U.N. Confirms an Outbreak of Polio in Syria Blog #7

Just I wrote last week about doctors in Syria are trying to put morals and ethics over government policies, to add to the chemical weapons, the UN has announced a polio outbreak. Now to add to the other issue with the government genocide, they now much deal with diseases that were somewhat eliminated in the United States decades ago and not to mention other diseases that how not been announced. When you have 10 out of 22 children confirmed with polio and the other 12 waiting, you would have to assume that Syria's governments are clearly not in the best interest of their citizens. When you have children less than 2 years old along with an ongoing battle with the medical infrastructure, this would clearly affect the population growth with Syria in years to come because before, 95 percent of the country was immunized. Along with neighboring countries and the help of UNICEF, 800,000 Syrian children were current with vaccinations of polio but a million were for other diseases. When you see that countries like Pakistan and Nigeria were polio are still considered epidemics, the comments by World Health Organization are accurate, The outbreak of polio in Syria “shows you have to eradicate the disease in the endemic countries because from there it will spread no matter where you are,” but also has labeled the situation as a setback but has vowed to conquer this epidemic as they have with other countries. As I mentioned earlier, it is a tough situation for the citizens of Syria with the governments from of chemical genocide along with a failing medical infrastructure.


Sean Odom
10-3-13
10:55 a.m.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/30/world/middleeast/un-confirms-polio-outbreak-in-syria.html?ref=world&_r=1&

Blog #6 In Syria, Doctors Risk Life and Juggle Ethics

As with the ongoing issues in Syria and their chemical attacks on their own people, now it seems that doctors have to ignore the hypocritical oath as a medical professional with harm to their lives. With 100 people killed and 600 incarcerated for just bringing the attention of the affects of chemical weapons with samples ranging from collected hair and urine samples, clothing, tree leaves, soil and even a dead bird. Why would you intentionally target hospitals and other health care professionals that have educated themselves to help people in need but risk that to help the citizens. Not only they have to factor in the chemical warfare, vaccinations, medicines for heart conditions and diabetics makes the situation more grim. The positive thing out of it is that the group Doctors Without Borders has created makeshift hospitals that are going against the Asad government to provide appropriate healthcare that is needed but is limited to non-toxic conditions. I know its a small number but when 3600 people come in for treatment in twelve hours, this shows that Syrians are desperate for medical attention and how urgent it is for them to have is accessible. It just a great thing to know that outside countries and organizations like Doctors Without Borders, Center for Strategic and International Studies and United States Secretary of State John Kerry are willing to go against the grain to provide services but hopefully the United Nations will mandate Syria to protect doctors security and adequate healthcare to Syrians who are suffering chemically and genetically.

Sean Odom
2:23 p.m.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/22/health/in-syria-doctors-risk-life-and-juggle-ethics.html?ref=world&_r=0

Blog 7: Hardships Mounting for Refugees Inside Syria

There is estimated to be about five million Syrians that are now refugees in their own country. In addition, two million Syrians have left their country and more than twice that number are facing privations at home.  According to Save the Children, a fifth of Syrian families go without food one week a month. These staggering numbers are the result of long civil war in Syria that began in January of 2011. Prior to the war, this country produced most of its own food and medicine, and despite worsening economic inequality had a strong social safety net and educational system by regional standards. Aid workers analysts warn that as the war continues into its third winter, deaths from hunger, disease and cold could begin to exceed those from violence which has already killed 115,000 people.

The rising poverty and death toll rates in Syria are a socially created problem because they are a result of the civil war in their own country. Because civil wars are caused by social injustices in ones’ own country in which people usually attempt to have more freedom or independence, they are therefore a socially created problem. In Syria’s case, the civil war was caused when protesters voiced their opinions against the Assad’s regime. Families in these countries are being greatly impacted in many ways from having to leave their home country to living out on the streets with no food. Children are paying the price in terms of health, education and psychological trauma. At this point, even if the war were to end soon, Syria would need a lot of help and assistance from other countries in order to begin the process of building back their country. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/25/world/middleeast/hardships-mounting-for-refugees-inside-syria.html?pagewanted=1&ref=world

Karina Velazquez

10/25/13

4.42 pm

Blog 5: Weapons Inspectors in Syria

Blog 4: Weapons Inspection Team Begins Work in Syria

The international weapons inspectors team has arrived in Syria. They have to verify that there are actual chemical weapons in the country of Syria. The inspectors hope to complete this by November 1 (New York Times). Inspectors who spent almost two weeks investigating the attack in the Damascus, a suburb of Ghouta in which hundreds of civilians died, have returned to their headquarters. There they are beginning scientific analysis of samples designed to give an answer to the question of whether a war crime was in fact committed (CNN.com). The team is now racing against the clock to complete the analysis, which is being carried out in two unidentified laboratories. "This is quite an ambitious timeline, and also the situation on the ground does complicate the mission, so it's quite challenging, and this is the most challenging mission we will undertake," said Ahmet Uzumcu, director general of the OPCW(Aljeezeer.com).  

Also according to the New York Times, it looks like the UN Security Council is in for a long road ahead of them. Syria is in fact an active war zone currently (CNN.com). One of the concerns of the international community is that these weapons could be unprotected and could possibly fall into the wrong hands.  It is estimated that one half ton of chemical weapons will be ceased and destroyed per the UN Security Council resolution (CNN.com) I think that this situation is a complicated and high stakes game playing out in efforts to force Syria to give up its chemical weapons. It’s a diplomatic initiative that has major implications not just for Syria, but for Iran, which has a large stake in the continuing conflict in Syria, as well as its own difficult negotiations with the international community over its nuclear program.

Erica Warren

4:55PM

Aljazeera.com

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/10/1/inspectors-begincomplexmissiontodestroysyriachemicalweapons.html

CNN.com

New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/03/world/middleeast/weapons-inspection-team-begins-work-in-syria.html.