OF CONTENTS The civil war in Syria and the threat posed by Daesh there and in neighbouring Iraq have led to a deterioration of the security situation in the whole region. In addition to spillover effects into neighbouring countries, the conflict in Syria and Iraq is a magnet for foreign fighters from around the globe. What is more, Daesh has become active in other countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, particularly in Libya. This report provides a brief update on the developments in Syria and in Iraq. It is a follow-up to the Political Committee’s 2014 General Report [201 PC 14 E rev.1 fin] and has been updated for the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s Annual Session in Stavanger. On 11 March 2015, the Syrian civil war entered its fifth year. There is no credible solution to the conflict in sight. Heavy fighting has devastated the country’s economy and infrastructure, leaving no aspect of society untouched. The crisis continues to place heavy strain on the region, with neighbouring countries hosting a growing number of refugees and in some cases experiencing intermittent cross-border and localised violence. The Syrian crisis has been called the largest humanitarian crisis in the last century. In early January 2015 the United Nations announced that Syrians were the world’s largest refugee population after the Palestinians. Syrians also make up about half of the number of refugees requesting asylum in EU member countries. Conservative estimates put the death toll at almost 250,000 people, while approximately eight million are internally displaced and more than four million have fled the country. Most Syrian refugees are hosted by neighbouring countries. Turkey alone has received close to 2 million refugees, making it the main recipient country for refugees worldwide as the SubCommittee
OF CONTENTS The civil war in Syria and the threat posed by Daesh there and in neighbouring Iraq have led to a deterioration of the security situation in the whole region. In addition to spillover effects into neighbouring countries, the conflict in Syria and Iraq is a magnet for foreign fighters from around the globe. What is more, Daesh has become active in other countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, particularly in Libya. This report provides a brief update on the developments in Syria and in Iraq. It is a follow-up to the Political Committee’s 2014 General Report [201 PC 14 E rev.1 fin] and has been updated for the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s Annual Session in Stavanger. On 11 March 2015, the Syrian civil war entered its fifth year. There is no credible solution to the conflict in sight. Heavy fighting has devastated the country’s economy and infrastructure, leaving no aspect of society untouched. The crisis continues to place heavy strain on the region, with neighbouring countries hosting a growing number of refugees and in some cases experiencing intermittent cross-border and localised violence. The Syrian crisis has been called the largest humanitarian crisis in the last century. In early January 2015 the United Nations announced that Syrians were the world’s largest refugee population after the Palestinians. Syrians also make up about half of the number of refugees requesting asylum in EU member countries. Conservative estimates put the death toll at almost 250,000 people, while approximately eight million are internally displaced and more than four million have fled the country. Most Syrian refugees are hosted by neighbouring countries. Turkey alone has received close to 2 million refugees, making it the main recipient country for refugees worldwide as the SubCommittee
2015%20-%20175%20PCTR%2015%20E%20REV%201%20-%20INSTABILITY%20IN%20THE%20LEVANT%20-%20BLAZEKOVIC%20REPORT.docx