Question 1
The increasing war in Syria has led to increase in the number of refugees. It is estimated that the number of registered are about to 1.2 million and the unregistered alone are about 970,000. This means that the influx of refugees in the neighboring countries is ever increasing. The neighboring countries such as Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, and Iraq strain a lot because they have to put aside resources to cater for food, healthcare, education, setting up camps, and other needs of those people.
In Lebanon for instance, refugees have increased the country’s population by 10%. Most of the refugees are not registered because the government does not want to recognize due to the burden of building camps and providing them with basic needs. It is estimated that over 1 million citizens of Iraq have been displaced due to insurgence of the refugees and so the country is overstretched. The government agreed to register all the refugees except the young men. Jordan is another country experiencing the burden of the refugee crisis, it is undergoing financial crisis even the $200 million pledge by US government has not help that much. There is also speculation of conflict due to the past memories of Jordanian government and Palestinian refugees that occurred in the past. In Turkey, the expenses of setting up refugee camps has surpassed the budgeted $600 million budget putting pressure on the concerned parties to look for other sources of funding.
The story of Selim and his family reveals the sad realities of the experiences that the refugees undergo and the seriousness of the perennial conflicts and wars in Syria. Leaving most of his relatives behind, Selim was forced to take his nuclear family to go and camp in Jordan. The video shows how people who had enough income to support their families are forced to cope with hard life in the camp where there is no source of income; everyone has to depend on government and any well wisher. In the camps there is poor healthcare, malnutrition, poor access to education and other problems as a result of underfunding.
Question 2
Flood in Baath Country is a great documentary criticizing the authoritarian rule of the Baath party after 40 years. The dam construction is a symbol of Arab socialism in which Omar argues that it was abandoned by Baath’s administration. In the film Omar sees Syria as a boat that is drifting in Lake Assad. Many years have passed and yet the Syrian communities who are supposed to be beneficiaries are not getting any benefit from socialism.
The film reveals the life of Diab el-Machi the longest serving representative of el-machi. He is depicted as a tribal leader who led to underdevelopment given that he only favored his kinsmen. There was great misunderstanding because as the state government thought that the citizens were being served feudalism continued underground where one is forced to give land or his property in exchange of services. River Euphrates symbolizes a civilized river but it this case there are floods meaning the dam is not properly constructed or maintained and has led to the misfortune of floods.
Generally, the film touches on almost each sector exploring how people praised the president, singing his slogans and yet there was nothing much to brag about his long tenure. The children in schools are taught by their teachers about the physical River Euphrates but there is a deeper meaning of the river, the dam, and the flood predicament. Children, teachers, government officials sang the presidents slogans glorifying his party Baath. Omar found that within the society however, people continue to suffer; the much talked civilization was not evident at all. This is the reason why the film reveals the dark side of the Baath party that led the Syrian people for more than 35 years yet no good fruits could be spotted.
Question 3
- Barzeh , June 16, 2013 2 hours ago
The video represents the emergency teams rushing to save the lives of Syrian people in the time war. Due to clashes most people are injured and so the emergency teams and the humanitarian organizations are usually on the move to save lives.
- Jabal Alzawiya, June 16, 2013, 2 hours ago
The video represents the nature of the battlefield. The rebels are shown here fighting against the military team which is trying to bring law and order.
- Barzeh, June 16, 2013, 2 hours ago
This video represents the medical personal treating a patient. Normally the casualties incur very serious injuries that require surgery.
- Al Kadam Neighborhood, June 16, 2013 5 hours ago.
It represents the sufferings of civilians, in the face of war. The common citizens are killed brutality while trying to fight for freedom and liberation of their nation.
- Doraa, June 16, 2013 6 hours ago
The video represents destruction of property that happens as result of the war, billions of money are lost when buildings are set ablaze by the rebels.
- Damascus City, June 16, 2013 6 hours
It represents the extent to which the beautiful Damascus city has been destroyed as a result of conflict between the government and the rebels.
- Qabon, June 16, 2013, 6 hours
It represents use of military machinery such as the helicopters to contain the war when the situation has gone out of hand.
- Doraa June 16, 2013 7 hours ago
The video represents unity of the rebels in fighting for libration, rebels are matching together while carrying the national flag and chanting songs of liberation and change.
- Ashrafiyye, June 16, 2013 10 hours.
The video represents the assurances of the military team on bringing things back to normal. The leaders coming out in the media and assuring the people that they are doing all they can to brings things back to normalcy while warning the rebels to obey the law.
- Al Mleha June 16, 2013 11 hours ago
The video represents blood stains showing a serious war that has claimed th lives ohf many innocent people.
References
http://www.irinnews.org/syriaspecial/index.html.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntXy_R8xJu0.
http://syriavideo.net.
