During a hearing on the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East, U.S. Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, rejected the Obama administration’s possible accommodation of Russian intervention in Syria and said solutions for the crisis must mitigate the threat from Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. The administration’s failure to implement a successful strategy for Syria and the broader region has only contributed to the survival of Assad who is responsible for a conflict that has killed 300,000 people since 2011, said Senator Corker. More than 4.1 million people have fled the country and more than 7.6 million are internally displaced. In Iraq, 8.6 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.2 million are displaced.
“Solutions must address why people are fleeing…and it is incumbent upon us to work towards realistic policies that could bring back the hope of a normal life to those in need,” said Senator Corker. “It now appears that our administration is seriously debating some type of an accommodation with the Russians in order to fight ISIS. It’s difficult to understand how working alongside the backers of Assad could in any way stem the flow of refugees who are fleeing from his barrel bombs.”
The committee heard testimony from policy experts and leading non-governmental relief organizations about the scale of the refugee crisis and what steps are necessary to alleviate the suffering of those fleeing their homes throughout the region.
David Miliband of the International Rescue Committee pointed to the Assad regime’s barrel bomb attacks as the initial trigger for much of the civilian flight from Syria.
“They are facing a pincer movement,” said Mr. Miliband. “[I]t is almost as they flee from the barrel bombs, they end up being driven into the hands of ISIS and that is what is forcing them out.”
Dr. Michel Gabaudan with Refugees International expressed his concern over attempts to broker a peace agreement that would not end the threat of Syrian government airstrikes.
“My fear is that any attempt at peace that does not immediately have an impact over how, in this case, the barrel bombing [is] being used against civilians, will go nowhere,” said Dr. Gabaudan. “We will be completely discredited by the large majority of the Syrians we meet in neighboring countries.”
Tuesday’s hearing was the second in a series over the next few weeks in which the committee is examining further the U.S. role and strategy in the Middle East.
For archived footage and full testimony, click here.