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Tell President Obama: More Syrian refugees need resettlement | |||||
Dear friends, Bullets were hitting the side of the hospital, and then the shells came. Two explosions struck the hospital where 12-year-old Elias was getting treated for his cancer with his mother beside him. Hearing the shelling, Elias' father Maher ran up the stairs of the hospital toward his family. "I did not take my son out, I did not leave. I stayed there so he could get the treatment because the doctors stayed as well" - Maher. The Syrian government and armed groups like Islamic State have attacked civilians across the country. Families are fleeing with hopes of finding safety somewhere else in the world. It's time for the U.S. to do more to help the most vulnerable Syrian refugees. Urge President Obama to increase the number of Syrian refugees resettled in the United States. Elias' struggle with cancer is just one of many examples of how Syrian families are facing serious challenges compounded by war. Some of Syria's most vulnerable refugees include those with disabilities or serious medical needs. Others include orphans, families with single parents, or those who face increased risks due to their sexuality or gender. The United Nations has set a goal of resettling 400,000 of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees - that's out of a total of 4 million people who have fled the country. The U.S. must do its part and respond with compassion and humanity to Syrian refugees fleeing violence and grave human rights violations. So far, the US has only resettled some 1,500 Syrian refugees. With President Obama promising to resettle 10,000 more, it's clear that the U.S. government is willing to help in this crisis. But that's just one Syrian refugee for every 30,000 people living in the U.S. The refugees cannot go home. Syria's children are at risk of becoming a lost generation. What they need is security, a chance for an education, and hope for a future. Tell President Obama that resettling 10,000 Syrian refugees isn't enough. It's beyond time for the U.S. to step up and do more. In solidarity, Sunjeev Bery Advocacy Director, Middle East North Africa Amnesty International USA | |||||
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