Every day, people around the world are forced to leave their homes and start again in search of safety, a decent life, or simply something better. They may be fleeing armed conflict, violence, or persecution due to their ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, or other attributes. Others are displaced by natural disasters – like floods, earthquakes, mudslides, or droughts exacerbated by climate change. And some are displaced by economic factors, seeking work or opportunities that they cannot find in their home countries.
While it is legitimate for host governments to have concerns about their capacity to absorb large numbers of refugees, they must do more than offer safe passage. They must ensure that refugees are treated with dignity and offered the opportunity to rebuild their lives. This requires that they provide access to education, employment, and other public services. It also means ensuring that refugee children have adequate access to health care and other vital services.
In addition, host states must avoid the temptation to use refugees as bargaining chips in negotiations with other parties. This manipulation often occurs when displaced populations share demographic characteristics with local communities in the midst of conflict, as in the case of Kosovar Albanians in Macedonia in the late 1990s.
The solution to the refugee crisis is political – it must involve countries putting their commitments to human rights into practice. We should support the work of the UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies. And we must speak out against myths and prejudices about refugees. This can be done by speaking out with your friends and family and voting for politicians who want to put in place solutions that address the root causes of displacement.
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