Humanitarian Communication and virtual reality: Empathy and intention to share information

Irregular refugee flows have always constituted a serious concern for the European Union (EU). Thirteen years have passed since the starting of the Syrian Civil War and the number of displaced Syrians reached over 14 million (UNHCR 2024). While the Syrian refugee crisis was unfolding, Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has led to the emergence of an additional refugee crisis: the Ukrainian refugee crisis. The number of displaced Ukrainians reached nearly 6.5 million (UNHCR 2024). In the case of Syrian refugees, the EU have preferred to deliver humanitarian aid to those states hosting the largest number of Syrian refugees and to control irregular Syrian refugee flows rather than providing legal grants. In contrast to the case of Syrian refugees, member states largely provided Ukrainian refugees legal protection in the form of temporary protection. In this regard, while the EU has demonstrated its full commitment to 1951 Refugee Convention (Geneva Convention) regarding Ukrainian refugees, similar adherence cannot be observed in terms of Syrian refugees. The purpose of this study is to identify the responses of the EU institutions and EU member states to Syrian and Ukrainian refugee crises. Through a comparative analysis, this study spotlights the EU’s contrasting policies and the geopolitical, social, and economic considerations influencing the divergent responses towards these two refugee populations.

The aims of the research I embarked on were: (a) to show the preference of terminal values in personal and in social character, as well to determine the level of religious experience—God’s presence and God’s absence, in groups of young people characterized by a high and low level of empathy and (b) to show the relation between terminal values in personal and in social character and religious experience: God’s presence and God’s absence, in groups of young people with a high and low level of empathy. In the research, the following methods were applied: The Scale of Religious Experience by Głaz—in order to define the level of religious experience: God’s presence and God’s absence, and Mehrabian and Epstein’s Questionnaire Measure of Emotional Empathy—in order to define the level of empathy. In order to show the terminal values preference amongst young people, the Rokeach Value Survey was applied. The research was carried out in Kraków amongst 200 university students. The research has shown that students with a high level of empathy reveal a higher level of experience of God’s presence than the people with a low level of it. University students with a high level of empathy amongst terminal values prefer most two values in personal character, that is wisdom and pleasure, and one in social character—family security. Similarly, students with a low level of empathy prefer most also two values in personal character, that is pleasure and freedom, and one in social character—family security. In the group of people with a high level of empathy, it is value in personal character—a sense of accomplishment—that contribute more to explaining the variance of religious experience of God’s presence, and in group of people with a low level of empathy, it is social value—social recognition. Whereas in the group of people with a high level of empathy it is value in social character—equality—that contribute more to explaining the variance of religious experience of God’s absence, and in group of people with a low level of empathy, it is personal value—salvation.

Perceiving the 'refugee crisis' as a construct shaped, among others, by contemporary political cartooning, we examine how cartoonists have represented European attitudes towards refugees by focusing on the metaphorical representation of 'Europe' and the 'refugee.' Specifically, we identify the conceptual metaphors used to depict Europe and refugees, and how political cartoons framed the 'refugee crisis by applying Conceptual Metaphor Theory – CMT (cf. Lakoff and Johnson 1980) – and Critical Metaphor Analysis – CMA (cf. Charteris-Black 2004, Musolff 2012). Our analysis reveals that cartoonists re-frame the migration phenomenon according to the emphasis they put on: (a) Europe's role in the Syrian conflict; (b) Europe's policies concerning the reception of refugees in Europe; (c) the implications of Europe's policies for refugees; (d) implications of receiving refugees for Europe; and (e) refugees' expectations from Europe. Political cartoons thus serve as "perspectivisation devices" (Silaški 2012:216) that construct the 'refugee crisis' as 'the Syrian refugee crisis,' a 'humanitarian crisis,' a 'crisis of European governance,' and a 'European identity crisis,' reproducing dominant narratives around migration.

Syria: the neglected health crisis deepens

The humanitarian crisis and civil war in Syria: Its impact and influence on the migration crisis in Europe

The Syrian crisis has resulted in one of the worst humanitarian disasters in modern history. Inadequate access to and use of sexual and reproductive health services is a prevailing issue among adolescent girls and young refugee women in humanitarian settings. This article aimed to explore and describe the perceived extent of implementation of the different objectives and activities outlined within the minimum initial service package for reproductive health in crisis services in Lebanon, from the perspectives of a diverse set of stakeholders from leading organizations (public, private, primary health centers, nongovernmental organizations) that were directly engaged with the Syrian refugee crisis response. This study is a cross-sectional survey conducted using a standardized and validated questionnaire. Centers that provided sexual and reproductive health services to Syrian refugees in Lebanon were mapped. The study was based on a purposive sampling approach, retrieving 52 eligible organizations to cover most areas in the country. A total of 43 centers accepted to take part in the study. The head of the center was then asked to identify one person in their center who holds adequate knowledge of the explained objectives of the survey. Accordingly, the identified person was asked to fill out the survey. A considerable portion of the respondents had limited knowledge about the specific minimum initial service package objectives and related sexual and reproductive health services. The study found the presence of a leading reproductive health agency, the Lebanese MoPH, as an essential facilitating factor for sexual and reproductive health service provision in Lebanon and has helped in overseeing the overall sexual and reproductive health coordination response for Syrian refugees (76.74% of all respondents). The identified challenges impeding adequate sexual and reproductive health services provision for Syrian refugees included (1) insufficient supplies (46.51%); (2) insufficient funds (39.53%); and (3) shortage of staff (39.53%). The recommendations for improved sexual and reproductive health service provision include the need for (1) enforcing the lead minimum initial service package agency for adequate and effective coordination, reporting, and accountability and (2) increasing funding for training staff and healthcare workers, as well as improving the overall quality of services available with the inclusion of family planning services, purchasing the necessary commodities, supplies and equipment, and covering fees associated with the different sexual and reproductive health services.

Surgery and conflict

IntroductionBy the summer of 2014, the Syrian crisis resulted in a regional humanitarian emergency with 2.9 million refugees, including 608,000 in Jordan. These refugees access United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)-sponsored clinics or Jordan Ministry of Health clinics, including tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment. Tuberculosis care in Syria has deteriorated with destroyed health infrastructure and drug supply chain. Syrian refugees may have undiagnosed tuberculosis; therefore, the UNHCR, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed the Public Health Strategy for Tuberculosis among Syrian Refugees in Jordan. This case study presents that strategy, its impact, and recommendations for other neighboring countries.Case descriptionUNHCR determined that World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for implementing a tuberculosis program in an emergency were met for the Syrian refugees in Jordan. Jordan NTP assessed their tuberculosis program and found that access to Syrian refugees was the one component of their program missing. Therefore, a strategy for tuberculosis control among Syrian refugees was developed. Since that development through work with IOM, UNHCR, and NTP, tuberculosis case detection among Syrian refugees is almost 40 % greater (74 cases/12 months or 1.01/100,000 monthly through June 2014 vs. 56 cases/16 months or 0.73/100,000 monthly through June 2013) using estimated population figures; more than two fold the 2012 Jordan tuberculosis incidence. Additionally, the WHO objective of curing ≥85 % of newly identified infectious tuberculosis cases was met among Syrian refugees.Discussion and evaluationTuberculosis (TB) rates among displaced persons are high, but increased detection is possible. High TB rates were found among Syrian refugees through active screening and will probably persist as the Syrian crisis continues. Active screening can detect tuberculosis early and reduce risk for transmission. However, this strategy needs sustainable funding to continue and all activities have not been realized.ConclusionsInitial assessment found that tuberculosis among Syrian refugees was at a high incidence rate. Through partnership, a cohesive Jordanian tuberculosis strategy was developed for Syrian refugees and it has potential to inform treatment and control efforts for other regional countries impacted by the Syrian crisis.

The humanitarian crisis in Syria has had a profound impact on the entire region. In this study, we report the patterns of presentation and management outcomes of Syrian patients with Retinoblastoma (Rb) treated at a single tertiary cancer center in Jordan. This is a retrospective comparative study of Syrian refugees and Jordanian citizens who had Rb between 2011 and 2020. Collected data included patient demographics, presentation, tumor stage, treatment modalities, eye salvage rate, metastasis, and mortality. Thirty Syrian refugees (16 (53%) had bilateral disease) and 124 Jordanian citizens (51(41%) had bilateral disease) were diagnosed with Rb during this period. The median age at diagnosis for refugees was 10 and 32 months for patients with bilateral and unilateral Rb consecutively, compared to 6 and 28 months for citizens. The median lag time between signs of disease and initiation of treatment was 3 months for refugees, compared to 1 month for citizens.Refugees were more likely to present with a more advanced stage (p=0.046). Out of 46 affected eyes in refugees; 32 (70%) eyes were group D or E, while out of 175 affected eyes among citizens; 98 (56%) eyes were group D or E. Therefore, refugees with Rb were more likely to mandate primary enucleation (48%) compared to citizens (25%) (p=0.003). However, out of 24 eyes among refugees who received conservative therapy, 15 (62%) eyes were successfully salvaged, while out of 131 affected eyes among citizens who received conservative therapy, 105 (80%) eyes were successfully salvaged (p=0.06). Two (7%) of the refugees and four (3.2%) of the citizens with Rb died from metastasis. Syrian refugees with Rb presented with more advanced disease due to delay in diagnosis and referral that increased the treatment burden by decreasing the chance for eye globe salvage. However, patients who received the timely intervention had a similar outcome to citizens with Rb; probably a reflection of the management of all patients at a single specialized center. We advocate for the timely referral of refugees with this rare life-threatening tumor to a specialized cancer center for the best possible outcome.

Objective: The purpose of this paper is to shed the light on how the Syrian refugee crisis affected the Lebanese economy, through illustrating the case of the banking sector in the Bekaa Valley between 2011 and 2016. Among its stated objectives, this research seeks to be as a reference for scholars showing interest in this subject. The focus of the study was directed toward the impact on the banking sector by highlighting on the following indicators: loan and deposit growth, interest rates, and on the impact of cash for work programs for refugees and as well as on the Lebanese economy. Methodology: The Mono-method was used in this research study which focused on one single qualitative technique, utilizing the in depth interview data collection method . Choosing this technique helped in answering the research question since we targeted the refugees-which are the cause group- impacting the Lebanese economy, banking sector group specifically high and intermediate level of employees, which are the Humanitarian activists, the intermediaries between refugees and the host community are including economic sector. Results: The Syrian refugee crisis had no significant impact on the Lebanese banking sector. As a result of the national and international limitations, which are represented by the following factors: Their inability to open checking/saving accounts, take loans or even make investments. However, there was a decrease in interest rate on deposits, where no significant growth in interest rates on loans, increase demand on loans by locals, no significant change in interest rates on local and foreign currencies. On the other hand, Syrian refugee crises had several impacts on other economic sectors such as trade, employment and transportation sectors. Implication: This research provides an in depth analysis about the impact of Syrian refugee crisis on the Lebanese economy; especially in the banking sector. Results showed that the Syrian refugee crisis had a positive impact on the local trade sector, increase in native unemployment rates (Segal, et al. 2010). Moreover, the cash for work program provided great benefit for registered refugees. With respect to the growth of interest rates, experts from banking sector agreed that there was an increase in demand on loans without any growth in loans interest rates. On the other hand, there was a decrease in interest rates on deposit.

This study's objective is to examine the scope and severity of the migration crisis of Syrian refugees and its intricate connection with the national security imperatives of Turkiye as it has profound effects on all facets of society and has put a burden on infrastructure and resources. The migration security nexus is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon and become a critical subject that has captivated universal attention because of its profound effects on national and human security. The Syrian civil war began in 2011 and according to the UNHRC, 3.70 million Syrian refugees were officially registered in the Turkiye. The migration issue involving Syrian refugees and its effects on Turkiye’s national security will be critically examined in six parts. First, the rationale of the securitization concept is why the migration crisis needs to be securitized. Second, various causes have exacerbated the security concerns faced by Turkiye in the wake of the migration crisis. Third, push and pull factors for Syrian refugees. Fourth, Turkish Law on Foreigners and International Protection (LFIP) 2014 and Turkish Migration Policy either fulfil legal or security requirements with reference to Syrian refugees. Fifth, the Syrian refugee crisis can have the inherited potential to lead to a human tragedy with respect to non-traditional security in Turkiye. Sixth, implications of the securitization of Syrian refugees on the EU-Turkiye relationship with reference to Turkiye's membership in the EU Finally, there are potential security risks posed by a large Syrian refugee population and its strain on Turkiye’s resources and infrastructure. The study employs a qualitative research method within the theoretical framework of the Copenhagen School of Securitization. This study presents several concrete policy recommendations to address the Syrian refugee crisis and its implications for national security.

Scholars have studied the role of technology in humanitarian crises and have noted an increase in positive attitudes and behavior. Of interest to us is Virtual Reality (VR). We set out to understand the role of VR technology and its relationships with empathy, sympathy, and donation intention in case of the Syrian refugee crisis. We conducted two experimental studies to examine these relationships, where participants watched “Clouds Over Sidra” a VR film for the United Nations. The participants in the VR condition watched the documentary using VR, while in the non-VR condition, participants watched the documentary on a computer. Our results indicate a complex picture. It seems that VR technology can increase empathy and sympathy in participants, which can lead to a higher intention to donate. However, when we tested the relationship with political ideology as a moderator, empathy did not hold. In a moderated mediation model, we found that VR technology increased sympathy, which led to higher intention to donate. This relationship was moderated by political ideology, such that self-reported liberals scored high on donation intention in both the VR and non-VR groups. However, among conservatives, participants in the VR condition showed higher intention to donate.

BackgroundThe displacement crisis in Syria poses challenges for tuberculosis (TB) control across the region. Since 2012 in Jordan and 2013 in Lebanon, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has supported the National TB Program (NTP) in detecting and treating TB among Syrian refugees. In December 2016, IOM asked US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) staff to evaluate its program of support to Jordan and Lebanon’s NTPs for TB control among Syrian refugees. This manuscript focuses on case-finding, including contact investigations, and treatment components of the IOM program during 2013–2015 in Jordan and 2015 in Lebanon.MethodsThe evaluation consisted of a retrospective review of de-identified Jordan and Lebanon line lists of TB cases and of investigated contacts (Lebanon only). Syrian refugee TB cases were categorized by sex, age group (age < 5 years, 5–14 years, ≥15 years), TB type (pulmonary versus extra-pulmonary), and additionally in Jordan, by refugee camp status (residence in versus outside a refugee camp), to evaluate differences in treatment completion and contact investigation.ResultsIn Jordan, Syrian refugee cases represented 24.4% of TB cases in 2013, when Syrian refugees made up 6.8% of the country’s population, and 13.8% of TB cases in 2015, when Syrians made up 8.3% of the total population. In Lebanon in 2015, Syrian refugee cases represented 21.4% of TB cases, when Syrians made up 20.1% of the total population. In Jordan, the proportion of Syrian TB cases residing in refugee camps (29.3%) was higher than the proportion of Syrians refugees residing in camps (17.1%). Of Syrian TB cases in 2015, 94.8% in Jordan and 87.8% in Lebanon completed treatment. In Lebanon, among Syrian TB cases with household contacts listed, contact investigation was completed for 77.8% of cases.ConclusionIOM’s program of NTP support provides critical TB services for Syrian refugees with high treatment completion rates. More community and health practitioner outreach for enhanced active case finding among community-based Syrian refugees in Jordan may improve TB case detection in populations outside of refugee camps. Thorough contact investigations need continued emphasis, including completely recording investigations in both countries, to find active TB cases.

The relationship between ‘foreign’ and ‘immigration and asylum’ policy is complex and has significant consequences beyond these policy areas. Despite their ever increasing importance, migration and refugee studies have been rarely tackled within the foreign policy dimension of state’s responses, in particular regarding refugee crisis. This paper both demonstrates the importance for and impact of foreign policy orientations on immigration and asylum policies. It questions how ‘foreign’ policy and ‘asylum’ policy are intertwined and generate differences in coping with the mass influx with a focus on the Syrian refugee crisis and Turkey’s policy responses. We argue that assertive foreign policy of Turkey, particularly willingness to be the actor ‘establishing the order’ in the Middle East’ which led to the ‘open-door’ and humanitarian asylum policy at the initial stages of refugee flow. However, the isolation of Turkish foreign policy along with the increase in the numbers of refugees necessitated recalibration of the adopted policy towards the one based on ‘non-arrival’, and ‘security’ emphasizing ‘temporary protection’, ‘voluntary return’ and the ‘burden share’.

One of the world’s most chaotic and devastating civil war has been sustained since March 2011 in Syria. This Syrian Crisis has transformed much more complex, unpredictable and atrocity in this region than the guess of the states. Different conflicting actors, intervening states (and also their different interest/motivations) and also unprepared international society led to dead end or cul-de-sac for this sudden crisis. At the same time, Syrian refugee crisis appeared for neighbor and European states on the agenda. None of these states had prepared for this kind of migration and number of community. 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention is the main legal document that is relating to define refugee, their rights and obligations of states. Nonetheless, some of exceptional clauses (geographical exception clause of the Turkey), some of European states domestic policies and their domestic policy pressures and Civil War which became more desperate view in the time; these conditions force to the international society and the states to create new process and legal structure for this crisis. EU – Turkey refugee deal and agreement can be eventual consequence in this process. In fact, it is continuing process. As well as, is this process legalized enough yet? In other words, how much is it legalized or which is stage in this process? All of these questions are still waiting to be answered. Some summits, official and unofficial meetings and works for drafting have already been made since the beginning period of the crisis but these attempts and initiatives are seem to be questionable for the effectiveness. Could these developments be creating fragmentation in international law?