Sep 23, 2015

Solidarity and Joint Action Needed Amidst Global Surge in Refugees


With the United Nations Human Rights Council estimating that there are currently 14.8 million ‘refugees of concern’ in the world, the escalating refugee situation is the worst Europe has seen since the Second World War. Increasing numbers are willing to take their chances on the dangerous journey to Europe, as they flee from civil wars, religious persecution, and terrorism – circumstances faced by UNPO Members across the world.

Although measures being taken by Germany, who is expected to take in 800,000 refugees in 2015 alone, should be commended, there is still considerable work to be done. Yesterday [22 September 2015] European Union interior ministers decided with majority on the shared acceptance of 120,000 refugees. This is an important step forward in political will to act on the crisis, but will nevertheless have a limited impact on the overall situation: as the figures currently stand, 120,000 new refugees arrive in Europe every 20 days.

Worryingly, Britain, having an opt-out on any EU migration policy, has refused to be part of this latest deal, and has so far committed to take only 20,000 refugees over the next 5 years, a timeline so long as to make one wonder, where will these refugees live until then? Similarly, Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic and Slovakia have made clear their anti-immigration stance. We can only begin to sort out this crisis if all European states agree to do their fair share to help those fleeing conflict. Moreover, international law affirms that all those States who have ratified the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention (including every European state) are obliged to protect refugees that are in their territory.

Looking back at this crisis in the coming years, many will despise the inaction and lack of compassion with which many have responded to this crisis. References by David Cameron to ‘swarms of migrants’, thousands drowning in the Mediterranean after the deliberate reduction of Italy’s coast guard services, and, perhaps most of all, the image of 2-year-old Aylan Kurdi drowned upon the Turkish beach, will haunt us. We should learn from our history: the Kindertransport scheme of 1938-40, which saved ten thousand Jewish children from death in Nazi concentration camps by bringing them to Britain, is rightfully remembered as a shining example of European humanitarian action. The Rwandan genocide of 1994, perhaps the worst atrocity of the last 25 years, is remembered with deep shame and regret, as the international community, including European governments, failed to intercede despite pleas to do so. Which side do we want to be on now?

We should remember cases such as these today, when we look at the crises those fleeing from Syria, Iraq, Eritrea, Libya and Somalia are facing.  Thousands every day face possible death in unsafe boats, endure life without basic supplies or sanitation in camps at Calais and in Hungary, and are left vulnerable to the exploitation of human traffickers on whom they are made reliant. International law and basic morality compel us to do what we can to ease their burden.

 

Photo credit International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent @Flickr