Heartbreaking human face of a tragedy we cannot ignore
The upsetting picture of a drowned toddler that has created ripples across the internet and social media is an example of mere dehumanisation and this refugee crisis has put the European Union and all of its member states to a historic test.
Dehumanistion is a psychological process whereby opponents view each other as less than human and thus not deserving of moral consideration. Protracted conflict strains relationships and makes it difficult for parties to recognise that they are part of a shared human community. Such conditions often lead to feelings of intense hatred and alienation among conflicting parties. The more severe the conflict, the more the psychological distance between groups will widen. Eventually, this can result in moral exclusion. Those excluded are typically viewed as inferior, evil, or criminal.
Dehumanisation often paves the way for human rights violations, war crimes and genocide. International law clearly states that all people have basic human rights and should be treated fairly with dignity and respect. They deserve to have their basic needs met and to have some freedom to make autonomous decisions. In times of war, parties must take care to protect the lives of innocent civilians on the opposing side. Even those guilty of breaking the law should receive a fair trial and should not be subject to any sort of cruel or unusual punishment. It is believed that the psychological process of dehumanisation might be mitigated or reversed through humanisation efforts, the development of empathy, the establishment of personal relationships between conflicting parties and the pursuit of common goals.
Syria’s civil war is the worst humanitarian disaster of our time and a perfect example of dehumanisation. The number of innocent civilians suffering has reached more than 11 million displaced thus far. Bombings especially barrel bombings and suffocating sieges are destroying crowded cities and horrific human rights violations are widespread. Basic necessities like food and medical care are sparse. Refugee crisis is another major concerning issue that has taken a toll. A huge number of refugees are fleeing the country crossing borders. However Middle Eastern countries have denied access in their territories, so hundreds of thousands of refugees have attempted the dangerous trip across the Mediterranean Sea from Turkey to Greece, hoping to find a better future in Europe but not all make it alive.
Humanity has come down to its lowest level and in this age human lives don’t seem to matter, many are sufferers of war, criminal injustice, bombings, rape, sexual violence and hostage taking. These are crimes against humanity, war crimes and blatant breaches of international human rights and humanitarian law.
The 1988 Rome Statute of the International and Criminal Court (ICC) assembled and codified lists of recognised war crimes and crimes against humanity, and human rights advocates can rely on Articles 7 of the ICC Statute, for crimes against humanity are defined this article as acts committed as a part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population. They include rape, deportation, enslavement, torture and murder among others.
Psychologically speaking, this human catastrophe is an example of inhumaneness and the Syrian refugees have been a victim of severe emotional and mental distress ever since. The traumatic reasons for leaving the host country as well as the potentially long and hazardous journey and process of resettlement increase the risk for refugees to suffer from various mental health complications. The resettlement process includes challenges such as the loss of culture, community, and language as well as the need to adapt to a new and foreign environment.
The most common mental health diagnoses associated with refugee populations include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalised anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, panic attacks, adjustment disorder and somatisation. There will be immense number of challenges first in the detection and then in the effective treatment of mental health problems in Syrian refugees. After the resettlement of these refugees in different countries it will be determined the amount of trauma they went through while escaping their host country. Often language and cultural barriers and biases, whether of the refugee or the provider, can hinder identification of problems and the development of a therapeutic relationship.
The world needs to realise this once and for all that human lives are not free and showing compassion towards other humans is what makes us human. Whatever calamities we face these days, they are usually man made annihilations: genocides and wars around the world are making the world a rancorous haven. To make our realm a safe haven, we need to put aside our differences and ponder over the fact that every life is precious and lives do matter.