of Sanaa, several
Western and Asian countries closed their embassies in Sanaa. The United Nations Security
Council adopted a resolution (S/RES/2201 (2015)) deploring the group's seizure of power with
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as well as the Gulf Cooperation Council openly calling
for the reinstatement of exiled president Hadi. Additionally, the UN Security Council targeted
the Houthis and their leaders by placing an arms embargo on the rebels (Gaub, 2015a).
Because of the humanitarian situation and the accusation against Saudi-Arabia that its air strikes
killed more than 100 civilians, the coalition agreed to a five-day truce which should help to
Page 10 / 22 Hamburg Model United Nations 2015 | www.hammun.de Study Guide for the League of Arab States improves the humanitarian situation in the war locations. However, this truce between the
Saudi-Arab led coalition and the Houthi that was so desperately aimed for did not even lasted
a single night. The coalition continued its air strikes
against the rebels and again accused the Iran to be a
supporter of the Houthi.
Iran indeed does not hide its support and offered
help for the Houthi rebels in Yemen. In an expert
report issued by the United Nations Security
Council (S/2015/401; also in S/2014/394), the panel
Figure 5: Regional fight for influence
experts refer to the ongoing and furthermore long
existing support of the Iranian government
regarding the Houthis, stating that this incident
“follow [] a pattern of arms shipments to Yemen by sea which can be traced back to at
least 2009 [...] It also shows that current Iranian military support to Houthis in Yemen is
consistent with patterns of arms transfers going back more than five years” (Bayoumy and
Ghobari, 15.12.2014). While it was not clear before if there was and if how much Iranian
support for the Houthis before the takeover of Sanaa, these UN reports as well as the one from
Reuters from December 2014 seem to paint a more structured picture on this precarious
situation. Especially the accumulation of ship seizing near the Yemeni coast, supporting the
claim made my various actors that the Iran tries to ship heavy weaponry to help the Houthis in
Yemen, does change the picture but more importantly the balance in this struggle for regional
power.
While the accusations against the Iran of heavily supporting the Houthis advance in the air, the
problem of growing strength of ISIS and Al-Qaeda in the region in and around Yemen seems
to be ignored by the coalition so far. This is mainly caused by the inability of the Arab States
to “agree on who exactly is a terrorist and under what circumstances [...]” (Gaub, 2015b: 4).
However, not only does the coalition nothing to fight these groups but the absence of a Yemeni
army facilitates that development (Gaub, 2015a). These are the reasons why Al-Qaeda and the
Islamic State movement advance so fast in Yemen, with their determination to take advantage
of the collapsing Yemeni state and fighting over it with the Houthis. Especially Al-Qaeda is
increasingly expanding its seized territory in the south of Yemen, benefiting from the strong
anti-Houthi sentiments there (International Crisis Group, 27.03.2015).
Page 11 / 22 Hamburg Model United Nations 2015 | www.hammun.de Study Guide for the League of Arab States In early April 2015, the Al-Qaeda affiliate
named Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
(AQAB) stormed Yemen’s fifth-largest
city Al Mukalla and with ease captured
large
parts
of
city
without
any
intervention or counter attack by the
Saudi Arab or official Yemeni forces (AlBatati and Fahim, 03.04.2015). Because
of this obvious security vacuum AlQaeda now aims to “entrench itself
further in the country's remote eastern
reaches” (Reuters, 05.04.2015).
However, just 48 hours after the capturing
of Al Mukalla, Yemeni tribesmen entered
the city to chase
Figure 6: Influence of Al-Qaeda in Yemen away the
intruders (Reuters, 05.04.2015).
With all these problems and moreover
dangers occurring, LAS decided to assemble in March 2015 (Reuters, 29.03.2015) and to
discuss the topic of how to solve the Yemeni Civil War on a summit called for by exiled Yemeni
president Hadi. A result of that summit in Cairo, Egypt was that the Arab leaders agreed on the
formation of a unified military force in order to be able to engage in areas like Yemen to secure
the Arab region. In May of 2015, the force was closing in on the final formation, only to reach
a stalemate in August due to the indecisiveness of Saudi Arabia (Gaub, 2015b).
With the major involvement of a militarily focused Arab coalition backed by the Arab League
– not necessarily by all of the participating countries population to the same amount – the
problem of the Yemeni Civil War and the repercussions it causes for the Middle East is steadily
increasing. Therefore, the Arab League needs to tackle this topic even more urgently with a
more political focus in order to find a quick solution e.g. another truce and more importantly
an agreement of the “domestic parties [...] on a broadly acceptable president or presidential
council.
Page 12 / 22 Hamburg Model United Nations 2015 | www.hammun.de Study Guide for the League of Arab States Figure 7: Saudi Arabian-coalition discusses the formation of a unified force against Houthi
Only then can Yemenis return to the political negotiating table to address other outstanding
issues” (International Crisis Group, 27.03.2015: 1). To achieve that, the LAS should hold a
general assembly like it did in March this year to reconsider its strategy of a (failed) unified
military force and perhaps to discuss its further approach with other actors like the UN Security
Council. Because it is more than obvious that “nobody is likely to win such a fight, which will
only benefit those who prosper in the chaos of war, such as al-Qaeda and IS” (International
Crisis Group, 27.03.2015: 2).
However, it is uncertain how the UN and moreover the Security Council can contribute
to a suitable agreement since both “no longer [have] [...] sufficient leverage to encourage
or enforce agreements [...] after the UN Security Council’s ill-timed January 2015 decision
to sanction two Huthi commanders and Saleh after the September takeover [...]” (International
Crisis Group, 27.03.2015: 7).
Questions a resolution should answer
- What role can the League of Arab States play to solve the conflict in Yemen?
- Can UNSC resolutions like S/RES/2201 (2015) and S/RES/2216 (2015) act as a role model
for the further decision-making within the League of Arab States?
Page 13 / 22 Hamburg Model United Nations 2015 | www.hammun.de Study Guide for the League of Arab States - Is there a particular Arab country that can act as a negotiator in this conflict?
- How does the Treaty of Joint Defence affect the possible solution of the conflict?
- How can the UN and the Gulf Cooperation Council support the efforts of the Arab League?
- What kind of actions will the Arab League take to remove terrorist groups for the scene?
Further (up-to-date) reading
Aljazeera on Yemen: http://www.aljazeera.com/topics/country/yemen.html
BBC News (26.03.2015): Yemen crisis: Who is fighting whom? Available at:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29319423.
Council on Foreign Relations: Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). CFR
Backgrounders. Updated version from 19.06.2015, available at: http://www.cfr.org/yemen/alqaeda-arabian-peninsula-aqap/p9369.
International Crisis Group (10.06.2014): The Huthis: From Saada to Sanaa. Middle East Report
Number 154, available at: http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/middle-east-northafrica/iraq-iran-gulf/yemen/154-the-huthis-from-saada-to-sanaa.aspx.
League of Arab States (1945): Charter of Arab League. Published on 22.03.1945, available at:
http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b3ab18.html.
Taylor, A. (2015): The Saudi Arabia-Yemen War of 2015. The Atlantic, available at:
http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2015/05/the-saudi-arabia-yemen-war-of-2015/392687/.
United
Nations
News
Centre
(2015):
http://www.un.org/apps/news/region.asp?Region=5.
Middle
East.
Available
at:
UNSC: S/RES/2201 (2015); S/RES/2216 (2015); S/2015/401 (p.32-34); S/2014/394
Bibliography
Al-Batati, S. and Fahim, K. (03.04.2015): Affiliate of Al-Qaeda seizes major Yemini city,
driving
out
the
military.
New
York
Times,
available
at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/04/world/middleeast/al-qaeda-al-mukalla-yemen.html?_r=0
[Last access: 31.10.2015].
Page 14 / 22 Hamburg Model United Nations 2015 | www.hammun.de Study Guide for the League of Arab States Bayoumy, Y. and Ghobari, M. (15.12.2014): Iranian support seen crucial for Yemen’s Houthis.
Reuters,
available
at:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/15/us-yemen-houthis-iran-
insight-idUSKBN0JT17A20141215 [Last access: 31.10.2015].
BBC
News
(15.11.2011):
Timeline:
Arab
League.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/country_profiles/1550977.stm
Available
[Last
at:
access:
31.10.2015].
Gaub, F. (2015a): What happened to Yemen’s Army? Brief Issue 9, published in April
2015. Brussels: European Union Institute for Security Studies.
Gaub, F. (2015b): Stuck in the barracks: the Joint Arab Force. Brief Issue 31, published
in October 2015. Brussels: European Union Institute for Security Studies.
International Crisis Group (27.03.2015): Yemen at War. Middle East Briefing Number
45.
International
Democracy
Watch
(2012):
Arab
League.
Available
at:
http://www.internationaldemocracywatch.org/index.php/arab-league-?eprivacy=1 [Last
access: 31.10.2015].
Masters, J. and Sergie, M. (2015): The Arab League. Council on Foreign Relations
Backgrounders, updated on 21.10.2014, available at: http://www.cfr.org/middle-east-andnorth-africa/arab-league/p25967 [Last access: 31.10.2015].
Reuters (29.03.2015): Arab summit agrees on unified military force for crises. Available at:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/29/mideast-arabs-communiqueidUSL6N0WV03T20150329 [Last access: 31.10.2015].
Reuters (05.04.2015): Yemeni tribes enter coastal town to drive out al Qaeda. Available at:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/04/04/uk-yemen-security-mukallaidUKKBN0MV08O20150404 [Last access: 31.10.2015]
Page 15 / 22 Hamburg Model United Nations 2015 | www.hammun.de Study Guide for the League of Arab States Topic 2: Addressing the growing refugee crisis in bordering Arab
states with special regard for the administration of humanitarian
aid, the protection of women and children, as well as implications
for host countries
Introduction
The Syrian Civil war has resulted in the largest refugee crises the world has seen since World
War II. Since the beginning of the protests stemming from the Arab Spring in March 2011, over
four million Syrians have fled the country. The Syrian refugee crisis has grave implications in
the region, since most of the four million people who have crossed Syria’s borders are now
dispersed throughout neighboring countries (UNHCR 2014). The situation has become a
particular burden for the five main host countries, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey,
as hosting Syrian refugees has overstretched their infrastructures and budgets (UNHCR 2014).
Figure 7: Syrian refugee populations around the Middle East. Note the 7.6 million Syrians
displaced in their own country.
The living conditions of Syrian refugees are often poor, as 16% of them live in camps, while
the remaining 84% live primarily in urban areas, where they are more vulnerable to arrest,
exploitation and do not have access to or resources for food and housing (Syria Regional
Page 16 / 22 Hamburg Model United Nations 2015 | www.hammun.de Study Guide for the League of Arab States Refugee Response 2015). As the High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, noted
“Syria has become the great tragedy of this century – a disgraceful humanitarian calamity with
suffering and displacement unparalleled in recent history.” (Watt, 2013)
Timeline
March 2011 Syrian crisis begins with peaceful protests that spread nationwide in April.
May 2011 First camps for refugees open in Turkey.
Mar 2012 UNHCR appoints a Regional Refugee coordinator for Syrian Refugees.
July 2012 Za’atri Refugee Camp opens in Jordan.
Sept 2012 UNHCR scales up relief operations inside Syria and across the region. UNHCR
chief, António Guterres and Special Envoy Angelina Jolie visit refugees in Lebanon, Jordan
and Turkey.
Oct 2012 UNHCR urges European Union states to uphold their asylum principles by ensuring
access to their territory, access to asylum procedures and harmonizing their approaches in the
review and granting of asylum claims.
Nov 2012 UNHCR aid reaches 300,000 displaced people across Syria.
Dec 2012 Neighboring countries host half a million refugees.
UNHCR and partners launch a US$1 billion Regional Response Plan for Syrian refugees in
Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey and Egypt.
Mar 2013 The number of Syrian refugees reaches 1 million, outpacing projections.
UNHCR calls for safe passage of humanitarian convoys inside Syria as needs grow amid
intensified civil conflict.
Apr 2013 António Guterres warns the UN Security Council that almost half of Syria's 20.8
million population could be in need of humanitarian help by the end of 2013.
Jun 2013 UN humanitarian agencies, on behalf of dozens of aid organizations, announce the
biggest aid appeal in history, totaling some US$4.4 billion. This includes almost $3bn for
humanitarian relief in the region surrounding Syria (the Regional Response Plan), $1.4 bn for
the aid response inside Syria (the Syria Humanitarian Assistance Response Plan). On top of
this, US$830 million is requested for the governments of Jordan and Lebanon.
July 2013 On the first anniversary of opening, Za’atri camp hosts 120,000 refugees.
Aug 2013 The number of Syrian refugee children passes 1 million.
Aug 2013 Spike in arrivals of Syrian Kurd refugees in northern Iraq, including almost 50,000
in a two-week period.
Sept 2013 The number of Syrian refugees passes the 2 million mark, compared to 230,000 one
year earlier.
Page 17 / 22 Hamburg Model United Nations 2015 | www.hammun.de Study Guide for the League of Arab States UNHCR and government ministers from Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq meet in Geneva
and pledge joint action to seek greater international help for host countries struggling to cope
with the Syrian refugee crisis.
April 2014 a new camp called Azraq opens
December 2014 the UN issued its largest ever appeal for a single crisis.
Discussion of the Problem
As the 2011 protests in Syria descended into violence and the conflict intensified, the flow of
refugees increased accordingly. At the beginning of the crisis in November of 2011, the New
York Times reported that “more than 19,000 Syrians have fled to Turkey since a brutal
crackdown on antigovernment protests hit northern Syria in June” (Stack 2011). In just a few
days in 2012, following a group of high-level killings, the European Union (EU) estimated
that “anywhere from 18,000 to 40,000 refugees crossed … into Lebanon” (“Timeline” 2011).
In June 2012, UNHCR put the total Syrian refugee count at almost 100,000 (“UNHCR and
Partners Seek US $193 Million to Help Syrian Refugees”).
At present, all indicators suggest that in 2015, displacement as well as the humanitarian and
protection needs of civilians will continue to grow. Inside Syria today, 12.2 million people
remain in need of humanitarian assistance – a twelve-fold increase since 2011– including 7.6
million people internally displaced and more than 5.6 million children. An estimated 4.8 million
people are in need of humanitarian assistance in hard to reach areas and locations. Palestine
refugees are particularly affected, with 64 percent of registered Palestine refugees displaced,
280,000 internally and a further 80,000 abroad. (Syria Regional Refugee Response 2014)
Male (49.7%)
8.9% 10.8% 6.6% 22.1% 1.3% Age 0 – 4 5 – 11 12 – 17 18 – 59 60 + (50.3%) Female 8.4% 10.2% 6.2% 23.8% 1.7% Figure 8: Regional demographic breakdown below is based on available data from Egypt,
Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon
Page 18 / 22 Hamburg Model United Nations 2015 | www.hammun.de Study Guide for the League of Arab States If we look at the neighboring countries, we can see that the crisis in Syria is placing immense
strains on them on protracted periods from economic, social, political, and environmental impacts. From the moment of arrival, Syrian refugees may compete with local citizens for scarce resources such as water, food, housing, and medical services. Their presence increases the demands for education, health services, infrastructure such as water supply, sanitation, and transportation, and also in some cases, for natural resources such as grazing and firewood. For example, if we take a closer look at Lebanon and Jordan they now
have the highest per capita ratios of refugees worldwide. They, like the other major host
countries of Turkey, Iraq and Egypt, have been the largest providers of financial resources for
the response. Syrian refugees, many of whom have been displaced multiple times before
reaching safety in neighboring countries, struggle to meet the basic needs, and host countries’
public services are challenged to offer basic services such as health, education and other
communal services. An estimated 30 percent living in extreme poverty. These extreme
vulnerabilities place pressure on the communities that host them, and refugees are perceived as
a cause of increasing rental and shelter costs as well as a source of downward pressure on salary
and remuneration.
Furthermore, in relation to the populations of the host countries, the sudden influx of so many
refugees has obvious political repercussions. One of the main concerns for Lebanon is that any
direct exposure to the conflict in Syria, such as Syrian refugees fleeing to Lebanon, will raise
Page 19 / 22 Hamburg Model United Nations 2015 | www.hammun.de Study Guide for the League of Arab States already-simmering domestic tensions, as demonstrated by events in Sidon (Karam & Surk
2013). In Turkey, the influx of refugees is correlated with arms smuggling, a more conducive
environment for extremist groups like Jabhat al-Nusra, and increased opposition to the policies
of Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan among Turkish border communities (Spencer 2013). In
Iraq, 94 percent of the 147,000 Syrian refugees have ended up in the Kurdistan Region; of this
94 percent, “the overwhelming majority are of Kurdish origin” (“Syria Regional Response Plan:
January to December 2013,” page 255).
Primarily, host countries receive funds directly from foreign governments, as well as through
international aid organizations such as the United Nations High Commission for Refugees
(UNHCR), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the Red Cross and the Red
Crescent.
Questions a resolution should answer
How effectively has refugee assistance (funds or otherwise) been used so far?
• Have specific host countries utilized aid differently and/or more efficiently?
• What concern areas (education, utilities, nutrition, etc) need the most assistance, and how
much do they already receive?
• How can immediate refugee needs be met, like food, bedding, and medicine?
• Page 20 / 22 Hamburg Model United Nations 2015 | www.hammun.de Study Guide for the League of Arab States How can the League plan for refugees in the long-run?
• Are the humanitarian actions in Syria and the neighboring countries enough to help the refugees?
• Can we support the refugees with other actions that are not occurring at the moment?
• Further reading
• UNHCR Regional Overview of Syrian Refugees
http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/regional.php
• Global Humanitarian Assistance http://www.globalhumanitarianassistance.org/funding-tothe-syrian-crisis-3782.html
• https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/09/syrias-refugee-crisis-in-numbers/
• http://time.com/4025187/arab-states-syrian-refugees/
• http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/604373/Refugee-crisis-Arab-nations-fail-Syrianrefugees
• http://www.ibtimes.com/syrian-refugee-crisis-2015-record-levels-humanitarian-aid-stillnot-enough-support-2105083
• http://ec.europa.eu/echo/files/aid/countries/factsheets/syria_en.pdf
• http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2015/06/economist-explains-6
• http://mondoweiss.net/2015/09/refugee-crisis-since
• http://www.unhcr.org/5367a97f9.html
• http://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/fractured-response-humanitarian-aid-syria
• http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/mar/31/donors-pledge-4bnhumanitarian-aid-syrians-kuwait-un
• https://www.icrc.org/en/where-we-work/middle-east/syria
• http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/child-labour-increasingly-common%E2%80%99among-syrians-jordan-%E2%80%94-study
• http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/fakhoury-ebrd-discuss-refugee-crisis-economicdevelopment-plans
Page 21 / 22 Hamburg Model United Nations 2015 | www.hammun.de Study Guide for the League of Arab States • http://www.almanar.com.lb/english/adetails.php?fromval=2&cid=259&frid=31&seccatid=
259&eid=144153
Bibliography
• Financial tracking service: Emergency(ies): Syrian Arab Republic - Civil Unrest 2014
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• Karam, Zeina, and Barbara Surk. “The Big Story.” The Big Story. Associated Press,
n.d. Web. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/lebanon-clashes-rage-overnight-12-soldiersdead.
• Spencer, Richard. “‘Kill the Syrians’: Turkish Mobs Search out Civil War Refugees
after Devastating Car Bomb.” Telegraph.co.uk. The Telegraph, 12 May 2013. Web.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/turkey/10052495/Kill-theSyrians-Turkish-mobs-search-out-civil-war-refugees-after-devastating-car-bomb.html
• Stack, Liam 2011. “For Refugees From Syria, a Visit With No Expiration Date.” The
New York Times: Middle East. New York Times, Nov. 14, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/15/world/middleeast/refugees-from-syria-settle-infor-long-wait-in-turkey.html?pagewanted=all&_r=2&.
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• UNHCR 2014 Syria Regional Response Place strategic overview
file:///C:/Users/IsraAIDGreece001/Downloads/Syria-rrp6-full-report%20(4).pdf
• Watt, Holly 2013. “Syria's refugee crisis the 'humanitarian calamity' of the century,
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