Italian art conservationist shows a badly damaged funerary bust from the ancient city of Palmyra, Syria that is being painstakingly restored in Rome, February 16, 2017. Vandeville Eric/Press Assocation. All rights reserved.The third annual meeting of the Syrian Civil Coalition was held in Beirut on January 27-30 2017. Compared with the first meeting of this group of people three years ago, it was a much a sadder occasion. In the summer of 2013, civil society activists were able to reach Beirut from all parts of Syria (government-controlled areas, opposition-controlled areas, and Kurdish majority areas) and the energy and enthusiasm, despite the terrible odds, that had its origins in the 2011 demonstrations was palpable.
Civil society has been battered by this war. There are huge difficulties of communication. It was very difficult for the groups in opposition-controlled areas to get the necessary travel documents to reach Beirut via Turkey. The groups in the Kurdish majority areas could not leave Syria because of new controls on the Turkish border. ‘Civil society’ said several speakers ’has been split up’ and they described tensions between those inside Syria and those outside, those in different parts of Syria, and those in Lebanon, Turkey or Jordan and even in Europe. Many groups reported members who were missing, who had been arrested, or who had been forced to flee and now are refugees in Europe and elsewhere. One of them was assassinated by ISIS last year.
Nevertheless, as the different groups described what they do, it became evident that civil society remains almost the only source of social cohesion and that it undertakes most of the activities needed for survival. The range of issues, roles, campaigns and services remains impressive. They include:
