With over 12 million affected, the current refugee crisis is the worst the world has seen since World War 2 according to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). As Syrians, once established professionals with stable careers and incomes, are forced to flee their homes while others are driven to feeding themselves with grass, the world response has been divergent if anything.
Some have opened up their borders only to find the massive influx too big a burden to accommodate. Others have pledged to take in relatively minute numbers. While a few have sealed their borders to incoming refugees. Strikingly, Hungary was the most vociferous in its anti-refugee rhetoric saying “Muslim migrants pose a threat to Europe’s prosperity, security and Christian values”. Despite there being genuine concerns over how possible economic migrants and radical foreign fighters could slip into Europe posing as refugees, Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban wasn’t shy about airing his xenophobic views. However, the situation is more complex than first meets the eye. The sheer number and frequency of refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria has left the world reeling. 4.6 million refugees are in need of settlement, pouring into neighbouring countries as over 2 million Syrians have flocked to Turkey alone for safety from the conflict. The EU gave Ankara €3bn last November as Turkey now seeks to grant work permits to refugees to build more stable lives. There hasn’t been a united international response or any quota system by the UN which would allocate numbers to specific countries across the world. While the EU did implement a quota system to distribute 120,000 refugees across Europe, this number is negligible as compared with the millions displaced which is why an international response is needed. Some EU states, in the Eastern bloc meanwhile, refuse to take in their share of refugees and oppose the EU’s plan causing rifts within the Union. Further in almost every affected country, there have been significant elements opposed to refugees as Islamophobic sentiment rises and paranoia of terrorists seeping into Europe reaches unparalleled highs, more so since the Paris attacks last November. Reports suggest the Istanbul bomber who killed 10 German tourists came posing as a refugee, thus heightening security protocols and making life even more difficult for prospective asylum seekers. US Presidential candidate, Donald Trump has exasperated the paranoia against Muslims the last few months by generalising the issue having painted all Muslim with the same brush. In the last few months, he’s called for a complete ban on all Muslims even stepping in to the country. It remains to be seen how seriously his radical, at times comical views are taken. Although President Obama has planned to resettle a meagre 10,000 refugees, he faces criticism from both spectrums. Members of Congress and others in the political sphere censured him citing ‘national security concerns and ‘the culmination of a failed foreign policy’ as criticisms of Obama’s call to house 10,000. One the other hand, advocacy groups like the human rights non-profit, Human Rights First said that 10,000 is ‘far too little’ and 100,000 would be more nearer the mark. Canada, Germany and Finland on the flipside, it seemed, were quick to welcome in refugees with open arms with the Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila even offering his own home to refugees. Finland committed to receiving 32,000 refugees but the response from some resident Finns has been less than welcoming as racist groups seek to belie the government’s magnanimity towards Syrian refugees. Canada welcomed its 10,000th refugee this week, mere months after announcing the initiative in a move praised by the UNHCR. Recently elected Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau personally welcomed the first to arrive by handing them winter coats and reassuring them ‘you’re safe at home now’. Canada’s response seems to be one of the most well thought, open hearted and swift plans as they pledge to take in 25,000 by the end of February 2016. As compared with Britain’s pledge to resettle 20,000 by 2020 and US’s 10,000, Canada is far ahead in its proactive attitude towards the refugee crisis. Perhaps the most intriguing response is seen by Germany who, with their open door policy are said to have admitted up to a million, a third of which are from Syria. Almost 40,000 were granted refugee status last August. But with such numbers come similar problems. As Germany struggles under the strain of the massive influx, Merkel faces opposition within her own ranks while right-wing fascist groups seethe at the sight of so many immigrants. Just months after refugees were welcomed so enthusiastically by cheering crowds, the mood has shifted as the cracks begin to show. Angela Merkel now seeks to ‘drastically decrease’ the number of refugees entering. While Syrian refugees are mainly still being accepted, hundreds are still being turned back especially as pressure grows on Merkel to curb the influx after the Cologne assaults on New Year’s by migrants. Without entering into the immigration debate, it’s safe to say migrants and refugees alike bring many benefits, one being the desire of most to simply work hard and live as normal citizens. Lest we forget, Steve Jobs was born of Syrian immigrants to the US and likewise in the UK floods this winter, Syrian refugees were assisting by filling up sandbags. A group of Syrian refugees were also reported to have helped and escorted a harassed women through the mob to safety during the New Year’s Cologne assaults on women. There’s no doubt many Syrians simply want to return home, in safety. However, the unlikelihood of that happening amidst the increased bombing by Western powers means refugees are here to stay and with their hard work ethic, it may not be such a bad thing for respective nations. Some cited Germany’s aging population and depleted workforce as reasons for their open door policy. Such able bodied, hardworking refugees may have been too good a deal to turn down. In any case, a long term solution is needed to help the Syrian diaspora from what is being described as the worst humanitarian crisis of our time. Implementing a worldwide quota system, while easing the burden on countries stretched with the crisis would only help ease the situation for a while – until the next conflict brings in another host of refugees. It’s blatantly obvious therefore the only solution to the current deluge of refugees is to end the conflict so Syrians can return home, which is where they’d rather be. Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V, in his tour of Holland last year commented on the solution to the refugee crisis. He stated that atrocities committed by governments and extremists against citizens of one’s own country must be stopped. Further, he advised that any migrants, who are genuine asylum seekers must be given opportunities to settle down temporarily until the situation in their own country improves. He went on to say that neighbouring countries have the primary responsibility to house the refugees and all must be vigilant lest ISIS members posing as refugees mingle in with genuine seekers of asylum. In any case, the decision to bomb Syria and Iraq by Western forces in the aftermath of the Paris attacks wasn’t going to be conducive to solving the refugee crisis let alone the strife in the region. Politicians and key decisions makers across the world would be wise to sit down at the UN to discuss a united effort to end the conflict. With numerous sides playing with fire, one backing the other, there seems little hope for an end to the war. Justin Trudeau recalled all fighter jets soon after his election, paving the way for his country to be part of the solution – taking in refugees, rather than the cause – military intervention in a complex situation. Perhaps other world leaders could follow suit rather than plunging headlong into an already convoluted war. The only lasting solution is to take a step back from the conflict. The funding of external rebel factions needs to cease while a peacekeeping force through the UN consisting of mainly Arab Muslim nations sent to restore order in the area. If Muslim nations take care of their own affairs and not sought outside help, there would be less chance for those with vested interests to meddle in the affairs of the Middle East. World nations can then altruistically help build back Syrian infrastructure and re-house the rightful occupants.
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AuthorAtif Rashid writes about faith, extremism & mental health. Categories
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August 2021
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