Aggravating Global Refugee Crisis

Question: Discuss about the Aggravating Global Refugee Crisis. Answer: Introduction: The article aims to highlight the aggravating global refugee crisis as the volumes of refugees have reached a staggering figure of 60 million. While most of the refugees have traditionally made way to neighbouring developing nations which have inadequate infrastructure, but since last year, there has been a mass influx of refugees (particularly from Syria) into various European nations. The European nations unlike the developing and underdeveloped nations tend to comply with UNs 1951 Refugee Convention and hence offer a plethora of amenities which facilitate their integration and rehabilitation. As a result, the developed nations particularly those part of the EU serve as lucrative destinations for their destinations. In the developing nations, these refugees tend to remain on fringes with very minimal facilities which further adds to the lure of seeking refuge in rich nations as has been demonstrated in the recent European refuge crisis where Syrian refugees are migrating from place s such as Lebanon and Jordan (Nutfall, 2016). The author tends to highlight the different standards of treatment given to refugees in the rich nations and the poor nations and hence indicate that such an arrangement goes against the equity principle and may not be sustainable considering the overburdening public service infrastructure in the West (Nutfall, 2016). However, as a counter argument, it is imperative to consider that West is relatively affluent and is better equipped to offer a reasonable life to these refugees who are already broken physically, mentally, financially and emotionally (Kenny, 2015). Such kind of opportunities and treatment to refuges is unreasonable to expect from the poor countries as they are not yet able to develop a public service infrastructure which is able to cater to their own citizens. While equity is a fair principle, but simultaneously, the underlying capacity of the nations must also be considered which is untouched in the article (Green, 2015). The article highlights the fact that the EU nations are making it physically difficult for the refugees to reach these nations in order to ensure that there is no crisis (Nutfall, 2016). However, this is resulting in a bigger humanitarian crisis as indicated by the pictures of corpses of children being washed off to the shore in an attempt to reach these nations. Clearly as civilised global citizens, such visuals are highly condemnable and unwarranted. A better approach could be a principled and coordinated effort on the part of the OECD nations to share the refugee burden to the extent possible and the same could be done in a phased manner. Temporary sanctuaries may be offered in the developing nations before being rehabilitated in the developed world. The rich nations are seeking suitable alterations in the refugee convention of UNCHR so as to limit their liability. But the bigger question remains as to whether they could escape their moral responsibilities given their global statu s (Kenny, 2015). The author also highlights that responsibility of providing sanctuary and rehabilitation should not be limited to only those nations which lie in close proximity with the affected area from where the refugees origin (Nutfall, 2016). I agree with this argument as the responsibility of the refuges must be shared on a global basis based on the underlying capability of the nations. A key aspect that has not been highlighted in the article and could enable resolution of this crisis is an attitudinal shift in politics and will on the part of the rich nations. Most of these nations have immigrations programs whereby they import skilled manpower from around the globe. It is imperative that the refugees must be looked upon by these nations as future assets and should be provided requisite training so that they become self-reliant and do not become a burden on the government (Soergel, 2015). For promoting this, the governments need to be incentivise the refugees in the age group to develop ski lls in shortage and thereby gradually become an integral part of the society. Further, one aspect that I find exceeding strange is the fact that these nations are calling for revision in policy with regards to refugees. It would be worthwhile if the rich countries drop their own vested interests and approach the various crisis with more humanitarian view. This would ensure that the global powers could play a constructive role in brokering peace between parties and thus bringing an end to the root cause of the refugee crisis (NND, 2015). Doing this would ensure that the refugee population would stabilise and decrease in the long term as people start migrating to their home nations. Thus, instead of bringing refugee policy reforms, it is more worthwhile if suitable reforms are brought in the policy stance of these nations so as to reduce the civil unrest. A prime example of this is the crisis in Syria which could be resolved if the big powers decide to cooperate in the wake of humanity which can save immense resources these nations are deploying in the war on on e hand and supporting refugees on the other (Kenny, 2015). Hence, while the global refugee crisis is real and it is causing issues with the economy and available infrastructure of rich nations, but the solution suggested in the article with regards to twisting the rules relating to refugee convention and the developing nations sharing more burden is not appropriate. The poor countries are already bearing major brunt of the crisis as majority of the refugees tend to migrate to these nations and only a selected few are able to reach the doors of the rich nations (Perry, 2016). However, in wake of the recent refugee crisis in Europe, it is imperative that drastic measures are required. But these should be taken in a coordinated manner and should aim at ending conflict in the interest of humanity. Additionally, the developed country should continue to rehabilitate refugees in a phased and calculated manner which is quite possible under normal circumstances. Further, these refugees should be looked at opportunities and not burden and therefore sh ould be adequately trained so that the burden on the government is eased as these people become self-sufficient and start contributing to the economy of rich nations. References Green, L 2015, The Refugee Crisis is not aboutFairness, Les Green Website, Available online from https://ljmgreen.com/2015/09/05/the-refugee-crisis-is-not-about-fairness/ (Accessed on July 22, 2016) Kenny, C 2015, Blame the Rich World for the Global Refugee Crisis, Bloomberg Website, Available online from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-22/blame-the-rich-world-for-the-global-refugee-crisis (Accessed on July 22, 2016) NND 2015, Peaceful conflict resolving only long term solution: Dalai Lama on refugee crisis, NewsGram Website, Available online from https://www.newsgram.com/peaceful-conflict-resolving-only-long-term-solution-dalai-lama-on-refugee-crisis/ (Accessed on July 22, 2016) Nutfall, T 2016, Looking for a home, The Economist Website, chttps://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21699307-migrant-crisis-europe-last-year-was-only-one-part-worldwide-problem-rich (Accessed on July 22, 2016) Perry, J 2016, Oxfam: Poorest nations shouldering responsibility for world's refugees, CNN Website, Available online from https://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/18/world/oxfam-richest-countries-refugees/ (Accessed on July 22, 2016) Soergel, A 2015, Refugees: Economic Boon or Burden?, US News Website, Available online from https://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/data-mine/2015/09/15/would-syrian-refugees-be-an-economic-boon-or-burden (Accessed on July 22, 2016)