WHISMUN 2018 HIGH SCHOOL FOR ENTERPRISE, BUSINESS, AND TECHNOLOGY FEBRUARY 2-3, 2018 secretariat@whismun.org www.whismun.org Giovonni Phillips Secretary-General Muhammad Khattak Chief of External Relations Brian Carmichael Under-Secretary-General Kevin Whiston Faculty Adviser John Heegle Faculty Adviser Chris Talamo EIM Program Manager Dear Distinguished Delegates, Welcome to the 2018 WHISMUN Conference. As your Secretary-General, I speak for myself and our committee chairs in saying that we are looking forward to meeting you and hearing your ideas for solving the problems of the world. Our staff is prepared to give you an amazing and memorable experience, but we will also need you to bring your A game. Each delegate should come to the conference with an understanding of the committee topic as well their country s position. The preparation you put into representing your country will be one of the first things that will make the conference a great one, and it will also be a great chance to reap the educational benefits of participating in Model UN. We want to provide a good experience for all of the delegates and we re hoping to our conference, get as close to the conferences of the actual UN as possible and we ll need you to put forth your best diplomat if we are to achieve this. We have some educational resources on our website at www.whismun.org, under the delegate resources section, and encourage you to take a look. We offer position paper guidelines, a link to a guide for beginners, useful research websites, and the rules and procedures of each committee. If you have any questions or concerns feel free to reach out to us!
INTRODUCTION In an era, full of tribulations, the Syrian Crisis, a horror that only brings destruction is not taken very seriously. The crisis that started as a peaceful protest transformed into a revolution and developed into a Civil War is now affecting almost the entire world. The innocent were forced to act barbarously in purpose of protection from the war as a whole. The children who know nothing but purity are forced to experience such terror; thousands of families are forced to flee due to vicious factors and are not accepted by other countries. For such reason, a solution must be met for the sake of the innocent and good.
TOPIC HISTORY Lack of Human Rights The human rights situation in Syria has long been the subject of harsh critiques from global organizations. The rights of free expression, association and assembly were strictly controlled by Syrian government even before the uprising. Initially, the lack of freedom from furious citizens mostly due to economic woes from the Syrian government led to the hunger of protest. The Arab Spring that led to successful uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt energized and gave hope to Syrian pro-democracy activists. The protests that progressed into aggressive revolutions had one common goal: ending corruption. Division of Sects Although the initial protests in 2011 were mostly non-sectarian, armed conflict led to the emergence of starker sectarian divisions. Minority religious groups tend to support the Assad government, while the overwhelming majority of opposition fighters are Sunni Muslims. Most Syrians are Sunni Muslims, but Syria's security establishment has long been dominated by members of the Alawite sect; of which Assad is a member. The division of sects is one of the causes that ignited the crisis. Nevertheless, other minorities such as christians are also greatly affected. Syria has numerous religious groups with lots of tension which played a significant role of initiating the protests. Economic Issues Between 2006 and 2010, Syrians experienced one of the worst droughts in the country s modern history, which left frustrated families to struggle. In the late phases of 2010, Syria faced
economic troubles that crippled the economy and left many Syrians struggling. As a result, Syrians began to protests with hopes of improvement to the economy after droughts and unemployment hit the country. The country was in a state of recession. The situation quickly transformed from an economic horror into a social and political catastrophe. The protests which started in March 2011 later grew and transformed into a revolution after the government used force to tackle them. Political Issues The people protested to highlight their struggles to the government and instead of answering them by hope, the Syrian government gave them more series of horrors. The last thing that the people expected to happen was having a government that kills its own people for protesting peacefully, for opposing corruption, and for standing up for themselves. In response, the protests shifted to a revolution and transformed into a Civil War. From the beginning stages of the Civil War, Syrians were already aligning themselves with either the rebels or the Syrian government. Each side has a different point of view of the war and a different understanding as to whether their actions are appropriate. On one hand, the Syrian government believes that the protests that caused the war were not as peaceful as the media portrayed; they also argued that the people never quite had the patience for them to take appropriate actions. On the other hand, Syrian rebels believe their government does not quite care about their struggles and are not concerned about fixing them. Syrian rebels also believe that Bashar Al-Assad, the longtime leader of Syria, is a bloodthirsty tyrant whose rule has lost its legitimacy and must step down to make way for a peaceful, democratic transition. The rebels also believe it is their right to revolt because they are suffering greatly this chaos.
Different Sides of the War The Syrian Civil War does not only involve the Syrian government and the rebels, rather it involves powerful countries taking sides in the war. Like most Syrians who aligned themselves with either the rebels or the Syrian government, powerful foreign countries have also done the same. By the summer of 2011, Syria s regional neighbors and the global powers had both begun to split into pro- and anti-assad camps. Led by the United States of America, countries such as Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Turkey, Israel, Australia, Italy, Poland, The United Arab Emirates, Japan, Canada and more are against the Assad regime and are willing to fight. According to the BBC news, such countries are very supportive of the rebels and are funding them, especially the United States. On the Assad side Iran, Bolivia, Egypt, and China and Russia support Assad. Although Russia is Syrian s strongest ally, many countries supply military support and economic aid. CURRENT STATUS The Syrian conflict is very viscous because it involves many powerful nations that may get aggressive at any point. As a matter of fact, the United States along with its allies have lots of tension with Russia and its allies as the two support two opposite sides of the conflict. As Assad and his forces are killing Syrians and using chemical weapons, the United States is backing up the rebels to fight him and indirectly fight his greatest allies, Russia and Iran. The fight between the Syrian government and Syrian rebels was mainly through the use of small arms and light weapons, artillery, and armored warfare on the ground. The Syrian government was known to have possessed some degree of chemical weapons munitions in the past, but early
international appraisals of the Syrian conflict specifically condemned the use of such weapons. In late August, however, reports surfaced that such weapons had indeed been used, although on what scale and by what side was contested. According to an investigative committee of the UN, victims of the August 21 attack in the Ghouta area of Damascus reported experiencing artillery shelling followed by uncommon symptoms, which resulted in death or grave illness. These signs were consistent with a chemical weapons attack, and it was indeed the report of the investigative mission in their September 2013 statement to the Secretary General that chemical weapons were deployed against civilians, including children, in the Ghouta area. On April 7, 2017 4:40 a.m, Syria time, 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles fired from U.S. Navy destroyers slammed into Shayrat Airfield. According to U.S. President Donald Trump, the missile targeted an important Syrian military base and the source of the nerve gas attack which killed dozens of civilians days before at Khan Sheikhoun. The response from China, led by Russia, who strengthened the anti-ballistic missiles in Syria to better equip the Syrian government and indirectly fight the United States. Combating the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) Another major reason why the foreign countries are engaging their forces in Syria is the expansion of terrorism. The Islamic State expanded by seizing the assets and materials available in any area they controlled. The most important liquid assets stolen by ISIS, in this case cash, were taken from a series of Iraqi banks. ISIS s seizures totalled over $70 million in 2005. However, their revenue increased dramatically to 1.89 billion in 2014 by controlling oil wells and even taxing people who are forced to
live in their territories; allowing them to sell and buy materials. Their possession of millions upon millions of dollars allows the Islamic State to offer a life full of good food and water for Iraqis and Syrians who are struggling and a chance to take revenge on the government that forced them to live without the essentials of living, water, and food. The Islamic State is known for their torturing and inhuman actions; many of its members are driven to violence by extreme beliefs who often force innocent individuals to join and at times convince them. Battling terrorism is very complex because ISIS members blend in with innocent civilians; ISIS members are among the most trained and equipped soldiers, but they do not have advanced air strikes. For such reason, the United States along with Russia and other foreign countries are mainly attacking the Islamic State by air strikes. Most attacks have been carried out by US aircraft, but those from Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the UK have also taken part. In Syria, the air campaign began in September 2014. Since then, almost 14,00 strikes have been carried out by coalition forces, which included foreign countries from both
sides. However, foreign countries have had difficulty in the past working together. Russia warned the US coalition that it would treat its aircraft as targets after the US shot down a Syrian military plane during the assault on the Syrian city of Raqqa. The incident led to a suspension of communications between the two sides aimed at avoiding clashes in the air. Comparing 2014 and today, it is clear that ISIS had lost lots of possessions, but they have millions upon millions of dollars in cash which means they are not over yet and their power, although weakened, will be back at any time. They will continue to hide in places and brainwash people little by little until they expand once again. To prevent further empowerment of ISIS, powerful countries need to act now. Although the threat of terrorism is affecting the world as a whole, it is much more severe in countries surrounding Syria. Whether through expansion or fleeing from a battle, members of the Islamic State will potentially escape to neighboring countries. If any country allows it to prosper without detecting it, the Islamic State will eventually conquer it. Refugees Surviving Syrians are now either refugees or fighters; either way they are struggling. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) figures, there are in total over nine million Syrians at-risk. As the situation stands, the civilian population has been decimated by the Syrian Civil War, and while a large percentage of those remaining are being assisted
by UNHCR, the organization is not all encompassing. Meanwhile, Syria faces a massive food, water, and medicine shortage, and basic healthcare has become virtually inaccessible throughout the country. Further, the February 2014 UNHRC report cites slaughter of non-combatants, executions without due process of law, detainment without cause, torture, and gender discrimination as only some of the practices on all sides of the conflict that need to be immediately addressed. BLOC POSITIONS Lebanon In the beginning stages of the war, civilians fled to nearby countries, especially Lebanon and Jordan. Nearly 1.6 million refugees are concentrated in nearby Lebanon, which shares a large border with southwestern Syria and whose refugee numbers now make up nearly a quarter of the Lebanese population. The UNHCR estimates that it requires an additional USD 1 billion for the continuation of refugee operations; funding that currently is not in the budget. Many of the first refugees to leave in 2011 legally crossed into Lebanon and Jordan to establish themselves in new communities. By August 2012, the number of refugees had risen to 200,000, exceeding the UNHCR s estimate of 185,000 for the entire year. Furthermore, Lebanon has a population of only four million, but had received an estimated 400,000 refugees by early 2013, of which only 75% are officially registered. As of September 2013, the number of Syrian refugees is said to have reached 700,000; now approximately one in five people in Lebanon is a Syrian refugee. Syrian refugees now make up an estimated 10% of Lebanon s population. Unfortunately, Amid Lebanon s already struggling economy, the refugees search for job opportunities and housing has angered some local host communities. This has resulted in increased tension, some violence, and patrols by the Lebanese Army. As the government of Lebanon does not officially recognize the Syrian refugees who have
moved into its country, the refugees have had to fend for themselves. Many families are currently living in small tents, and these tents are their only form of shelter. Despite internal pressure and even funding offers from UNHCR, Lebanon has refused to establish any official refugee camps in its territory for the hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees. Almost half of the refugees in Lebanon are unregistered, and without any kind of government support, they are forced to live in slums, parks, and garages. The UNHCR had made an effort to provide two mobile clinics in northern Lebanon have brought care to several refugee communities, helping over 10,000 refugees. Additionally, over 115,000 refugees in Lebanon are children, creating the need for social and psychological counseling, education, healthcare, and more. Jordan Jordan has a long history of receiving refugees from Arab countries. Over 300,000 Palestinian refugees currently live in camps throughout Jordan. Though it is evident that the government is accustomed to dealing with refugees, the scope and acute onset of the Syrian crisis threatens to overwhelm the Jordanian government resources. The government has a strained budget, and it would need an estimated USD 180 million to support a refugee population of 120,000, an amount significantly less than the over 500,000 that had arrived by July 2012. The Jordanian government has received USD 150 million directly from the World Bank, in addition to many individual contributions from Western countries. Much of this financial assistance is directed towards administration and providing facilities in the refugee camps, but a significant amount is also devoted to public resources for affected local communities. While the government of Jordan and many of the citizens were open to accepting Syrians in early 2011, public sentiment began to shift by mid-2012. One opinion poll in July 2012 found that
65% of Jordanians were against accepting more Syrian refugees, while 86% felt it would be better for the refugees to remain in camps rather than to integrate themselves into Jordanian communities. As more refugees are becoming permanent resident, the need of supplies increase dramatically. The overwhelming majority of refugees do not carry passports and are therefore technically crossing the border illegally; many of them also have no documented refugee status and therefore do not qualify for aid. Many refugees in Jordan are deciding to return to Syria, sometimes as many as 400 refugees returning per day. A major factor that convinced them of leaving is poverty and undesirable living conditions in the camps. Additionally, FSA victories in certain towns and villages lead refugees to believe it may be safe to return to their homes. Some Syrians, particularly young men, feel a responsibility to join the FSA and help liberate Syria. COMMITTEE MISSION This Security Council s overarching goal is to re-establish normalcy in Syria via a broad-reaching peace plan satisfying all Syrian parties involved but most of all the average Syrian citizen. All fighting between the Syrian government and Syrian rebels and the accompanying epidemic of spiralling violence and illegal activities must be brought to an immediate end. All of the powerful nations and blocs directly involved in this crisis must settle their affairs and work together to restore a sincere peace in Syria. Concomitantly, the committee must address the Syrian refugee issue, as millions of Syrians are internally displaced and millions more have been struggling to survive in neighboring countries. Involved nations must aim to stabilize this situation which for obvious reasons can easily unravel the best of peace agreements. Finally, this committee must aim to eliminate as a threat to regional peace the remaining ISIS forces and infrastructure.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS 1. Will the Russian-brokered peace treaty be enough in Syria? 2. How will peace be enforced if Assad stays in power? 3. What will the groups or countries supporting the Assad regime, and those opposing it, secede from the peace plan? 4. How will the threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) decisively come to an end? 5. What will the future of Syria look like? 6. Who are the allies of your specific country? 7. What solution(s) has your country or the allies of your country try to implement? Did those solutions have a positive impact?
WORKS CITED Aisch, Gregor, et al. Which Countries Support and Which Oppose the U.S. Missile Strikes in Syria. The New York Times, The New York Times, 7 Apr. 2017. Axe, David. Russia Is Launching Twice as Many Airstrikes has the U.S. in Syria. The Daily Beast, The Daily Beast Company, 23 Feb. 2016. Calamur, Krishnadev. Who Are Syria's Friends And Why Are They Supporting Assad? NPR, NPR, 28 Aug. 2013, Fantz, Ashley. War on ISIS: Who's Doing What? CNN, Cable News Network, 27 Nov. 2015. Gould, Michael Kranz and Skye. These Maps Show How Drastically ISIS Territory Has Shrunk since Its Peak. Business Insider, Business Insider, 24 Oct. 2017. Islamic State and the Crisis in Iraq and Syria in Maps. BBC News, BBC, 28 Nov. 2017. Vasilyeva, Nataliya, and Bassem Mroue. Putin, Assad Meet in Russia to Talk Possible Peace Initiatives in Syrian Civil War. Thestar.com, 21 Nov. 2017.