Today marks the sixth anver anniversa anniversary, using that word guardedly, of the Syrian Civil War causing the largest humanitarian crisis on the planet since world war ii. There are many, many issues regarding the conflict and today we are going to explore some of those. A few we will talk about is the food shortage in syria, and the substantial starvation and deprivation that occurred there. Turkey has revoked the permit for certain humanitarian ngos to distribute food there. Education is a big issue for everyone in the world. With six years of this war, there is an entire generation that is going to be deprived on the educational front. There is a number of issues regarding that and we are going to delve into all of those. With that, i would like to recognize our distinguished Ranking Member, senator cardin, for his comments. Senator risch, thank you very much for stepping into the chair of this hearing. We should point out senator corker has commitments with President Trump in tennessee and that is why he is not able to chair the hearing. I have talked to senator corker. I know his personal interests in regard to the humanitarian crisis in syria and i can assure everyone this committee will Work Together to do everything we can to help in regards to humanitarian crisis that exists in syria today. As chairman risch pointed out, the war has been going on for six years. Six long years. The country in many of its cities have been reduced to rubble. Loved ones have been killed and wounded. Sooen syrians are destitute. Two thirds are in object property. I have heard it would cost as much as 25 of a syrian familys income to pay for water. Think about that for a moment. Spending 1 4th of your income so you have water for your family. The essential infrastructures have been destroyed in the country. Schools have been destroyed, hospitals, sanitation systems, electrical grids. Five million syrians have fled their homeland. It is tragic for all syrians but particularly for the innocent children. Many of who have been killed. The Mental Health of the syrian children, we just received a report last week from save the children, and it is tragic. That report points out these children have lost their childhood. They have been absent from school because school does not exist in many parts of syria today. Their speech has been affected and they have many issues includi includi includi including partial issues. This is a tragic situation for all in syria. The active war has challenged the humanitarian effort in order to get help to the people who have been victimized. I have great concerns about the trump policy as to how it is assisting and dealing with the crisis in syria. Mr. Chairman, let me mention three points that concern me. First, we heard President Trump will be submitting a budget that has a 37 cut in the state departments budget. If america is going to be active in dealing with the humanitarian needs how do we do that with a budget that is already inadequate and cutting it by over one third . We have also heard reports the humanitarian budget may be zeroed out in some cases. That is not what america stands for. Our country has been the leader globally in pursuing humanitarian needs, recognizing that it is part of what we stand for as a nation but it is also in our National Security interest to make sure there is stability in countries. Can we really do that with a budget that cuts Development Assistance by that size of an amount of money . Is that what your priorty is going to be . Secondly, i have grave concerns about mr. President trumps policies as it relates to russia in dealing with syria. Russia has supported and facilitated the atrocities that have taken place in syria. They are targeted civilians, th they have attacked humanitarian conv convoys. Russia has participated in war crimes. They need to be held accountable. I will be reintroducing the syrian war crime accountability act. I urge my colleagues to help us get that done so we make it clear to all who are participating in atrocities in syria they will be held accountable for their activities. And third, let me mention the refuge policy of the trump administration. The most recent executive order. There has been over a hundred republican and democratic National Security experts that have sent a letter saying that the president s executive order is harmful to u. S. National security interests and beneath the dignity of our great nation. I couldnt agree more. It is counterproductive. Let me just share with the members of this committee the conversations we had with the king of jordan. Jordan has accepted 650,000, 650,000, syrian refuges. The king has made it clear that is not presented a security challenge for the country of jordan. The United States has accepted a few thousand refuge and there has been no example of any security threat. These individuals are vetted as extreme as we have for anyone coming to america taking anywhere from 1824 months. I think the members of this committee know that. We talked about this frequently and mr. Chairman with your permission i would like to introduce three families with us today. These are not numbers. These are people who are escaping terror and persecution that are now making america their home, to help build this great country. As many of our parents and grand parents came to this country to build a better life. Let me introduce mohammed and his family who arrived last year. He was a pastry chef before fleeing to jordan and remained displaced in jordan for your fears before resettling in maryland. Next, let me introduce alad who arrived in the United States last june. He was in the farming business of syria before fleeing to jordan. He was displaced for three years before being referred to the United States for resettlement. The International Rescue community helped resettle him in maryland. Thank you for being here. And finally, let me introduce sav ear and his wife who arrived into the United States in syria. He and his wife fled to egypt to escape the war where they remained for five years before being resettled in the International Rescue committee in maryland. Welcome. I am proud you are in the United States and particularly proud you are in my state of maryland. Our state has embraced diversity and i believe our state is stronger because of the diversity we have. It is interesting, mr. Chairman, and i will conclude on these remarks. When we look at maryland counties that surround d. C. , two of the strongest counties into the United States, both have embraced diversity for decades and is a place in which we welcome democrats. Mr. Chairman, we need to know trumps policies as it relates to syria and ending the conflict in syria in the National Interest of the United States. We dont have that information today. What we do have is a panel of experts that can help us deal with the humanitarian crisis that exists today and how we can be helpful in dealing with those needs. I welcome our panel. Thank you, senator cardin. And i think all of us are anxious to see a specific policy regarding americans moving forward regarding the syrian situation. That, i am sure, will be forthcoming. We all have our ideas about it and everyone is getting input. Today we will be talking about the humanitarian crisis and i suppose there will be some overlap but today is a focus on the humanitarian crisis. Fourth witness is mr. Neil kenny dyer, they asked to say a few words about him. I yield. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I introduced my friends this is a unique organization jealousy many countries which are in conflict with syria recovering from conflict or natural disaster. Mercy corps is committed to innovation. Even in complex and fragile states they work to make markets function better so that families can earn a living and lift themselves out of poverty. In places like ethiopia uganda, they help the poorest of the poor. The commitment is impressive but also their courage. Working some of the most difficult locations to be found on the globe. In considerable danger to their own team, they have assisted millions of syrians over the course of the war. They are one of the largest Us GovernmentDepartment Assistant syrians affected by the. And the Team Continues to do all that they can to alleviate the suffering of vulnerable a thank you so much for the work of your organization. Thank you senator. Our fifth and final witness as president and chief executive officer of International Rescue committee. With that, i recognized all five of you to make statements. We are on a short string here obviously as we always are in the u. S. Senate. We ask you to keep your remarks to no more than five minutes. However, your full remarks submitted in writing will actually be included in the record. At this hearing. So with that i will recognize our three doctors from syria and i guess i will let you decide on who will go first to present their statement. Good morning. Ranking member, distinguished member. Thank you for the fortunate to appear before you today. My name is i am from aleppo. I am here today not only as a dr. But as a wife and mother and syrian. For the past six years i have witnessed i worked in a hospital in aleppo in the opposition held in the city. Together with my fellow workers we risk our lives every day to save the lives of the others. We leave at the very last minute. Many victims of chemical tax finally, i left aleppo on december 12 2015 along with my husband. And our daughter. In the months leading up to our displacement i cant only describe this only as hell. In my hospital my team and i treated many women with severe injuries. One woman came with shrapnel which penetrated her womb. It took three doctors at once to stabilize the patient. We saved her life but her unborn baby lay dead on the nearby table. Many other women died because they could not make it to the hospital. Due to the lack of ambulances and the dangerous conditions on the road. They bled to death in their homes. Along with their newborn children. A hospital was the most dangerous place in aleppo. My unit in the hospital was very difficult. We were subjected to a daily barrage of bombs and ammunition. One day i was performing a cesarean section. [inaudible] the surgical staff had to flee. We were forced to clean debris out of the patients abdominal cavity. We were able to save her life. After my hospital was partially destroyed by airstrikes we tried to build a new hospital underground. But the seed prevented that. I then moved to another hospital. Until it was targeted by airstrikes and chemical weapons. I had my daughter as my side. As a mothers how am i supposed to explain all of this to a kid that knows nothing about violence, killing . How my supposed to protect her . Remember one day in july there was an attack she came running to the operation room crying and unable to breathe. I left the patient. I gave my daughter i held her close. This broke my heart. That feeling of powerless to protect my child has broken me to this day. I wish i could say that this atrocities and this was unique to aleppo. Sadly this is not the case. They are happening right now in other places. In syria they live under siege. This must be granted to these areas and the International Community must Work Together to end this. [inaudible] abstracts have intensified. In humanitarian aid has been nearly nonexistent. There are three hospitals that were targeted by airstrikes in the past two weeks. One of the nurses were killed last week. It is our duty as a human being to allow humanitarian exits and to hold those that violate these humanitarian rights accountable. Were going to return to syria to continue our work. It is our duty as doctors. We have two treat any and all patients regardless of their affiliation. We have a moral obligation to try and sustain as many lines as possible. Even if that means that we are our own. To save one life is to save all of humanity. What we have to save lives if you want to do anything do it now. There is no time to waste. As syrians continue to die day after day. Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. Doctor you are next. Chair, Ranking Members and members of the community. I am from aleppo. And i was a dr. In the hospital. One of three hospitals supported in eastern aleppo. This was a small hospital. We were often overrun by a large number of patients and wounded arriving at our facility. We did our best to save as many lives as we could. But we were forced to make very difficult decisions. With the overwhelming number of wounded civilians and limited resources that we had available to us, we had to face the unimaginable task of deciding who to say and who to lead to die. Can you imagine having to make this decision . My colleagues all over the city and i taste this every single day. We asked for help from the Internet Community many times. We communicated with you and agencies we risk our safety and that of our families by appearing on international media. We did everything we could yet help never arrived. They have no means to enforce the mandates and hold the perpetrators accountable for these kinds. I was one of three doctors from aleppo assigned to negotiate a plan for medical evacuation and the world health organization. This negotiation, with the cooperation of many parties including russia. However, as the regime and its decided to take more territory the attacks escalated. An december 11 as we were trying to save lives and care for victims from a bombing attack the hospital was attacked by a fluorine bomb. We mutely run into the middle ground. Close the door and covered our faces. We then heard a knock on the main door. And encountered three men who were suffocating from the gas. We give them whatever medicine we still had available. Thankfully, we were able to save their lives. But many others were outside died from the gas. After this attacked many hospitals had to leave astep had to leave fearing for their lives. They were afraid of bombs would strike again. And another clamming attack at the hospital. Most of the victims were children. And we only had one unit of oxygen. The medical staff worked tirelessly to try to pass the mouse from one child to another so that they wouldnt suffocate. This clearing attacks were after repeated attempts by the regime and its to destroy the hospital with bombs and ammunition. It had failed to sorted to chemical tax to drivers out. Im asking you today to hold the traders of these attacks accountable. It must be made clear that the attack and use of chemical weapons on civilians and healthcare workers are accountable. And unacceptable. An International Humanitarian. [inaudible] the seas had left the delivery of medical supplies. In the past six months the siege has extended to create a complete lack of movement for all materials and vacations. Yet the war does nothing. In this area they wear more than 50 patients and in desperate need of kidney dialysis medication. Earlier this month. After that medication had run out due to lack of a deliveries, we pleaded with the un and other international to deliver their lifesaving medication. Not until after three patients died that the medication was delivered. And even that, it was not the un convoy. In three weeks, the medication will run out. And the patient will once again be at threat. We need to stand access. Constant violation of International Human use of weapons against civilians. Humanitarian aid and displacement i myself witnessed and was a victim of every one of these heinous acts. Im here today to ask the American Government for help. Do not let this continue. Do not let more civilians suffer. Do not forget the human call of this war and the refugees in the education gap, the destruction of the healthcare system. An entire generation has been lost. Now is your chance to help protect and save syrians still in the middle of this conflict. Enforce International Law and hold traitors accountable. I ask you do not fail us again. Thank you. Thank you doctor. Good morning. I was the director of the hospital and aleppo. The largest hospital in that part of the city. The hospital was established by the american society. In february 2015. Because of the many attacks on the hospital, they went underground to protect patients and medical workers. From the opening of the hospital in 2013 until october 2016. They were hit 22 times in october 2016. Hospital was targeted four times in one week. And i myself was hit by shrapnel in one of the attacks. And it remains my body to this day. Do you remember the young boy who was become a symbol of children of aleppo. [inaudible] his brother died from most of our patients were children. The people of syria want to be free. It wasnt until the center of russia for the conflict that we start to see this in advance. [inaudible] we moved from one hospital to another. Each was targeted and we were, we are going to die. We were scared what would happen to us. With losing houses and killing. We went to take we made our way north. We would have been arrested if we had entered the government controlled area. This cannot be allowed to continue. I love aleppo. I love syria. It is my home. It is a part of me. I dream of one day return to my home with my family and i call on you to protect hospitals and health workers. We must allow and not be forced. [inaudible] when you have freedom you must help others to be free. The government must be more thank you, sir. Thank you doctor. We are now moving to i almost feel like i should just stop right now after this human face and the courage of our syrian friends. I just want to thank the doctors, dr. Farida , dr. Abdulkhalek and dr. Rajab for their courageous work and upholding humanity. I also want to say what a privilege it is to be with my friends, david and his Great Organization irc we work closely together and proudly around the world. And also i have to thank my friends jeff merkley for his incredible friendship and for his incredible support to mercy corps, to t