Model UN 2013
Our team, along with another 9th grade team and seventh grade teams had a two day conference. All of the students were divided up among committees and countries, then debating, discussing and working together to come up with an effective resolution. For the Model UN conference, I proudly represented Saudi Arabia in the committee of UNICEF, which is the United Nation's International Children's Emergency Fund. My topic was Syrian children in refugee camps. Syria is undergoing a civil war, between the harsh government and the rebels. The rebels want more rights and freedoms along with changing the government and president to be more democratic. This severely affects millions of Syrians, especially children, and are all forced to go into refugee camps of surrounding countries.
Here is my Position Paper:
Saudi Arabia
UNICEF
Emily Shaffer
Saudi Arabia on Syrian Children in Refugee Camps Position Paper
Imagine yourself as an helpless Syrian child in the middle of a war: the Syrian children live in constant fear, they have seen their family be blown to bits, blood and shooting flash in front of their eyes, their best friend is dead. They are completely innocent, the children did nothing to deserve this. Though adults can support themselves, the Syrian children can’t support themselves. Not only are they affected by the war but sometimes they are even targeted, yet they have no power to stop any of this or make a difference. At such a young age war is very traumatizing. The children are guiltless, yet carry heavy burdens and are completely affected by it. When one reporter, in Syria, asked a Syrian child if they missed playing with their friends. The child’s exact response was "They're all dead". NO child should have to go through that horror and pain. What can you, as a young helpless child do, especially when the harsh Syrian government isn’t even helping their own people. Not much, is the answer, that is why you need the help and support of adults to help and guide you to safety. The children need adults bring you to a place where the war is farther away, “Children are dependent on the care of adults who love them,...their attachments are frequently disrupted in times of war,” says an article from National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). They, NCBI, also stated that “impacts in childhood may adversely affect the life trajectory of children far more than adults,” and “long after the war has ended, these lives will never attain the potential they had before the impact of war,” showing that no good comes from a child being impacted by war, long and short term effects. With the help of adults, the feel of family is closer, as family in Saudi Arabia is very important to their country and society, “the role of women [is] basic to maintaining the structure of the family and therefore of society”.
Unfortunately, the troubles of the children of Syria in refugee camps don’t end here. The peninsula of the Middle East is a vast desert where Syria is located, and Saudi Arabia can well relate to the unending wasteland as well. This means that there isn’t much water or agriculture at all in that region, to support all of the Syrian people seeking refuge in the midst of war. The refugee camps that Syrians are in, for example in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, are severely underfunded and need the urgent attention of surrounding countries to support them.
Syrian children in refugee camps aren’t a direct problem to Saudi Arabia. That is there’s not any Syrian refugees or Syrian camps in Saudi Arabia. There are 1,349,356 Syrian refugees, 35% are 11 and under, therefore 472,274 are children. But that does not mean it’s not a problem for the rest of the world. Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey border Syria and have tens of thousands of refugees and several refugees camps, which Saudi Arabia is helping support. These countries also don’t have enough funds and supplies to keep supporting the refugees there, whereas Saudi Arabia does, due to its vast oil supply. Syrian children are guiltless and helpless, but Saudi Arabia is helping by giving the refugee camps millions of dollars, as well as providing aid to the camps. The camps are receiving food items, electric generators and kitchen supplies. “It is not our first campaign to help Syrian refugees. We are continuously working on projects to assist Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon,” Buraima Al-Tuaifi, field coordinator of the campaign. Another camp in Jordan receives aid from Saudi Arabia, including getting covers, blankets and mattresses. Saudi Arabia can empathize with the Syrian refugees, in that Saudi Arabia is familiar with the the harsh desert conditions, having little water on supply and having the same religious views, being Sunni Muslims. Saudi Arabia continues to help Syrian refugees by giving millions of dollars.
Syrian children on their own can’t put a stop to this all, but Saudi Arabia, the UN, and other countries can. As well as Saudi Arabia giving money and supplies from their own pocket, they are also helping the UN and the UNHCR UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The UN and UNHCR is helping the 1.3 million Syrian refugees in Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq. Saudi Arabia is aiding those countries, and the UN with $300 million. Saudi isn’t the only one helping with the refugee crisis and the children of Syria severely need other countries and organizations help, which could be a life or death matter for the refugee children. Along with Kuwait and The UAE, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia is planning to send $300 million. Though Saudi Arabia, as well as other countries, is diligently helping the Syrian children in refugee camps, the UN states that the crisis is still severely underfunded.
One way Saudi Arabia and others can answer the call of help is, of course, by sending in more money, for they have the funds for it. As they’ve done before they can send in more supplies to the refugee camps. The biggest solution Saudi Arabia can offer for other countries to follow is for them to also give money and supplies, “including water, sanitation, hygiene work and child protection.” Though Saudi Arabia has had somewhat of a rough past with parts of the world, we must unite as one to bring justice and peace to Syria, specially the innocent children. The US promised $155 million to humanitarian aid to the people of Syria, which Saudi Arabia will hold them accountable to, as well as the UN sending $1.5 billion going to helping the refugees. Prince Saud al-Faisal said,“We do believe that what is happening in Syria is a slaughter — a slaughter of innocents. We cannot bring ourselves to remain silent. Morally there is a duty.’’ Saudi wants to end the war by helping rebels, therefore helping the “innocents”. Because Saudi Arabia is also helping and supporting the rebel troops in Syria, the UN should help by negotiating with the government about the ongoing conflict. That way the war will end, and the long-term effect will be that the refugees will be safe and can come back to their home. This could bring international help, from several organizations when rebuilding Syria’s country after the harsh war: the FAO can supply food, even now during the war; the WHO can bring medical care and health attention, also during the war as well; and of course the UN can help in understanding both sides of Syria and give a reasonable compromise. Syrian refugee’s problems won’t be solved there, but at least they can be safer and later on down the road have better supplies and condition of living. Through this, Saudi Arabia will work continuously with the UN and other countries to help this ongoing crisis of the Syrian people in refugee camps.
You have the power to change the state of the children of Syria. Will you ignore them or be motivated to make a difference? The Syrian children can do NOTHING, except cry in pain and confusion. I ask you: will you answer their call, will you make a difference, will you change the innocent lives of the refugee children? What will you do to change the state of Syria’s abandoned refugee children? How many more lives will helplessly slip through your powerful fingers before you do something? Do not wait, act NOW.... (The Syrian refugee children are waiting.)
As well as writing a Position Paper, explaining our countries position on our topic, we had to condense it into a speech. Of course we can't give a two page long speech on our countries position, so we summarized it, then gave it during the conference. Here is the Speech that I gave to my committee:
Imagine yourself as a helpless Syrian child in the middle of a war:
living in fear, the Syrian children are completely innocent, yet they have no power to stop any the conflict.
NO child should have to go through that horror and pain. Saudi Arabia fully supports the plight of the Syrian refugee children, as shown by their loyal aid.
We disapprove of the Syrian government, which hurting and killing their own people, for they are causing the war between the government and rebels.
The refugees’ troubles don’t end there: The refugee camps that Syrians are in are severely underfunded and need the urgent attention of surrounding countries to support them.
One way other countries need to help is by following Saudi Arabia’s example of sending money, supplies and aid to the Syrian refugees.
The UN should help by negotiating with the Syrian government about the ongoing conflict and demand that Syria comes to the UN table and some way stop the government’s actions, something all countries involved should participate in, which will significantly help the refugees. the FAO should also supply food and the WHO should bring medical care and health attention.
Saudi Arabia will continue to lead the way of helping the Syrian refugee.
You have the power to change the state of the children of Syria. Will you ignore them or be motivated to make a difference?
The Syrian children can do NOTHING, except cry in pain and confusion. I ask you: will you answer their call, will you change the innocent lives of the refugee children?
How many more lives will helplessly slip through your powerful fingers before you do something? Do not wait, act NOW.... The Syrian refugee children are waiting.
Reflection:
I really enjoyed the process and experience of a Model UN conference, and took away a lot. At the end I didn't look at it so much as a debate, but more of working together to fix a problem. I think overall it went very well, two of our resolutions passed. Most of the delegates spoke at least once, and each had something uniquely beneficial and contributing to the conversation and group. The 7th graders behaved fairly well and professionally, leveling up to the 9th graders impressively. The chairs as well did a great job, they were professional and mature as well as keeping good control of the situation and being equal to all. We all interacted very well, especially during the unmoderated caucuses and in sharing our thoughts and opinions, which I much enjoyed. I hope to do this project again sometime, keeping in mind that hard and thorough work and contribution is essential. I feel as though I did very well, in fact I got the "Outstanding Delegate" Award.
As I said before, I took a lot away: I learned to effectively negotiate with others, even though we would disagree and come to a purposeful resolution that was very beneficial of the problem at hand. I learned to speak and debate form a perspective that was not my own. I also learned others perspectives and how important it is to know more than your own. I took away how to write and position paper and persuasive speech, of course, which I will also use throughout my life. It is so important to see other's perspective and come to an agreeable solution to a problem, which Model UN is so much about, that and working with others and international interaction.
Regarding some changes for next time, I think it would be more interesting if, for our particular topic and committee, we have more disagreeing countries. That is, in my committee, most everyone agreed that we should help the Syrian refugee children, so all we had to figure out was what to do about it. It would have more interesting if it was mixed up and little more. Also, I think it would be interesting to have grades older than 9th to participate as delegates, so it would be more challenging for us 9th graders, to level up to the upper class men. It could also be fun if we have a topic dealing with two organs/committee, like a two part problem to solve. Over all though, I really enjoyed the experience and process, creating my mind and I to be more developed in interaction and perspectives.
Though I learned and took away a lot about Model UN, I still have some questions:
Here is my Position Paper:
Saudi Arabia
UNICEF
Emily Shaffer
Saudi Arabia on Syrian Children in Refugee Camps Position Paper
Imagine yourself as an helpless Syrian child in the middle of a war: the Syrian children live in constant fear, they have seen their family be blown to bits, blood and shooting flash in front of their eyes, their best friend is dead. They are completely innocent, the children did nothing to deserve this. Though adults can support themselves, the Syrian children can’t support themselves. Not only are they affected by the war but sometimes they are even targeted, yet they have no power to stop any of this or make a difference. At such a young age war is very traumatizing. The children are guiltless, yet carry heavy burdens and are completely affected by it. When one reporter, in Syria, asked a Syrian child if they missed playing with their friends. The child’s exact response was "They're all dead". NO child should have to go through that horror and pain. What can you, as a young helpless child do, especially when the harsh Syrian government isn’t even helping their own people. Not much, is the answer, that is why you need the help and support of adults to help and guide you to safety. The children need adults bring you to a place where the war is farther away, “Children are dependent on the care of adults who love them,...their attachments are frequently disrupted in times of war,” says an article from National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). They, NCBI, also stated that “impacts in childhood may adversely affect the life trajectory of children far more than adults,” and “long after the war has ended, these lives will never attain the potential they had before the impact of war,” showing that no good comes from a child being impacted by war, long and short term effects. With the help of adults, the feel of family is closer, as family in Saudi Arabia is very important to their country and society, “the role of women [is] basic to maintaining the structure of the family and therefore of society”.
Unfortunately, the troubles of the children of Syria in refugee camps don’t end here. The peninsula of the Middle East is a vast desert where Syria is located, and Saudi Arabia can well relate to the unending wasteland as well. This means that there isn’t much water or agriculture at all in that region, to support all of the Syrian people seeking refuge in the midst of war. The refugee camps that Syrians are in, for example in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, are severely underfunded and need the urgent attention of surrounding countries to support them.
Syrian children in refugee camps aren’t a direct problem to Saudi Arabia. That is there’s not any Syrian refugees or Syrian camps in Saudi Arabia. There are 1,349,356 Syrian refugees, 35% are 11 and under, therefore 472,274 are children. But that does not mean it’s not a problem for the rest of the world. Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey border Syria and have tens of thousands of refugees and several refugees camps, which Saudi Arabia is helping support. These countries also don’t have enough funds and supplies to keep supporting the refugees there, whereas Saudi Arabia does, due to its vast oil supply. Syrian children are guiltless and helpless, but Saudi Arabia is helping by giving the refugee camps millions of dollars, as well as providing aid to the camps. The camps are receiving food items, electric generators and kitchen supplies. “It is not our first campaign to help Syrian refugees. We are continuously working on projects to assist Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon,” Buraima Al-Tuaifi, field coordinator of the campaign. Another camp in Jordan receives aid from Saudi Arabia, including getting covers, blankets and mattresses. Saudi Arabia can empathize with the Syrian refugees, in that Saudi Arabia is familiar with the the harsh desert conditions, having little water on supply and having the same religious views, being Sunni Muslims. Saudi Arabia continues to help Syrian refugees by giving millions of dollars.
Syrian children on their own can’t put a stop to this all, but Saudi Arabia, the UN, and other countries can. As well as Saudi Arabia giving money and supplies from their own pocket, they are also helping the UN and the UNHCR UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The UN and UNHCR is helping the 1.3 million Syrian refugees in Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq. Saudi Arabia is aiding those countries, and the UN with $300 million. Saudi isn’t the only one helping with the refugee crisis and the children of Syria severely need other countries and organizations help, which could be a life or death matter for the refugee children. Along with Kuwait and The UAE, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia is planning to send $300 million. Though Saudi Arabia, as well as other countries, is diligently helping the Syrian children in refugee camps, the UN states that the crisis is still severely underfunded.
One way Saudi Arabia and others can answer the call of help is, of course, by sending in more money, for they have the funds for it. As they’ve done before they can send in more supplies to the refugee camps. The biggest solution Saudi Arabia can offer for other countries to follow is for them to also give money and supplies, “including water, sanitation, hygiene work and child protection.” Though Saudi Arabia has had somewhat of a rough past with parts of the world, we must unite as one to bring justice and peace to Syria, specially the innocent children. The US promised $155 million to humanitarian aid to the people of Syria, which Saudi Arabia will hold them accountable to, as well as the UN sending $1.5 billion going to helping the refugees. Prince Saud al-Faisal said,“We do believe that what is happening in Syria is a slaughter — a slaughter of innocents. We cannot bring ourselves to remain silent. Morally there is a duty.’’ Saudi wants to end the war by helping rebels, therefore helping the “innocents”. Because Saudi Arabia is also helping and supporting the rebel troops in Syria, the UN should help by negotiating with the government about the ongoing conflict. That way the war will end, and the long-term effect will be that the refugees will be safe and can come back to their home. This could bring international help, from several organizations when rebuilding Syria’s country after the harsh war: the FAO can supply food, even now during the war; the WHO can bring medical care and health attention, also during the war as well; and of course the UN can help in understanding both sides of Syria and give a reasonable compromise. Syrian refugee’s problems won’t be solved there, but at least they can be safer and later on down the road have better supplies and condition of living. Through this, Saudi Arabia will work continuously with the UN and other countries to help this ongoing crisis of the Syrian people in refugee camps.
You have the power to change the state of the children of Syria. Will you ignore them or be motivated to make a difference? The Syrian children can do NOTHING, except cry in pain and confusion. I ask you: will you answer their call, will you make a difference, will you change the innocent lives of the refugee children? What will you do to change the state of Syria’s abandoned refugee children? How many more lives will helplessly slip through your powerful fingers before you do something? Do not wait, act NOW.... (The Syrian refugee children are waiting.)
As well as writing a Position Paper, explaining our countries position on our topic, we had to condense it into a speech. Of course we can't give a two page long speech on our countries position, so we summarized it, then gave it during the conference. Here is the Speech that I gave to my committee:
Imagine yourself as a helpless Syrian child in the middle of a war:
living in fear, the Syrian children are completely innocent, yet they have no power to stop any the conflict.
NO child should have to go through that horror and pain. Saudi Arabia fully supports the plight of the Syrian refugee children, as shown by their loyal aid.
We disapprove of the Syrian government, which hurting and killing their own people, for they are causing the war between the government and rebels.
The refugees’ troubles don’t end there: The refugee camps that Syrians are in are severely underfunded and need the urgent attention of surrounding countries to support them.
One way other countries need to help is by following Saudi Arabia’s example of sending money, supplies and aid to the Syrian refugees.
The UN should help by negotiating with the Syrian government about the ongoing conflict and demand that Syria comes to the UN table and some way stop the government’s actions, something all countries involved should participate in, which will significantly help the refugees. the FAO should also supply food and the WHO should bring medical care and health attention.
Saudi Arabia will continue to lead the way of helping the Syrian refugee.
You have the power to change the state of the children of Syria. Will you ignore them or be motivated to make a difference?
The Syrian children can do NOTHING, except cry in pain and confusion. I ask you: will you answer their call, will you change the innocent lives of the refugee children?
How many more lives will helplessly slip through your powerful fingers before you do something? Do not wait, act NOW.... The Syrian refugee children are waiting.
Reflection:
I really enjoyed the process and experience of a Model UN conference, and took away a lot. At the end I didn't look at it so much as a debate, but more of working together to fix a problem. I think overall it went very well, two of our resolutions passed. Most of the delegates spoke at least once, and each had something uniquely beneficial and contributing to the conversation and group. The 7th graders behaved fairly well and professionally, leveling up to the 9th graders impressively. The chairs as well did a great job, they were professional and mature as well as keeping good control of the situation and being equal to all. We all interacted very well, especially during the unmoderated caucuses and in sharing our thoughts and opinions, which I much enjoyed. I hope to do this project again sometime, keeping in mind that hard and thorough work and contribution is essential. I feel as though I did very well, in fact I got the "Outstanding Delegate" Award.
As I said before, I took a lot away: I learned to effectively negotiate with others, even though we would disagree and come to a purposeful resolution that was very beneficial of the problem at hand. I learned to speak and debate form a perspective that was not my own. I also learned others perspectives and how important it is to know more than your own. I took away how to write and position paper and persuasive speech, of course, which I will also use throughout my life. It is so important to see other's perspective and come to an agreeable solution to a problem, which Model UN is so much about, that and working with others and international interaction.
Regarding some changes for next time, I think it would be more interesting if, for our particular topic and committee, we have more disagreeing countries. That is, in my committee, most everyone agreed that we should help the Syrian refugee children, so all we had to figure out was what to do about it. It would have more interesting if it was mixed up and little more. Also, I think it would be interesting to have grades older than 9th to participate as delegates, so it would be more challenging for us 9th graders, to level up to the upper class men. It could also be fun if we have a topic dealing with two organs/committee, like a two part problem to solve. Over all though, I really enjoyed the experience and process, creating my mind and I to be more developed in interaction and perspectives.
Though I learned and took away a lot about Model UN, I still have some questions:
- On the topic of drones, who/what decides what/when a bomb get dropped?
- Also regarding drones, how do I or others know a bomb won't get dropped on me or others?
- Dealing with the UN, how much does the UN or UN organs actually follow through with in their actions of the resolutions?