Report: Half of Syrian refugee children in Lebanon not in schoolBy Bilal Hussein and Bassem Mroue, Associated Press07.26.16Grade Level 12Word Count 720

Syrian refugee Saddam al-Khleif, 11, who fled with his family from the city of Idlib, Syria, fixes his bicycle in front of his family tent at a Syrian refugee camp in the eastern Lebanese town of Saadnayel in the Bekaa Valley, July 19, 2016. Photo: AP Photo/Bilal HusseinSAADNAYEL, Lebanon — Syrian refugee Saddam al-Khleif hates going to school and spends most of his days either watching TV or playing outside the tent in the eastern Lebanese town of Saadnayel where he has lived with his family since fleeing civil war in his country five years ago.

Al-Khleif's two older brothers also don't go to school and instead work to support their family because their father, Hussein, has been suffering from permanent head and stomach aches that prevent him from working.

"I love to play and prefer to go to work rather than going to school," said al-Khleif, 11, who around noon on Tuesday was still wearing his pajamas as he sat on a plastic chair watching cartoons on TV inside his tent. "I went to school for six months in Lebanon then stopped," he added, without giving a reason. He said he would look for work to support his family.

Al-Khleif is among tens of thousands of school-age Syrian children registered in Lebanon who do not go to school. A report issued Tuesday by Human Rights Watch warned that more than half of the nearly 500,000 school-age Syrian children registered in Lebanon do not receive any formal education.

The findings by the New York-based group underline concerns about an entire generation of Syrian children who are growing up without education.

Like al-Khleif, 10-year-old Loay Mohammed does not attend school, saying that he went once and the students did not study but played all day. He added that it's better for him to stay in the makeshift tent settlement rather than walk to school every day and face the danger of being hit by a car.

The two children did not want to give further information to journalists.

Human Rights Watch said that although Lebanon has allowed Syrian refugee children to enroll for free in public schools, limited resources and residency issues, as well as work restrictions on their parents, are keeping the young people away from education.

HRW said residency issues restrict free movement in Lebanon for refugees and exacerbate poverty, limiting parents' ability to send their children to school and contributing to child labor. Syrians moving without residency permits could face trouble from authorities, including arrest.

According to the report, there are nearly half a million Syrian children between 3-18 years old in Lebanon. Only 158,000 non-Lebanese children, mostly Syrians, are enrolled in public schools, and about 87,000 are enrolled in private or semiprivate schools, HRW said.

Since Syria's conflict began in March 2011, hundreds of thousands of Syrians have fled to Lebanon, which is now home to some 1.1 million registered refugees.

"Despite Lebanon's progress in enrolling Syrian children, the huge number of children still out of school is an immediate crisis, requiring bold reforms," said Bassam Khawaja, a Sandler fellow in the children's rights division at Human Rights Watch.

"Children should not have to sacrifice their education to seek safety from the horrors of war in Syria," Khawaja said.

In addition to letting Syrian refugee children enroll in public schools even if they don't have residency permits, Lebanon also increased school capacity by opening an afternoon shift in 238 schools in the 2015-16 school year.

The Education Ministry announced plans to enroll 200,000 Syrian refugees in formal public education, with international support, as part of the Reaching All Children with Education policy adopted in June 2014, HRW said.

Though during the 2011-2015 period the number of classroom spaces for Syrian children in Lebanese public schools increased every year, HRW said that in 2015-16, schools were still turning away Syrian children. This was because the available space was not necessarily located in areas of need, or because children faced other barriers.

Of the 200,000 school spaces that donors committed to funding for Syrian children, almost 50,000 ultimately went unused, the report said.

Al-Khleif's mother said the reason her children don't go to school is because their father is sick and they need to help the family. She said her elder sons Ayad and Ayman are workers who make about $10 each a day.

She said Ayman was a very intelligent student who finished grade seven before dropping out.

"When Ayman was asked by his father to choose between work or education he chose education," said the woman. "But things changed because of the harsh life conditions."

Europe gains more than 1 million refugees in 2015, experts reportBy Associated Press, adapted by Newsela staff12.24.15Grade Level 9Word Count 620

Refugees and migrants walk along a beach after crossing the Aegean Sea in a dinghy from Turkey to the Greek island of Lesbos, Dec. 12, 2015. Photo: AP/Santi Palacios

GENEVA, Switzerland — More than 1 million people driven out of their countries by war, poverty and persecution entered Europe this year, migration experts said Tuesday. The record-setting milestone capped a mass movement of people that has challenged the concept of European unity.With just days left in 2015, the Geneva-based International Organization for Migration (IOM) said 1,005,504 people had entered Europe as of Monday. The number was more than four times as many as last year. Almost all came by sea, and 3,692 people drowned trying to make the crossing.IOM director-general William Lacy Swing urged European governments to make migration safer."We know migration is inevitable. It's necessary and it's desirable," he said, adding, "Migration must be legal, safe and secure for all — both for the migrants themselves and the countries that will become their new home."

In Reality, Figures May Be HigherThe IOM compiles the numbers from government records. The figures are from Greece, Italy, Bulgaria, Spain, Malta and Cyprus, said spokesman Joel Millman. The number of people entering Europe may be even larger, he said, because authorities are struggling to track all arrivals because so many have come.Most people entered Europe via Greece, which took in 820,000 people this year, nearly all of them crossing from Turkey by boat across the Aegean Sea. Another 150,000 came into Italy across the Mediterranean from north Africa, while smaller numbers crossed from Turkey by land into neighboring Greece and Bulgaria. Fewer arrived by boat to other Mediterranean countries.Not all the migrants are included in the IOM tally. Some crossed into Europe across other borders, such as a route from Russia to Norway where a few thousand people have crossed by bicycle.About half of the people entering Europe were Syrians, while 20 percent were Afghans and 7 percent Iraqis, IOM said.

War In Syria Drove Up NumbersMany fleeing war and persecution are likely to be granted asylum, which is given to people who are in danger in their home countries. Others who came to find work risk being sent back.Of the deaths, 2,889 were people traveling from north Africa toward Italy, the IOM said. A total of 706 drowned trying to cross the Aegean to Greece and 72 died trying to reach Spain. Some perished anonymously in shipwrecks that killed hundreds. The bodies of others, like 3-year-old Aylan Kurdi, washed up on Greek shores, shocking the world and bringing promises of action from European authorities.The war in Syria was particularly key in driving the numbers of people fleeing to Europe to levels not seen in half a century. European governments have struggled to agree on a response. They have argued about how welcoming they should be and how best to manage the huge number of people.

Germany, Sweden Most WelcomingOver the summer, some Eastern European countries opened and closed their borders. This action led to widespread confusion and frustration. A relatively orderly system emerged in the fall. Hungary, in particular, angered its neighbors by building a fence to keep people out, setting off a chaotic rush among migrants to find alternate routes through countries that were not equipped to handle them.Germany and Sweden have welcomed the largest numbers of refugees. Germany has seen around 1 million migrants arrive this year, but that figure includes large numbers of people from Eastern European countries who could be sent back.With cold weather making journeys more dangerous, the number of migrants has slowed, but people are still showing up in Greece. Also, there's no sign that the flow of migrants will abate when temperatures start rising again in the spring. The IOM said more than 4,100 people arrived on the Greek islands on Monday alone.

Refugee tent camp for Syrians grows into a busy Jordanian cityBy Associated Press, adapted by Newsela staff08.19.15Grade Level 9Word Count 971

A Syrian refugee boy plays with a tire at the Zaatari refugee camp in Mafraq, Jordan, July 28, 2015. Photo:AP/Raad AdaylehZAATARI REFUGEE CAMP, Jordan — From a town of tents, the Mideast's largest camp for Syrian civil war refugees has grown into a bustling city.

What was empty desert just three years ago, the camp now has plans for water and sewage systems and a $20 million solar power plant. It even has ATM machines for refugees to get their aid payments.

But behind the plans is a cold reality for the 81,000 exiles living in the Zaatari Refugee Camp. Now in its fifth year, the war between the Syrian government and rebels will not be over anytime soon.

Some in the camp deal with that reality by making the best of life in exile.

Making The Best Of It Isn't EasyA Zaatari high school senior, for instance, studied hard in cramped quarters to win a university scholarship. A former farmer planted a garden because he was tired of looking at the desert.

Dozens of others leave every week to go back to Syria, saying it is better to risk death than live in Zaatari. Jobs are few, one-third of children do not attend school and thousands of young adults lack the chance to learn a trade.

"As time passes, yes, we can deal with the infrastructure," camp boss Hovig Etyemezian said. However, Etyemezian said he is "a long way from being confident" that enough is being done to save this generation of refugees.

Zaatari, which began on July 28, 2012, is now the ninth-biggest city in Jordan. Today, the tiny Jordanian kingdom hosts 629,000 Syrian refugees, out of a regional total of more than 4 million. More than 100,000 live in camps in Jordan, including 20,000 in the newer Azraq refugee camp, while the rest struggle to survive in cities with cash and food from the United Nations.

International agencies such as the United Nations had to reduce aid amid severe money shortages and additional cuts were announced July 31. Refugees who live in cities could soon face the hard choice of moving into a camp where life is cheaper — only Azraq is taking newcomers — or returning to Syria.

Not An Anniversary To CelebrateOn Zaatari's anniversary, the transformation from tent camp to permanent city symbolizes the failure of the world to find an end to Syria's war. But some say it is also a reminder that the shift from emergency aid to long-term solutions, such as setting up a permanent water network, should have come much sooner.

"We simply wasted too much money because we didn't think long-term," former Zaatari boss Kilian Kleinschmidt said.

In Zaatari, one money saver, the solar power plant, will not be ready before the end of 2016. The electricity cuts are a usual subject of camp conversation, along with the question of whether to stay or go back to Syria.

The number of returnees has dropped to about 30 a day. It is one-fourth of what it was before the outbreak of major fighting several months ago in Syria's southern Deraa province, where many Zaatari residents are from.

"Education Is The Way"On July 29, Emad Issawi, his wife Nihad and their three young children stood along the camp's perimeter road with a pile of bags, waiting to catch a bus to the Syrian border. Those who leave are rarely allowed back.

Nihad her face covered by a black veil, said she reluctantly gave in to her husband's wishes to go back. "I'm scared," she said.

Across the street, Mohammed Hariri said he is returning to Deraa after one of his daughters assured him their village is relatively safe.

Others try to make the most of life in exile.

Jumma al-Sheik planted corn, tomatoes, mint and pink althea flowers, creating a popular gathering spot for relatives to drink sweet tea and chat.

Al-Sheik and family members fled a Damascus suburb after chemical attacks by the Syrian government there two years ago, and fighting destroyed their homes.

Al-Sheik, who farmed five acres of vegetables back home, said the garden "makes everything a little better."

Abdel Mutalleb Hariri enrolled his six children in camp schools immediately after they arrived in January 2013. Unable to work as a veterinarian, he now sells clothes while his wife, Fatmeh, teaches English in grade school.

Their oldest, 19-year-old Alaa, won a scholarship and finished her first year at nearby Al al-Bayt University.

"Education is the way, especially if you live in a camp," said Alaa, one of just a few in her age group to finish high school. Most drop out, some because they cannot afford a university.

Camp Doors Open, Camp Doors CloseThe camp has opened some new possibilities.

For hundreds of girls, life in Zaatari has meant a chance to play soccer. On a recent afternoon, about two dozen girls in headscarves practiced on an enclosed dirt pitch under the watch of coach Nour al-Dhaher, who is pregnant.

Although al-Dhaher initially enrolled in a coaching course to support her family, now she says loves watching her players transform from bashful to outgoing.

"Shoot! Shoot!" al-Dhaher yelled from the bench, cradling another coach's baby.

For others in the camp, doors are closing.

There has been a rise in early marriages, and some families marry off girls in their mid-teens, often so they do not have to support them.

"Here you have to get married young because the situation is difficult," said Sabrine al-Masaad, who runs a bridal shop. One of her recent brides was just 14 years old.

All the while, a new generation of Syrians is being born far from home.

Maan Turkman, 31, gave birth in her shelter recently, because the ambulance was late. Hours later, twins Mohammed and Ahmed lay asleep in a camp clinic's bassinets, swaddled in blankets.

Asked for her hope for them, she said, "I wish them a bright future in Syria."

PRO/CON: Should state governors be able to reject Syrian refugees?

By Don Kusler and Merrill Matthews, Tribune News Service

12.18.15

Grade Level 12Word Count 1,364

Syrian refugees wait at Marka Airport in Amman, Jordan, on Dec. 8, 2015, to complete their migration procedures to Canada, which has announced that it will take around 25,000 Syrians from Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. Photo:AP/Raad Adayleh

PRO: It’s called representative government: Majority’s stance should rulePresident Barack Obama is once again faced with a problem of his own creation. After all, when you sow disgust you reap mistrust.

For seven years the president has dismissed, demeaned and denounced those who have raised legitimate concerns about his policies.

And when those concerns have turned out to be correct, as they often have — think “if you like your health care plan, you can keep it,” Islamic State being “contained,” the promise of a post-partisan America, and so on — he ignores the evidence, berates his critics, and asserts that everything is going well.

So when 31 governors turned their thumbs down on Obama’s decision to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees and distribute them among the states, the governors were sending a message that said, “We do not trust you and your administration to tell the truth or do the due diligence necessary to vet refugees.”

Let’s be clear: Every governor knows this is a country of immigrants with a long and cherished tradition of helping refugees.

And they know that the vast majority of the refugees would be honest and law-abiding, thrilled to get a chance at a new start in America. But even a vast majority isn’t 100 percent, and that presents a legitimate safety concern.

But Obama, true to form, dismissed the concerns and ridiculed the critics. “Apparently they (the Republicans) are scared of widows and orphans coming into the United States of America,” the president sneered. He then claimed that the screening process would be the “most rigorous process conceivable.”

Is that so? Remember Obama administration officials boasting how well the HealthCare.gov website would work right before its disastrous rollout? So what about refugee screening technology?

Under normal circumstances, elected officials and most of the public would take the president’s word. But this president has misled the public so often that he hasn’t earned the benefit of the doubt — and he isn’t getting it.

The governors resisting the refugee resettlement simply don’t trust Obama’s claims of stringent security checks. And neither does the public. A Rasmussen poll showed some 60 percent of likely voters “oppose the settling of Syrian refugees in the state where they live.” Even many elected Democrats are skeptical.

This same president keeps trying to relocate Guantanamo detainees stateside, assuring governors the prisoners are not a threat — even though more than 100 of them who have been released have rejoined jihadist groups.

Exacerbating the mistrust, the administration has resorted to making ludicrous statements.

For example, the State Department says that only 2 percent of Syrian refugees admitted to this country since 2011 are “military-age males.” So what? Anyone watching the news can see that young and middle-age adult males make up a good portion of those currently fleeing Syria.

Even if the State Department restricted the 10,000 refugees to “widows and orphans,” widows have brothers and orphans have uncles. Wouldn’t there be a need to let other family members in, if not now, then soon, in order to help provide for the resettled women and children? And, of course, some women have been suicide bombers.

Here’s the point: Those who are frustrated with the refugee stalemate need to focus their ire on the president, not the governors. Obama entered the White House determined to prove that big government can do big things well. Instead, he has increased Americans’ long-held skepticism of big government.

Remember the IRS scandal? The Environmental Protection Agency polluting a Colorado river? The Veterans Affairs’ health care scandal? And that “red line” in Syria?

I, for one, hope the administration, Congress and governors can find a solution that upholds the country’s long tradition as a haven for refugees. The mistrust in this case isn’t targeted so much at the Syrian refugees, but at the White House.

ABOUT THE WRITER: Merrill Matthews is a resident scholar with the Institute for Policy Innovation in metropolitan Dallas. He holds a doctorate in humanities from the University of Texas at Dallas. Readers may write him at IPI, 1320 Greenway Drive, Irving, TX 75038.

This essay is available to Tribune News Service subscribers. Tribune did not subsidize the writing of this column; the opinions are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Tribune or its editors.

CON: Some governors exaggerate terror threat by making U.S. seem weakThe U.S. governors refusing to accept Syrian refugees are not only morally wrong; they’re helping the Islamic State extremist group.

The first thing we need to understand is that Islamic State is actually weak. It claims responsibility for any act of terror on Western soil so that it can seem stronger than it actually is.

Most attacks have actually been the acts of unaffiliated, do-it-yourself terrorists, but Islamic State fighters don't want us to know that. They want us to believe they’re everywhere. They want us to fear them. They want us to get angry and vilify Muslims everywhere.

Islamic State's fighters believe that if they can make Muslims the enemy of the West, then millions of peaceful Muslims living around the world will join them.

Their goal is quite simple. They aim to divide us. They would like nothing more than to have the Western world embrace Donald Trump’s idea for a Muslim database or ID patch. They want us to identify the world in terms of us vs. them. And they want us to turn away Syrian and other Muslim refugees who are fleeing their reign of terror.

Since 2011 when violence broke out in Syria, 11 million Syrians have fled their homes for safety, and more than 250,000 people have died.

This is the biggest refugee crisis since World War II, with Syrians now making up the world’s largest refugee population. Most are struggling to find safe haven in Europe, and the U.S. needs to help.  

Thirty-one governors have protested the admission of Syrian refugees, going as far as to say that their states will refuse to take them in.

The refugee screening process in the U.S., however, is extremely difficult to get through. Most refugees stay in temporary camps for months to years while their personal stories are evaluated and checked.

About half of these refugees are children, another quarter are elderly. Almost all of the adults are either mothers or couples coming with children.

By protesting the acceptance of these war-torn refugees, these U.S. governors are not only going against our ideals as a nation, they’re also helping the Islamic State by dividing us even further. They are helping Islamic State by showing that our leaders want to turn away these desperate families because it’s us versus them.

The 31 irresponsible governors are also sending a message to the U.S. public that fear, xenophobia and even outright hate are validated. This ill-informed policy is not reflective of what is at the core of our national history. Every time reactionary U.S. leaders have followed similar paths in the past, their fears have been proven to be irrational and we as a nation have had to correct course.

Let us not forget what is inscribed on the Statue of Liberty, quite possibly America’s most iconic symbol:

“Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Can you honestly read that and feel we should reject these victims of the Islamic State?

Let’s not accept this fear only to be proven wrong by history yet again. Instead, let’s reject leaders, whether governors or members of Congress, who want to fan illogical fear. Let’s educate ourselves about the plight of refugees and the significant hurdles they must clear. And let’s light the way for a safer world by leading with an example of humanity.

ABOUT THE WRITER: Don Kusler is the executive director of Americans for Democratic Action, a national liberal advocacy organization (www.adaction.org).

This essay is available to Tribune News Service subscribers. Tribune did not subsidize the writing of this column; the opinions are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Tribune or its editors.