Storella Discusses Syrian Refugee Crisis on Diplomatic Immunity
Ambassador Mark C. Storella, Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University, appeared on the Georgetown University Institute for the Study of Diplomacy’s podcast Diplomatic Immunity to discuss diplomacy in Syria during the Arab Spring.
The podcast was part of a larger series exploring the revolutionary energy in the Middle East during the Arab uprising ten years ago. In his remarks, which begin at the 37 minute mark, Storella discusses the severity of the Syrian humanitarian crisis, the drivers of this crisis, and the international response. He went on to talk about a possible end to the Syrian refugee crisis and how recent efforts have failed to address the needs of displaced people.
Storella goes on to review the generosity of Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan in accepting millions of refugees, as well as the European Union’s initial reaction that admitted one million Syrians; however, as he outlines, fear and fatigue led to countries closing their borders. Storella examines why efforts to negotiate a solution to the humanitarian crisis have failed, stating, “those efforts have been manipulated for the most cynical geopolitical reasons, with terrible euphemisms being used, referring to internally displaced…as being located in ‘hard to reach places.”
The full episode can be listened to below.
Ambassador Mark C. Storella was a United States Foreign Service Officer for over three decades serving as Ambassador to Zambia, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration, and Dean of the Leadership and Management School of the Foreign Service Institute. Storella is recipient of the Presidential Rank Award, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Excellence in Service Award, the Thomas Jefferson Award presented by American Citizens Abroad, and several Department of State superior and meritorious honor awards. Learn more about Ambassador Storella on his faculty profile.