A Political Transition is the Only Solution to the Refugee Crisis

Hadi al-Bahra, president of the Syrian Coalition, said that “only a transition to democracy and an inclusive representative government in Syria will make it possible for a sustainable solution to take shape and consequently put an end to the conflict,” on the sidelines of conference organized by the German government and dedicated to the refugee crisis and stability in Syria. Bahra stresses that relief aid alone cannot put an end to the worsening humanitarian tragedy in Syria, pointing that any real political transition to a democratic state should be carried out in accordance with the roadmap put forward by the Syrian Coalition during the Geneva II conference. “The United Nations has never witnessed a humanitarian tragedy of this magnitude or the flow of large numbers of refugees and the displaced over a short period caused by Assad’s genocidal crimes,” Bahra stresses. The conference was attended by Tammam Salam, the Lebanese Prime Minister and Thomas de Mistora, the UN special envoy to Syria and aims to muster humanitarian assistance to the Syrian refugees and internally displaced and to their host countries, especially Syria’s neighbors; Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Al Jazeera)