(Photo: CGTN)

Syria's war: the surrounding impact

Syria and Russia are readying for an assault on Idlib in northern Syria that, as UN chief Antonio Guterres speculates, will lead to a humanitarian catastrophe. Fears are mounting that the assault may drive as many as 800,000 Syrians into homelessness, creating yet another surge in the global refugee crisis.

In July, a bombing campaign to push opposition forces from Daraa drove tens of thousands of Syrians from their homes in the southern city towards Jordan where they sought refuge. 

Jordan refuses entry to refugees

When the Syrians arrived at Jordan's northern border, they were barred from entering as Jordan says it cannot afford to take in any more refugees.

Sarhan, a Jordan border town, has absorbed its fair share of Syrians since the war started seven years ago. "It was a very difficult situation," Sarhan Mayor Khalef Al Assem told CGTN. "They had no food, no water; they also had nowhere to go."

According to the mayor, 40 percent of the town's population is now made up of Syrians. The influx has put a strain on resources like water and medical supplies, and Jordanians are competing with Syrians for jobs and housing. 

Crisis mode

Jordan's economy is, on the whole, hurting. The Hashemite Kingdom hosts a million and a half refugees in total. Donor funding has slowed and the UN refugee agency UNHCR, which is responsible for administering refugee aid, is in the midst of a funding crisis.

That puts refugees at risk and raises the question: What will happen if 800,000 more fleeing Syrians are added to the equation?

Collateral damage

Beyond the refugee crisis, Syria's war is impacting neighboring countries in terms of collateral damage. The impact of Russian bombing campaigns within eyesight of Sarhan is damaging dozens of community homes.  

Hassan told CGTN he and his children were sleeping when a nearby blast startled them. "It was so loud. I thought we'd been hit." He grabbed his children and ran. Later, he discovered the kitchen ceiling had caved in.

The Daraa campaign is over, but the damage has not been repaired. The mayor is waiting for government funding to go toward fixes, but as priorities go, structural damage is not high on the list.