A long-time philanthropist and activist, Nadia Cavner engages in a variety of meaningful endeavors locally, nationally, and internationally, specifically those affecting people in the Middle East.
In a recent visit to Instanbul, German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated that the German government is considering financial aid for Turkey to help build refugee accommodation in northern Syria. While this is certainly considered by many to be an act of good faith, some Kurdish leaders have questioned this decision—one in particular whose words have captured headlines. The politician Salih Muslim, in strong opposition of the German support, stated “Help is not lent to the aggressor, but to the victims.”
While the German government seeks to help assist resettlements within the UN’s so-called “security zone,” this act could certainly be seen as more helpful to the aggressor in this scenario (Turkey), rather than the humans living in the region. By supplying financial assistance to Turkey, it seems they are not helping those who have been hurt and displaced as much as they are the governments and people who are ruling over them. It is curious that Merkel failed to mention any of the aggression against Kurds and Christians in the region since September of 2019, though, while jihadist militias have been terrorizing and displacing hundreds of thousands of people.
Salih Muslin went on to say, “If Germany wants to help, it should help the children and women who have become victims of the Turkish occupation and now have to spend the cold winter in camps under difficult conditions. Any support to Erdogan will go to the Islamist gangs and their families settled in northern Syria. If Erdogan’s aim had been to help the people of northern Syria, he would not have killed them and driven them from their homes. These people must be led back into their homes under international observation in order to stop the demographic change. Germany could take responsibility here, because help is not lent to the aggressor, but to the victims”.
~Nadia Cavner
www.nadiatcavner.com
Leave a Reply