As you know, the president has been focused to ensure that we lived up the middleclass 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 middleclass 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 middleclass, 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 middleclass 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 womens 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. You can access our comprehensive coverage coverage, politics, nonficti on books and American History when you want come over you want and how you want to our Design Skills to fit any screen from the monitor of your desktop, laptop, a tablet or smart phone at home, at the office or of the you can now watch live coverage of washington check the program scheduled or check our Extensive Library wherever you want. Cspan. Org makes it easy to keep an eye what is happening in washington. [inaudible conversations] is it good morning in a state you for joining us for todays excesses discussion i am the soul here at the fellow for policy program. Working with internal displacement to promote the as humanrights 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. Todays 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 threeyear 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 youre 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 onethird. 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 communitys 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 socioeconomic 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 dont have camps. It is it advantage but they dont 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 countrys 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 Communitys. 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 talkedabout 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 theyre 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 theyre 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, its much more easier than external parties, and thats 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 whats 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 thats 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 thats 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, its a daily issue, and its primarily driven by alqaeda, 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. Its nots from the refugee. Its 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 dont have the sufferings of the refugees, and conditions in the near future, these will want to have a permanent solution whether its in iraq, lib non, overseas, or whether they will use other tools and methods to force resolution to the issue, thats 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, im 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 thats still changing every day on the ground. Ill now turn the floor over to deena. Thank you, all, for being here today. Im 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 dont 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 . Hes 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 dont want to take the hearing aid. Id rather live in my own peaceful world. This story made country, and i couldnt sleep and gave me more power to do the work that im doing currently on