RYSZARD CZARNECKI
European Conservatives and Reformists Group Member of European Parliament
Ignorance may be bliss, but it is definitely not valid when witnessing the humanitarian, political and economic ups and downs in the Middle East region. The more you are not aware of what is going on in this geography, the more you cannot get engaged in world politics, or establish a mechanism against the global security threat, or what we can call humanity’s top urgent, common topic to tackle.
Today, there is not a single security or stability crisis that is independent from others in any corner of the world. All are linked and related. All have direct and indirect impacts on one another. Historically speaking, countless arguments can be found to explain this cross-relation between conflicts and growing tensions. However, the specific goal of this article is only to draw attention to why the international community must contribute to peace in the Middle East.
In terms of number of mini, major or proxy wars, instabilities or inhumane attacks, the region takes the lead among its peers. From Syria to Iraq, from Palestine to Yemen, almost every state involved in a conflict or crisis is on the brink of political, economic or humanitarian collapse. This situation is further worsened by the self-interested engagements of superpowers, the presence of terror groups, and weak state mechanisms.
Just recently, world leaders met at the G20 international gathering in the heart of Italy, during which the Middle East was also among the topics. But, as expected, these discussions produced no tangible results. Frankly speaking, the problem here does not lie behind the fact that countries lack the will and intention to end regional catastrophes, but the miscalculation of diplomatic understanding regarding the regional developments.
For instance, for a long period of time, non-governmental organizations all around the world, including particularly from Turkey, have rushed to get mobilized to reach out to the needy people in the region, especially in Syria. From basic survival needs to education necessities, several different aid campaigns have been so far organized to help the suffering people. On the one hand, it is encouraging and admirable to see there are still those who embrace and work for the values humanity shares. On the other hand, unfortunately, we see an international community that does not provide the sufficient diplomatic and political support.
For example, currently, it is reported that around 13.4 million people are in need of humanitarian aid in war-ravaged Syria. The World Food Programme (WFP) also warned that 12.4 million people, nearly 60 percent of the population, are facing food shortages. Only in northern Syria, there are around 3.5 million locals, the majority of whom are displaced, who are in dire need of basic needs. More numbers and statistics follow each other to reveal the country’s facts since the war erupted back in 2011. What is happening in this country is enough to comprehend the whole region indeed.
According to the European Union, in the Middle East, “a political and economic reform in each individual country in due respect for its specific features and regional cooperation among the countries of the region themselves and with the EU” is what needs to be supported and encouraged. By reforming the region, the world can contribute to rebuild the region, the bloc believes.
For another example, in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which is one of the hot topics of the region, the bloc sees the resolution as its fundamental interest while supporting “the two-state solution with an independent, democratic, viable and contiguous Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace and security with Israel and its other neighbors.”
Or, take Iraq whose socio-economic situation has been severely damaged right after the coronavirus pandemic. According to reports, some 2.4 million Iraqi people have acute humanitarian needs while the drop in oil prices and unemployment have collapsed the country’s economy. Terror presence is another great challenge at hand. The European Union is also of the opinion that “There is a need to improve access to basic services such as water, healthcare, education and legal assistance, as well as protection, psychosocial care and physical rehabilitation.”
For each country in the Middle East, the bloc has prepared a detailed report, showing the realities and providing key notes on what can be done to end them. However, it also falls short, as other developed or developing countries, organizations and institutions need to develop a common understanding. Since the path to global peace crosses from the Middle East, ignorance and intolerance toward the region cannot be accepted. Taking into consideration the direct and indirect impacts of the Middle Eastern problems on the world, no one cannot stay idle. In one word, peace in the Middle East is peace in the world.
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