late 19th, 20th century america. those accounts will be instructive to somebody someday. i do have an archive that has requested all hi papers, the schlesinger library at radcliffe, and they're going to get all my journals and recordings in women's music culture, interviews and narratives and so on. i've tried not to write anything unkind, and i've tried to be honest about my life. >> host: bonniejmorris.com is her web site. thank you for being with us on "in depth."

>> as you know, the president has been focused to ensure that we lived up the middle-class opportunity

indenture every american has the potential of a good job, by eight being paid a fair wage to venture they have a home they can live in and enjoy to have a secure retirement. democratic governors are working together across the country on the same agenda to grow jobs, with economic opportunity of the middle-class by investing in education common education and a brighter future. as you probably know our view are republican governors are engaged in a different effort as we grow jobs with the middle-class, opportunity for all for early childhood education a republican governors have been distracted by a social agenda that gives tax cuts

to the wealthiest, asks the middle-class to pay for while they cut education and the opportunities that allow those jobs in this great nation. d.c. more focused on policies that alienate women, minorities, immigrants , gays and other americans. we are proud to stephen together as democratic governors is committed to growing economic opportunity.

of the 22nd to any will sail this universal declaration will become the international magna card at spinet the equal rights amendment when ratified will not be the solution to women's problems i try to find my way through it how to be true to myself to fulfill my responsibilities of my husband and darker -- daughter. >> what they could not imagine looking from the outside it is a very normal life upstairs. i try to bring a little bit of michelle obama while respecting to value the tradition that is america.

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[inaudible conversations]

>> is it good morning in a state you for joining us for today's excesses -- discussion i am the soul here at the fellow for policy program. working with internal displacement to promote the as human-rights the internally displaced persons around the overall timber to support the mandate special one of human rights of the displaced persons. of our guest hope to be here today to moderate but unfortunately due to a family emergency could not

be with us so it is a pleasure to step into moderate such an excellent discussion. as you know, we are approaching the third anniversary of the syrians civil war with no end in sight to the humanitarian crisis facing the region. the current estimate is 6.5 million assyrians displaced within their own country with another 2.4 million refugees who have fled to neighboring countries. we have seen new displacement up at 500,000 people. today's event focuses on the regional dimension of the crisis. we will look at the effects of the crisis on the resources, political dynamics in social structures of neighboring countries. when it is clear that prices could not be interested in isolation so i will look forward to exploring these

connections with the panelists. when i had that she is to meet with refugees over the summer i was like many visitors come a struck by the depth of hospitality in the neighboring countries. jordan is now hosting 600,000 syrian refugees to put in context equivalent united states taking in more than 27 million refugees over a three-year period and that is more that is in the united states at the moment so we have a lot to learn from the neighboring countries from their hospitality and of course, the united states has a critical role to play as a host government. it is a pleasure to host this yvette one of the main ngos that responded to the crisis mercy corps of a like to thank them to make this event possible.

if you're using twitter follow the conversation today with #syria crisis. we have a full panel with a bio in front of you i would not give long introductions but just to give you a sense we will begin with the ambassador who will address how the refugee crisis is affecting conditions in lebanon on. then we will turn to the ambassador from iraq who will speak to the effects with his own displease the crisis. then from mercy corps addressing the situation in jordan with water resources. then to my colleague who is head of the turkey project based on recent fieldwork a and hill -- will hear from

the deputy assistant secretary from the state department to speak to the role of u.s. government policy i will ask each of the speakers to limit comments between eight and the 10 minutes to have questions with the audience. so now i will turn the floor over to the ambassador. >> thank you for the introduction. first and thinks to the of brookings institute in the mercy corps for organizing. indeed it is an honor to share the stage.

the theme to date is expressive by itself to see the refugees that might talk this morning is painful on behalf of a the lebanese and lebanon to be heard in the international community the statistics the of valuable assistance does not matter that much to dash 11 on but what really matters is the actual refugee crisis became obviously part of the problem forever. really ladies and gentleman is out to stop to help lead the on coping with the

impact of the refugee problem. to go over and above to provide new realistic solutions to solve the problem in the bond. the most important issue to us. breed solutions. day by day the negative impacts decrease the latest figures there are now 928,000 refugees in more overrating -- and more are waiting. it is worth noting of 763 refugees that same day the number change to 769,000 increased by 6,000 in one single day. the massive increase is not the whole story.

so the number climbs at 1.3 million witches 30 percent of the lebanese population. come there also entering germany. they have increased the population by one-third. the impact of the country so far is dangerous and threatens the country economically, politically and socially. the impact assessment estimates the total economic loss to be around 7. $5,000,000.2012 through 2014. in it will reach 20 percent at 324,000. experts have looked at that

20 percent growth rate that has turned into dash one decline 2012. also in 2010 it was a disastrous decline. in addition it is causing severe stress on the community's in competition for resources increases now with 750 localities in schools have increased. ladies and gentlemen, with the non has remained faithful to the international commitment and will not refuse anyone seeking refuge.

but the secretary did burton now is a crisis of the security of socio-economic repercussions. aside from coming to the refugees to the united nations with those international organizations it is now in the dead day exception of the process to cover these. i would like to think for the valuable efforts the american assistance by is offered by any company $340 million of far. the lebanese need the care and support of friendly countries in order to face the negative repercussions this conflict which is not

of their own making. that threatens their security stability and social economic situation. not only do they look up for that assistance but also based on the common and responsibility thrust on the international community. the problems that pose a threat for global security. interested a delicate geographical location with limited resources and balances within the country to oppose on nations with

their able to do or not to do from this very podium could increase the efforts made the the following points. with the human and financial resources about the presence. to have the framework for the refugees to put them on syrian territory is outside the reach of the ongoing conflict knowing it is 18 times the size of a non. holding international confidence that is a recall for freddie angeles distance but rather begins to search for ways to share the burden

based on common responsibility. to provide support for all the concerned and capable states with the international support which has placed the issue of the refugees at the top of its priorities in that this group will convene march myth and and i am confident it will be attended by the highest american ranks. in view of the continuing escalation of fighting in deterioration of the situation in syria the additional numbers of refugees are expected to flee adding more to the suffering of those present and the hosting communities that has definitely stretched the capacities to its limits. it is important to note they

are posted in communities. we don't have camps. it is it advantage but they don't suffer the extreme poverty. that is why efforts for assistance should be seen along these lines. with these families it was sought a first to be a short stay reflected on in the social fabric. many are getting tired of scarce resources and the labor market has been badly effected especially the syrians historically are a cheaper labor force. this has conditioned on employment to a sharp increase of commodities. or more over services are

overstretched having total paralysis in some areas. to create the feeling of insecurity. international agencies has been swift unfortunately assistance is an equal and fragmented with the overloaded remark with a remarkable effort is done. sensitive efforts are mainly to assist on the hosting community. it needs to be addressed with the decrees of tension between the two communities. with a non has a new government it was formed one

week ago and committed in the capacity to displace syrian families to return to their palms but for adequate social service however these capacities and have a media help needed with the influx of expected to require expensive resources. if these are not made available in the government of lebanon on will have a different approach. all these measures steve urgent with the desired political solution which we hope will be provided by the geneva conference along with 40 other countries that will likely get hopefully ensure

a dignified and safe return to their country. but as you know, unfortunately so far this will prolong the suffering of the syrian people and the neighboring countries. i would decide is a fact that is the most dangerous repercussions of the syrian crisis today. by assisting the neighboring countries the international community is security and stability the spillover to the country's lot of non is inescapable in the bond with the environment as we in

lebanon have a tax almost daily in the newspapers. this issue should be addressed not only by the non -- lebanon or neighboring countries but by international community's. to reach a political solution. thank you. >> thank you very much ambassador chedid for the important call as the approach to the crisis not only with the refugees but also with the host community. now we will turn to the ambassador from iraq. >> good morning. thank you very much. thank you for the brookings

institute in to provide such an important opportunity for such an important topic. to talk about security issues we talk about the i italian aspect. it is appreciated. of with the syrian aftermath one of the least talked-about issues is the impact of syria on its neighbors. unfortunately that issue has not been addressed nor the geneva to or others have provided enough opportunity to address and it is a clear statement that it has not

been articulated yet and we have to talk about that today from the iraq perspectives assyria refugee has internal displacement however it has had some lights in comparison but a more successful story for reasons i will talk about. numbers of refugees are blest inappropriate billing dash in proportion to the population but bear in mind that population which does highlight our significant impact on lebanon. it is about to under 20 from our numbers those in the entire province they're all in the kurdish region.

that is a positive sign that people that except them in the region are of the six ethnicity and background so have a similar standing of the issues. nbc internal displacement so they have provided a better environment. only 30 percent of those 20,000 are in refugee camps. some are in urban accommodations that means life is much more terrible for them. sanitation is much more manageable for us. as a government we have not had did issue of famine so in that sense we of more than capable and working closely with ngos to try to

address the financial obligation it is more to do with organizations and coordination within the iraqi ethnicities and the ngos. so that is the more of a challenge and funding. the refugee camps in a way is more effective for us to address the issues based on the original issues. the camps overall have a good structure so that has been good news. only 20 ngos are involved. look at that kurdish example there are 150. that creates its own problems for coordinating the means they're not part

of the government institution but working closely with problems. however only 20 within the confines region and the background is much more manageable. however over concern is not dealing with the refugees as how long will this be? what is the day after scenario? how do we take care of the mental welfare? . .

>> the capabilities and so on, but we have the more or less been not leading it, but working with the closely with the local authorities. as anybody who works with refugees, when it comes to the local authorities, if they have the capabilities, it's much more easier than external parties, and that's one of the good, good stories # here. we have provided enough funds, capabilities, and local authorities not to feel threats from migration, and they have a good understanding of that, and the kurds in the reason understand what's taking place

in syria as well. they have been accommodating. reason for that is, as i said, the funds are there, and influx of refugees from others has been less, and in comparison to population or the geography, which meant they can be more manageable, and the local authorities dealing with it. the key challenges has been getting the better coordination between the ngos, locals, central government, and ucl and so on, and so the coordination has been one of the key challenges we are working on. the other aspect of it is, as i talk about the key challenge, the key challenge is welfare of the refugee, and that's an an unfortunately issue for any refugee anywhere, let alone a syria refugee with no end in sight in syria. you #u can only provide so much,

so that's app issue to address, and the third is on securities, and that -- we talked about the terrorism element, and fortunately, for us in iraq, nearly daily, with us, it's a daily issue, and it's primarily driven by al-qaeda, not sectarian work, more to do with terrorists against the state of flow, against the state rule of law, against the government, against entities of iraq. that has been the key challenge. that -- the key concern we have with syria has been on the aftermath -- sorry, the spillover int iraq, the security. it's nots from the refugee. it's more to do with the political entity. the key question, which we need to look at here today as well is how could we assist in resolving the gee knee that two or any other form so we don't have the sufferings of the refugees, and

conditions in the near future, these will want to have a permanent solution whether it's in iraq, lib non, overseas, or whether they will use other tools and methods to force resolution to the issue, that's app issue of refugees, and the reason has procedures which can want accommodate more. in terms -- the region has enough tension, which should not accommodate more tensions as well, so we need to look at the longer view rather than just addressing the key issues of the refugees from iraq. from our neighbors, we highly appreciate the tension put in jordan and leb notary public, and, also, bearing in mind the limitation of the capabilities because of the actual long issues of the refugees in lebanon, for example, and where you have a region in which the

polarization is taking place so you have to address the issues there as well, and so we can see that unless we have a collective view of resolving it, and unless we resign to certain facts op the ground, i'm afraid this will not have an end soon. i think we need to somewhat mature up to the situation and deal with the crisis and identify that crisis rather than just the refugees, thank you. >> thank you very much, ambassador, in particular, for drawing our attention to the crisis that's still changing every day on the ground. i'll now turn the floor over to deena. >> thank you, all, for being here today.

i'm here today as a presentive of global healing, a global organization, but also here today as living this crisis day in and day out, and before i get into facts and figures, i just want to share with you a story that touched my heart at the beginning of the crisis. we were distributing hearing aids to the camp, and one of the men was hearing impairment, he refused to take a hearing aid. after asking him about why you don't want one, and he -- so he shared with us a story about while coming to jordan from syria. he was sitting in a taxi with two people sitting next to him in the rear seat, and all of the sudden, the guy next to him starts chasing, so he thought, is he crazy? he's shaking and dancing.

then he felt something warm underneath him. when he put his hand, it was blood. he looked at the guy, and he was taking all the bullets. it was an am bus. he was dead taking all the bullets. he said, i don't want to take the hearing aid. i'd rather live in my own peaceful world. this story made country, and i couldn't sleep and gave me more power to do the work that i'm doing currently on the ground. for years, jordan has been a civil state in an unstable neighborhood. this became a magnet for refugee, and over half the population is of origin, and many iraqi now call jordan their home, and angry -- in the recent years, with the civil war in syria, a vast new population

arrived to town. as was said, we have more than 600,000 syrians with refugee status in jordan. it's more like 10% of the population. there are others living in jordan too without refugee status. the total number is estimated to reach around 1.4 million. the impact on the people is profound. the population was only 6 million, so just imagine the amount of refugees in the country. some cities now have more see ya than senior -- jordani rarks ns. across the border, there were only 60,000 jordanians in the

city, and today, we have 150,000 people living in the city. this would be difficult even for the u.s.. it would be crip ming. hospitals are overwhelmed. our schools are overcrowded. even garbage industry are piling up. our sewage system is overrun. it is apparent in the water sector. let me tell you how scarcity of water is like in jordan. we only receive water once a week. and to store that, it's stored in tanks on the roof buildings.

throughout the week, we are rational in using what's left of the water, and sometimes we're not lucky to get the water each week at the same time. in some areas, we -- water does not arrive for a few weeks. the loss through the aging networks accounts for 45% to

70%. that is water loss. with the on jet of the syria crisis, the water sector problems have scritted. the government of jordan estimates the standard of 100 liters per day as a consumption. after the crisis, this has dropped tremendously, tremendously dropped. in some areas it's more like 30 liters, and let me show you what turkey looks like. we have a 20 liter. it's a little bit more than that. what we get. that's water for everything. basic life needs.

jordan consumes less than 20% of what an average american consume per day. they don't have the resources to fix up the networks, and so our complaints they receive have tripleed in the last three years. they used to receive complaints of now water, and up to 45,000, and the number can go higher, but utility company received, like, ten bucks for each complaint. not surprisingly with the

tensions and problems, tensions rose between jordan and syria. they have different pat terns in behaving with water. a small example. we use buckets to clean, to throw water into clean everything from windows to cars, and this is the normal. syria uses the water hole, and such thing between jordan and syria begin to click the tension because we don't have enough resources to drink. since 2006, mercy corp. has been addressing the safety of water, and with the main support from donors including us aid we

expanded programs dramatically to support communities in the crisis. our process operates across a wide range of activities from drilling wells at the camps to building the capacity of local partners to address communal waterings. our projects have four components. we begin with buildings infrastructure. we have, as i said before, we have a very weak worn out infrastructure, and so it's needed urgently, and with the complex crisis, we are working to improve the ages networks, and these projects include reservoir innovation, new pipelines, and renovating pump stations. we are working on community based organizations, and with

the support of u.s. aid, we invested in the capacity in building the capacity of local ceos in the resolving door program. we drain them on accounting, project management, and then provide cash to fewer loans for water saving improve. s we work on the attitudes, and that goes with working with cbos, and we are helping them to start campaigning of raising awareness to i want prove the outreach, expand awareness, and educate jordan and syria stupes on water management. we pair that with infrastructure of bring water to harvesting cistern to add another source

the minister of education uses a two-shift system. the first shift for jordan and the second shiest for syria. we work on the conflict. through training, jordan and syria community leaders and negotiations and complex negotiation, in addressing the issues emerging in the communities, that will help billing the sense of the togetherness of the emerging issues in the communities and what kind of solutions they might come up with, and, of course, the solutions are also being funded to be implemented on the ground such as rain water harvesting systems, being -- building playgrounds for kids, having parks for people as the

areas, and because of the success that we witnessed in the first phase of this project, we are expanding now to key host communities. the title of this session today is there's no insight so how do we move forward? the refugees argued, and they need international support, but we also need to invest in the long term needs of jordan, specifically, infrastructure, demand reduction, and building the community resill resilience. in this up stable region, we want jordan to remain stable and the civility of the country is at a risk. with the continued support of the u.s. and international community and focusing on the long term challenges facing jordan, we can start addressing these challenges.

we are thankful for the support of the congressman, the u.s. government, the u.s. people for all what they provided us with so far to help us face these challenges. the opportunities are greaterment thank you so much for giving me this opportunity. >> thank you very much, dina, for sharing that powerful perspective from the field and great examples how the ambassador raised how to respond to the refugee crisis in a way that provides concrete benefits in host communities as well, so thank you. >> thank you. the league and participants

here. when one looks at the crisis, i permly feel that it's difficult to find the words with which to capture the state in which they are. we here at brookings run a displacement project to the border region, and my little antedote is encounter with a former judge in syria walking down the street, tearily green street, green street of the town, just a few miles from the syria border, and as we chatted along, he said when we got started in an effort to reform syria, we never thought that a calamity was going to hit us. from that very moment when i heard that word, not a day goes by reminding myself that what we

face is really a calamity. each time i look on the news, reporting from syria, and seeing the destruction of the urban center, and i think this is what makes the syria crisis so different from the similar crisises elsewhere around the world is a destruction of the physical destruction that reminds me of the second world war and state in which some of the european cities were left at the end of that war. i think today's focus op the future and the long run is a critical, critical one. the way i approach it is that refuge gees at least as far as they go in turkey, i hope this is not the case for leb notary public and jordan and iraq ambassadors, is that they are there to stay, just about two

weeks ago, i was in turkey and got to interview a series of members of parol limit as well as officials, and i attended a seminar focusing on this issue, and i was struck the way in which there was a common denominator to all of what they were faced with, which was the turkish government set out and opened its borders and established refugee camps that the no , last week referred to w to build a perfect camp, i built perfect camps, i've seen it, and they deserve credit for the way in which they are housing now about 210,000 refugees in the camps, but in the article, there was a striking quotation from

someone staying in the camps, referring to the camp as a five star prison. more and more refugees are in the camp where they are five star, air-condition, tv, means to use super market there for cooking purposes, laundries all provided for, and the streets are clean, but they want to get out, and outside refugee camps, it's estimate the there are about 700,000 refugees all in turkey with 500,000, half a million of them outside. it is increasing, government is expecting by the end of the year, numbers could go up to

1.5%. outside, life is tough. many challenges are from children working, interexploitation, women having difficulties in their own surroundings. prieding national health services, but there are challenges that started education, and according to the most recent regional response view, more than 70% of the children who are outside camp in turkey are not receiving any education. our ambassador from jordan has already made references to what the concerns are of a generation that's not receiving proper education could be. in all fairness, international governmental agencies and ngos together with turkey agency and

others are trying to address the issue, but the impact remains a limited one. the question of education is accompanied with labor issues. the current lows in turkey do not allow easy access to work permits for syria, and more and more syrias work in the black market. they work for, in no doubt, get exploited, but there is another side which is the case mentioned in lebanon, and in jordan too that wages are collapsing. represent is increasing. although the government remains extremely hospitable to the refugees and gain a good propulsion of the population along the border of syria has been very receptive towards and

very generous towards the refugees. at the same time, resentment is also increasing. a pop -- poll take taken in us stan bull, 86% of those polled want no more refugees in turkey, and in terms of those, want the refugees that are to be sent back. yet repatriate is not an option, and it doesn't look like it's going to be an option in the immediate feature. references made to the little achievements that have come out to the process, and what strikes me is the process has not even started to address the issue of the return of the refugees. i hope i app utterly wrong, but my sense is that interpolitical

solution emerges from the process where in one way or the other, the regime stays behind in part, i'm quite convinced that the likelihood of syria refugees, at least the one in turkey or being able to return is going to be highly unlikely. what are the options that turkey faces? there are two options left or combination of two. one is resettlement, and so far the resettlement option has not been particularly forthcoming and generous. megan paid for that referring to the cammings there.

turkey has long been a refugee receiving country, but it's also had the poobility that a large number of countries that are around the world including the united states has accepted resettlement from turkey recognized by the unacr during the cold war as well as subsequently, and yet when we look at the picture today, resettlement beyond the few thousand and the high commissioner for unacr made an appeal last fall for 10,000 slots for resettlement and what we yet have to see the realizization of the resettlement possibilities coming out there, but this is all about sharing. it's already been referenced. international refugee law seized

the problem as responsibility, and neighboring countries have taken on the responsibility along the lines of just being expressed. the international community will have to come forward with a more realistic possibility of resettlement at least for the most vulnerable amongst those refugees in the neighboring country. the last option is integration. people remaining in the countries where they are hosted, and when we look at the scene, refugee seen not just in the middle east, but around the world, most refugees end up staying where they are. the average figure that i read not that long ago is 12 years in camp, and yet there are camps where people have been in for

20, if not more years. nine years, the experience of the pal stippians if the very region where the syria refugees numbers are increasing. i'd like to conclude by referring to the shakespeare dilemma that they are facing right now. is turkey going to adopt policy, realistic policies and face -- take the bow from the hand in a way and recognize they are here to stay and begin to adopt the education, the labor, related policies that will help refugees to integrate in turkey. it's easier said than done. right now, turkey is above with rumors that this is exactly what the government wants to do, extend citizenship to refugees

and make sure that they vote in the upcoming elections assuming that they are beginning to vote for the government. this is deeply ruffling feathers in turkey, increasing political tension within the country too. where do you stand? how do you proceed? this is one typical example of the dilemma that i suspect hosting governments elsewhere are facing too. ..

couldn't we don't know the number of refugee babies that have been born outside camps. these refugees, baby refugees, are they getting registered? to complicate things, there are more and more women or young girls are adopting the strategy for security purposes of going into households paula as second wives, and this is not recognized and turkish law here. and from these relationships are being born babies that bureaucracies are and -- unable to register the take care of. in the long run not only do we risk having children that are not receiving the education that they deserve, we are also

risking of having babies and children who are stateless who don't have status. the international community begins to raise these issues and finds ways of squeezing it into to the geneva to process and its agenda while digging deep into their pockets and sharing the financial burden. thank you. >> thank you very much. kelly. >> good morning. thank you. i am delighted to be here. what a rich panel. thank you very much a brookings.

i want to give special acknowledgment. mercy corps, a key partner of the u.s. and others around the world. delighted to be here. my topic is a broad one. many of the issues that i will discuss have been touched upon by previous speakers. this could be short or long. at an going to talk but u.s. government policy with regard to addressing the needs of those as well as refugees which has been a theme that came out and comments this morning and one that we very much share. we talk to what the scope and scale the crisis. both had a very memorable anecdotes of conversations. we could spend a long time doing that this morning among but in the interest of time will not do that. is important to get beyond the

numbers which are mind-numbing in terms of magnitude and scope and think about each of these people -- people affected by this crisis as people, individuals, people have gone through incredible ordeals. the sole made in talks a little bit about the numbers in terms of what we're talking about. inside, six and a half million. two and a half might to 5 million refugees, and that he not think that the bias is large enough to have egypt representative. let's not forget egypt in terms of a very significant hosting country. in terms of the two and a half million, 1 million of those being refugees. these are refugees that -- we are trying to put a map upon the screen. one of my colleagues from our bureau in the state department

to produces these maps is in the audience today. i'm not sure even see that, but it gives you a good scope in terms of the regional dimensions of the crisis. this second-hand you will see is something that gives you a bit of a picture in terms of how this crisis as quickly escalated of the last three years years. we know little bit in terms of -- and speakers have talked about the map -- manager of this crisis. we have not seen numbers like this with the exception of afghanistan. the rate of the flows of refugees in neighboring countries we have not seen since rwanda. syria's development has decreased 35 years. we have relevant about the impact. leaven not uncommon jordan,

iraq, turkey. what governments has been to in terms of posting refugees. unemployment rate, struggles to cope. each country in the region is affected. this is not just a humanitarian crisis. this is one that the government has at the top of the agenda. at the humanitarian side, this is the same time we're dealing with escalating crises. south sudan, the central of -- central african republic. i am pleased we're focusing on this issue. one of our main priorities in terms of this crisis is not to just deal with it as a humanitarian one but to look at the development, microeconomic aspects and to look at what we

can bring in terms of military support. the above mentioned the u.s. congress and thanks and appreciation. i want to echo those that -- those things because it was because of that support that the united states is the number one donor in the region. and it was since this crisis began, over one-half billion in humanitarian support alone. so we have basically four -- four objectives related to this crisis. we will go briefly through them. it is important to realize that one can divorce was happening in the region from was up -- happening inside the country. our first objective is to get as much humanitarian assistance as we can. our second objective is to make sure at we have got sufficient

assistance going to keep borders of -- open. the third is to stabilize the neighborhood which is where a spin the lion's share of our discussion talking about. because of the crisis, in terms of having this ways of additional people to support in addition to the host government citizens. and the fourth is to meet very important protection needs in and outside of syria. in this regard i would mention things that have been discussed. the impact of gender based crisis and the impact this is having on children. the initiative that we can talk about further. the first objective in terms of

getting as much humanitarian aid is possible international organizations, non-governmental organizations. this is high priority to but high priority. the medical facilities and aid workers have been targeted. it is just getting worse. it has not made an impact -- an impact. the second objective in terms of keeping borders open, i want to pay particular regard not just assyrians, but palestinians. currently we know that there were 550,000 palestinian refugees. 8,000 have left syria. half of those are affected.

nearly all of them somehow have been touched by the war. this is something that is of great concern for us. but the, protection, bringing additional assistance in neighboring countries. here again we reference the third objective which is stabilizing the neighborhood. i mentioned this is not a humanitarian crisis. it's and it threatens regional stability. what are we doing? is important for us and not necessarily very easy to see this happen. we are trying to break new ground. we're not just apply and development tools to meet humanitarian needs mo we're really trying to bring the spigots of u.s. government support, and i mentioned the

military because what they're doing is really quite significant. we have recognized in this crisis that this will be protracted. some think that increasingly governments are hosting syrian another is the field -- these are not quick fixes. may to be thinking about all aspects. there are keep populations that i seriously and risk. children and you -- you in particular. air not thinking just about syrians but the impact on most community and potentially for citizens to be squeezed out of schools, access to doctors, --

health workers and so on. by previous speakers talked but the dimensions of this crisis. three-quarters of the refugees are now living in host communities. unhcr has a striking matt and gives you a comparison of what lebanon looks like it. little red dots a year ago, entirely read now. impacts in those communities hosting a fiji's. this it is very much about the host communities. each post as a different reality they are up camps. alliance share of refugees outside of can't. many to be thinking about health, education, ever

structure. this is not a traditional humanitarian response. definitely increased tensions. client cahuenga. very important to recognize that this is not the first refugee flow that these guys have handled in the last couple of decades. palestinian, iraqi. these are governments that are used to dealing with refugees but all of -- also significantly burdened by an. this is not something that is a solution, but is an important part of burden sharing. we, the united states will be taking significant numbers of syrians.

where are we doing in the u.s. government in terms of changing the way we deal with this? there is something called a comparable -- comprehensive strategy. it is exactly trying to put together responses that are not just humanitarian focused but the development and economic pieces. they identified the -- in the the capacity of the house. they identify. let me give you an example. there was a groundbreaking world bank you win government of lebanon assessment that was done in an eye. they both got an assessment. it was very much based on. what we can do to address those needs is really quite something.

in lebanon we have both humanitarian assistance -- assistance and significant bilateral aid. we welcome the government's formation. we will be leaders in terms of how we respond is going forward. the memorandum of understanding. we have brought loan guarantees to the country. they have provided additional support. there's been significant -- signature in development support provided. in turkey where returned just as

night from discussions with the government, we are looking very much and how we support this exceptional government response. we can do at the local level to provide additional support and that is something new look to going forward. vast and abroad, beyond and that is something we will continue -- continue. >> thank you for this great overview. this crisis and the region. keep your questions as brief as possible pros. some colleagues weakening around the microphone. a woman in the back.

>> a managing director of protect people. my question is for kelly clemens you give us a comprehensive overview of the needs and the way that the u.s. government is trying to address them. i was wondering if you did speak to the most pressing gaps. missing pieces? a lot of money, action, response what are the key critical gaps? >> thank you. any other questions? magellan on the right-hand side. >> thank you. a have a question. you had mentioned to the horrible suffering.

we are all very much aware of that, but you mentioned that this is a tragedy not from making. considering what we have heard about the involvement of hezbollah and the fact that has blocked, in fact, is a significant part of the government of lebanon, i am wondering how this is not of the government's own making. >> in the back. >> i have a question. hal the problem -- how the american government is giving aid to the syrian government which really uses it as a black male. there will not give anybody except after the surrender. wire you still giving aid to the

syrian government? >> and the woman in the back. >> why is the international unity not protesting the resettlement of the syrian army? it is an occupied territory. >> speak up. it is quite hard to here. >> summer researcher. why is the -- the international committee that protesting? is an occupied territory and as such it is a violation of article 49 of the geneva conference. >> thank you very much. the last question might be someone outside the scope of today's discussion i will star with kelly and give the floor to the ambassador. >> to address the third question

in terms of gas, there are many. i think probably the issues are most concerned with the protection. protections for those that are outside of the camps in the urban areas and those, for example, that we have not been able to reach. when i say we the u.s. government works now only to the host country but important international non-governmental agencies. sir registration is a key part of trying to access the communities, but in a place like turkey although we hear the official registration numbers, something in the neighborhood of 600 to 700 that -- 700,000 the numbers are much higher. in terms of services, though the -- those are some of the knees hair trying to reach. psychosocial support, health, the whole gamut focused on the protection of the vulnerable,

women, children, and trying to reach as many as we can as quickly as we can. we actually don't work at all in terms of delivering humanitarian assistance. they're provided by reputable non-governmental organizations. they have strong monitoring systems. they get to the syrian government. obviously it's a government with which they need to cooperate and seek assistance in terms of being able to provide aid which has been a big problem. they have obstruction in terms of as being able to provide more assistance, particularly in the contested and hard to reach areas which right now provides about three and half million people. >> i met that there is crisis.

it is of our making. we're suffering from the tragedy . the crisis sewn that's why it's not fair. the government assumes the result in tragedy as it is not carmaking. >> thank you. >> vigilant at the back. >> all of this is moving in it is about the effect. what are we doing about the cost of many of us minutes in the low was a nonstarter.

as long as the stonewalling continues to will be dealing with more and more. what i we doing about because? >> i have a question. i was wondering if the situation on the border falls in the lls in thesectarian to the threat of sectarian to the attention. the syrian people. the assyrian refugees. -- >> thank you.

doom in terms of the focus. refugees he increased attention and focus on the syrian refugees sudanese refugees in jordan. >> and we will take one more question. >> i recently turned from peace accord jordan. that is something i have been hearing about more lately.

i wonder if any of the system's attorneys and -- exist. >> if that is a realistic solution. for the near future. >> thank you. let's start in terms of the question on turkey. >> it's a tough question to answer. one needs to be familiar -- familiar with the turkish demographic, turkish population. the part are part of the parts of turkey is also populated by -- by turks who are of similar ethnic and religious background

as the minority. so what this has a right to is a couple of of comes. one is at the early stages when the government set up refugee camps, in part of the region populated by her. [inaudible] and there was some tension. i also hear, and this is difficult to correlate -- corroborate. these camps are really are

overwhelmingly former syrian refugees. and otherwise refugees and christian refugees feel uncomfortable with the edge yet been placed in those camps. they preferred to remain outside and get to towns and cities that are governed at the local level by the opposition party in turkey that traditionally has been supported base. it gets a bit compass -- complicated. that would make distinctions. however, my personal judgement and observations is that

currently the tension between this unique, the government on the one hand and these minorities are not a level that there were in the early stages of the conflict. having said that this does not mean that there are no problems in turkey as marengo's the relationships that the government at with these minorities. however, one of the people that i interviewed by was in anchorage was actually an otherwise prone. i frankly was impressed with the way in which she was able to analyze the situation and reflect on it.

>> thank you. >> ambassador, we have a question to you. the question tons of errors is a realistic option. perhaps it would also like to weigh in of assumption. >> what i have to say is i am thinking what we want to, of course, is to of locate the refugees from lebanon because of the process. and we need to think that they should be some some that should be created within syria to relocate them in their own country. that would be good for them, and that would be, of course, good for us. easier said than done. i'm not saying that it is easy. it is a complicated issue. the zone of whenever witches may be it could be viewed as a collective paramilitary action

cahuenga ref. we're going to create those sons, all we have to do is to find solutions for the refugees, and our opinion of the solutions and hopefully at some point when a political solution could be reached in such zones could be created. >> also if you wanted to speak to the question of what is to be done in terms of the causes that we will open the sub to the ambassador. >> the comments from our colleague is obviously right on point. there is no humanitarian solution. there is only a political solution. that is obviously our number one priority. why the administration has been so engaged in trying to make geneva to work is to try to bring the parties together, bring full support command to work with their russian

counterparts. the prevention aspects to make it possible for a serious bill to go home in the not too distant future. a certain commitment the issues that we need to deal with right now. and in terms of -- not going to use the term because i think the ambassador mentioned that protection is going to be that part of one of our other options might be addressed. and in our experience it is difficult to be able to secure and protect the zones. the last thing you'd want to have happen is for refugees and displaced syrians to become targets. these are options that have inherent challenges.

asset we are exploring every way we can to bring more aid and then be able to assist people of better in areas that are currently unreachable. that would be the immediate response. >> thank you. dean know if you have any thoughts on the issues of causes and also the question that was raised on the predicament of refugees from other countries in the region. >> as a representative of a global humanitarian organization with in that deal with the political causes. we deal with the impact. we work directly with the people on the ground in trying to reach as many people in these the suffering of as many as possible this is basically our stand. >> what we have been saying is please learn and don't repeat

the mistakes that we have made. let's get that experience to see how we can coexist. unlike say that the counseling, expecting the not too exist visibly. in the various groups of 9/11 has been one of the key causes. the ethnic cleansing. more abject manifestation. a region in which revenge in tribalism is part of culture. one of the other causes as well as geneva to provides a good example. that might not be the ultimate, but it provides enough from mark

frost to start there. to do that all six colors up to accommodate. they have to expect to come to the table with something to give away. another important aspect to think about. the problem is that people are saying after this attrition situation people have not really addressed the finance, the syrian issue. legitimizing the violence. trying to expect that this serious situation, is not. it's a bit more complicated. you have people who are christian and others who are

perceived to be enticing any. i think the iraqi example provides bear ridge example to understand, we have always had this issue. it is not an issue of providing weapons of legitimizing. it is more complicated. unfortunately. >> if i may, geneva to should really -- the refugee problems in geneva should be a very important item to be discussed. definitely where not discussing now the refugees because it will

be an outcome rather than a condition. but the political solution should address the problem of the refugee with the fate of the assyrian refugees themselves and the safety and for the sake of the neighboring countries. it should be, of course. and hopefully there will start again and succeed. >> thank you. i think that is an excellent note on which to end to this conversation. like to thank the panel is to protect meantime to china's today and for sharing their insight on what is clearly going to be a very long-term dilemma for the region and the united states. we look forward to continuing this discussion. thank you for joining us. [applause] >> thank you.

>> from the situation in serious to what is currently happening in the ukraine. asked earlier today that the ukrainian president reached a deal with protesters the will allow for early presidential lections and the formation of a new government. one day after the european union agreed to impose sanctions in response to recent clashes between protesters and ukrainian authorities. the protest initially began back in november when the ukrainian president agreed to a financial bailout from russia and said of the trade deal with the european union. white house press secretary was asked earlier about the situation. here is some of what he had to say.

>> i wanted to ask you about the president on wednesday warning that there would be consequences of proposed a bill of . then enters the broke apart and thursday, with the vice-president mourned the ukrainian president to pull back its forces, talk of a sanctions. he think he's warning sent an impact? >> i think that there has been a concerted and fairly uniform reaction around the world to what happened in the ukraine. you can see in the european partners who expressed there extreme concern. you saw a president do so. you saw mr. harper obviously together with the president in mexico. as you noted, a vice president has been clear about our position and what actions we're prepared to take and what

actions we already have taken. as you know, these demands were applied to those is possible for the violence. so i think that as an general matter it was fairly clear how the world fuel was happening in the ukraine. and with in particular have the united states and france and germany and poland and other countries vigo was happening. >> with respect, may be happening now, the president said on wednesday that this is not an international chess game, but there is, what do not agree, a tug-of-war between the west and russia over the ukraine? is that sort of what is planning have? >> no, and i think i have a little deeper expertise in this matter than some others. it is profoundly different from the cold war era in that while

we have seen in recent weeks and months is the expressed desire of the ukrainian people for a future that they decide on their own for themselves and the nation. and the desire expressed by the ukrainians on the streets for peaceful protests and it would be a reaction to that. the acceptable reaction to that that led to the violence as we saw. so the president is correct when he said that this is not amount the united states and russia over the west and russia. this is a the ukraine and the ukrainian people and their desire for the right to choose their own destiny, the right to a government there represents them in their interest. we have seen and is the potential in the last 24 hours for an agreement that reflects

and response to the desires expressed by the ukrainian people. >> and a few moments book tv in-depth with author and women's studies professor bonnie or a starkman about her nonfiction work. >> el author and georgetown university professor. the author of six nonfiction books including revenge of the

lens studies professor and women's history for beginners. in this three hour interview she talks about feminism, those lower to america and the u.s. inched salmon industry. >> author bonnie morris. in your book revenge of the women's studies, revenge for what? >> well, you know, the title is not meant to be provocative or rude. it is about having the average into the to talk back to many people is stereotyped might feel or ask unfair questions. a lot of terrific students are intimidated by the nem taking a basic class in women's history. they come to me and expect to have expressed doubt or concern, are afraid what people say, what it will collect on their transcripts. so those experiences lead me to it really keen awareness of how many people feel there is

something wrong with half the world's history. and i am initiating many of these conversations throughout my teaching career. the idea of revenge was i wanted to talk back but in a cheerful way to my cheerful, playful way. i wanted to be the smiling face of women's studies and the ministry so that as a diplomat from academic feminism i am not scary. i am approachable. i love my students, but enough with being rude to the professor. people who come by and say, of your class. you're not at all the effeminacy. thank you for putting that out there. revenge is about this is my say. don't be rude to the professor on the first day. looking at a woman's sister will only improve your life. what is it like for those of us on the other side of the desk to have to deal with the whole range of work being in tune with

people who are fearful. teach? >> guest: george washington university and part time at georgetown. hello to my terrific students. i teach pretty much everything required for the i teach pretty much everything required for the minor and majos history, specialized class on women's sport. over enrolled since 1996 i teach a survey course in women's history which has about 120 first-year students. right now i have athletes from every sport. i have a lot of people in their first year, and i have graduating askers -- seniors who have waited all the different years with a different major just to take a women's study class before they graduate. >> host: what is women's studies? >> guest: women's studies has been a department or program at american colleges since 1969. the first women's study program

was at san diego state in 1969. it's an opportunity to look at pretty much all the humanities from the perspective of how women's lives have been shaped. that's material that is often neglected. many people can go from cinder garten through law school and never learn about a women's contribution and be considered an educate person. so if you want to put women at the center, women at the focus, and look at the very different experiences women have in every society, because of law, work conditions, religion, or warfare, and education opportunities as well, this is a chance to make that the center of your research, and we cover just about everything. it's just like any other class where you take exams and write papers. >> host: what do you do with a women's study major? >> the short answer is law school. many of my best students gone on

to be title ix lawyers. many go abroad. they work with women birth control the issue of violence against women in regions ranging from northern africa to bosnia. many students do development in term of non-profit. they do programming for everything from planted parenthood to organizations that work with women and girls. i have a couple of students who have gone on to med school and do specialties in women's health. quite a few have been nursing, and i have a lot of students who are also as athletes involved in furthering women sports. some are trainers. i have one in the olympics right now. i have another student interning at the winter games who is hoping to do some reporting on

the situation of homophobia in russia. >> host: komen take your classes? >> guest: you bet. i have 50% guys in my sports class at georgetown. i have guys in all of my classes. football, basketball, -- but also guys who are majoring in women's studies. and at george washington, the chair is a guy. dan motion berg, the men taking women studies are interesting. my brother took a class when he was an undergrad at maryland. i would say the average guy who takes a women's study is often already focused on the experiences of women because maybe he's the son of a single mom. then i have a huge percentage of international students who are really, perhaps, this is the only chance they have to take a class like they before they return to korea or kuwait. i have guys from iranian, saudi

arabia began backgrounds, many from cutter. i recently went there and gave a guest lecture. i have a lot of students who are just curious or have heard someone else say i'm nice. once they take one of my classes they take more. so they repeat. once i got them, i got them. they know i love them. >> host: what was that experience like at cutter? >> distressing in at lough ways. i felt like a third sex. i was not obligated to dress in a full head cover, body cover gown. i was not expected to veil. i was start told find a large percentage of the women in the country cover their faces. many are not citizens. a lot of residents are saudi arabia or international. many women were not visible, and i'm used to making eye contact. you didn't see women's faces so

you didn't see their mouths moving. the sense of their being silenced was magnified. many is triable, it's certainly not mandated in the koran. i was around people in women in black who were very much covered, and there was me in a western suit. so it was an eye-opening experience. but i also found the opportunity to interact with women from all over the arab world was what i wanted to do. that's why i was there. i moderated a panel on discrimination in sports, which ended up being very much about racial and ethnic discrimination and not furthering opportunities for women and girls. i think there's a lot of work to be done, but that's what i do. >> host: in your most recent book women's history for

"beginners." you open it by saying read through a basic history book. say a state approved u.s. history textbook intended for middle school classrooms, and you're left with the impression that all of human history was achieved by one sex. >> guest: yeah. well, and unfortunately that continues. the biggest challenge for me, let's say as an american educator, is that women's history and women's studies frighten people because the assumption is all women's history are about the body; therefore, all women's history will be somehow about sex and birth control; therefore, it's not appropriate for a middle school or elementary school. and the education word, pta and the people who approve textbooks that's controversial. my argument is there's plenty of women's history that is age-appropriate that encourages girls to consider the

possibility they can run for office or they look at where women have come from in term of being closed out of political lives and schools and juries. it's easy to look at female achievers in history and have it be not controversial and not sexual. but we just don't do that. we don't do the research on the astronomer, maria rachael, or have lessons that encowrnlgt girls to think beyond the imagery of the woman in the private sphere. i think as a person who reads ap u.s. history leader, i'm an exam leader for the college board, putting women's history in to something that an honor student should know is gradually becoming a scuffle main streaming of women's history. now you have to know some for the ap exam. woo hoo! it's a process, but it's also still possible to have textbooks that don't reflect the range of

what women have done, or the focus will be women and minorities. and you have white women and black men. guess who gets left out? it would be african-american american. that's why i assist -- that's the cover of my book be a majority women of color. they have been written out of the american curriculum. >> host: a little bit more from women's history for "beginners." women and men have played different roles. the very differences tell a great deal about power, citizenship, and democratic ideals. we may acknowledge that our foremothers held different but equally important functions in human history. still, most of what is described in history is, indeed, "his story." the lives and writings of great men. >> when i was in graduate school, the first thing we read "what is history" his argument is even if you rely on documents, they only tell you what the author of the document wanted you to know. but the fact is, we look at the

constitution, the mag car that -- magna carta. women were usually ill literate. they didn't have access to education, or the leisure time or the studio space. they didn't keep journals as i'm privileged to do. we only have stories and narrative which is we have historically put down as old wives' tales, we tend to think what goes on in the women's sphere had, which is the private sphere, does not count as history. it's making beds and raising kids, that's important, but history has made somehow in the public sphere of man. and the fact of the matter is, most lived in the private sphere. >> from your book "revenge of the women's studies." professor, you write write oppression of women is a universal norm. where there is a male standard, women become a special interest group. every country has policies to

protect women's rights. but they are not enforced because women are not the enforcers! ". >> that's correct. biggest example would be the taliban continuing to wield influence in regions like afghanistan, pakistan, where technically girls have the right to go to school, but they're threatened and in the case of mala even wounded in their efforts to further education. although most countries would say, yes, we permit schooling for girls, their safety in that process is not guaranteed, and the backlash against educate girls is really an issue in more places than we care to examine. that is one example that is painful. >> host: in your book women's history for "beginners." why didn't you use the word -- >> guest: well, you know. i love that and i love the alternate spellings.

i certainly include linguistic section in my classes. i come out the women with the why tradition. i wanted to avoid anything that would sort of pigeon hole me as an old-school feminist who was going to insist on altering language. i wanted this to be as acceptable as possible, i love the "for beginners." series it offers an available introduction to subject matter that everybody is curious about, but maybe is intimidated by. it use it often in usual conversation. i think it's a reminder how we don't expect to have women at the center, and on the first day of my classes, i'll explain, you don't have to have a specific political viewpoint the to get an a. that would be wrong. you to put women at the center

what we're studying. that doesn't mean we hate men. >> guest: you talked about old school feminists. what do you mean by that? >> guest: i mean that very much i was influenced myself by the women who shaped '70s feminist, radical feminism which supported the idea that there should be women-only spaces where women can gathering. the cultural movement of women's bookstores, independent presses, recording companies like oliva. all of that shaped me. it was all in place by the time i was 16 and 17. i came in to a cultural feminism very much of which was shaped by lesbian activists, and my opportunity to dod advanced work in women's history. i owe a debt to everyone who came before me. in graduate school, the concern expressed was how to make

women's history credible and academically coherent. when so much of the women's movement had been political grassroots activism. so how do you roll that over in to a field of study, and my position is you have to look at the grassroots heritage. you cannot simply do theory. you cannot do theory in language is going to sound so difficult in are -- some ofsome of my best friends. however, i tend to focus on social history, and part of what i mean when i say i'm old school. i think so you to look at the activism of everyday people and not simply remain in the ivory tower. that's because i also came out of a family which was involved in the peace movement. it's natural for me to go from participating in that to participating in feminism to participating in the lgbt

movement. it's been one, long beautiful arc of justice. and explaining the history is how we get from a to b in all of those movements is what i do. a lot of students don't know when women got to vote. we'll start there. we'll start earlier, what is the 13th amendment? 14, 15, 18, and 19 are very important, also. but if you don't know the history of enslaved women and women who owned women, you'll never understand why we don't have a unified women's movement now. >> host: can you be a conservative in a women's study major? >> guest: sure. absolutely. that has changed. i used to have the assumption that people elected a women's study major out of, you know, a certain feminist standpoint, what is interesting now is as women advance, they certainly do

so because of the feminist who came before them. but women now are in a position where they can distance themselves from earlier issues, and be a leader as they define. it is challenging, because i sometimes have students be hostile to the women who went before them who enabled them to have the opportunities they do now. i also have students who will be a very engaged in the classroom, but they lie about it to their friends and associates. at one college where i taught, the women in my class were hiding in the bathroom reading a book how women got vote because their or so roarty said it was giving the wrong message about the house to have my textbook on the coffee table when young men came to call. i'm like, really? is it high to -- how does that intimidate your

future husband doesn't want you to vote? okay. that was an unusual place. but my position is everyone is welcome. you -- everyone is a walking narrative text you know what has happened to you that formed your viewpoint. but let's look technically at what the law limited women to in the past, where you truly could not attend a university. you could not go to med school. you could not play sports. you could not control your own money. you could not own property. you weren't allowed to train guide dogs. that's a good one. there were all kinds of things girls could not do, and when i was a little kid as a fairly brain any little girl, on the one hand, was told, you can do this, this, skip a grade, do whatever you want. to get the messages actually know women aren't allowed here and there. it was a big cognitive dissonance blast in my

developing mind. i knew girls could do more. i was in classes with gifted girls, and i was surprised they weren't more outraged. i was outraged in a way that makes a person bitter, angry, et. cetera, whatever the wrong stereo type of a feminist is. gosh, i'm going to do what i intend to do, and it is illogical to hold back half the nation. we need to compete on the global stage. doesn't america want the brainy girls in the driver's seat? we want to keep up with other nations in math, science, physics, what have you? >> guest: how do you define feminism today? are we in a post feminism era? >> guest: we are not in a post feminist era. i'm concerned about the quote, war on women, we are rolling back the access to reproductive