Whitney Hans on Syria 
Source:  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-26116868

9/22/15 Week two articles 4-5

#4 Chemical Weapons

In August 2013 around Damascus rockets filled with sarin were launched which ended up killing hundreds of people. That's when President Assad agreed to completely remove any types of chemicals that could possible destroy Syria. It took up to one year to actually get rid of all the chemicals. Despite what the government did they still documented the use of toxic chemicals, such as chlorine and ammonia. The government did that to avoid attacks on rebel- held northern villages but it didn't help because between April and July 2014 that resulted in the deaths of at least 13 people. Some places were even accused of making homemade chemical weapons, possibly going against Kurdish forces and civilians of northern Syria. I think what the President did was actually a good call because if he didn't make that call he could have had a lot more people die!! 

#5 Humanitarian Crisis

Since the conflict more then 4 million people have fled Syria. Going further more is 7.6 million Syrians have disappeared from their homes. This number combined is more then 11 million of the Syria's population is gone! That is half of the population Syria had before this conflict happened. Unfortunately 12.2 million is in need that also includes 5.6 million of that 12.2 being just children alone. In December of 2014 they tried to get funding to help the the 18 million Syrians that are in need but they were only able to get half of the amount they were trying to reach to help all the Syrians in need. By 2015 studies show that about every 4 out of 5 Syrians were living in poverty - 30% of them in abject poverty. Not only was the living in need but Syria was loosing its educations. It is very sad news to read how Syria isn't as wealthy as the US is and so they are loosing lives each and every day and they can't do anything about it.