Ben Carson holds Arab nations responsible for Syrian refugees

Ben Carson
(Image credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Following up a strategic visit to a Syrian refugee camp in Jordan, Ben Carson blasted Syria's Arab neighbors for their failure to accept and provide for the massive displaced populations flowing over their borders. "The media has focused on Europe and the United States' willingness or unwillingness to welcome these refugees. This focus is all wrong. The solution to the Syrian refugee crisis is with Syria's neighbors," Carson wrote in an op-ed for The Hill.

Syrian refugee resettlement should be concentrated in Arab countries, which are in the best position to help. The rich Persian Gulf states — Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and United Arab Emirates — have the resources to provide services that refugees require. With no language barrier and no religious or cultural gaps to overcome, refugees can find new and fulfilling lives with only enough support to make the transition. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other refugee aid organizations can best use their resources to train these Gulf states to provide housing and social services effectively. [The Hill]

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.