How Covid makes the situation worse!
Our world is sufficiently more complex right now than ever. The institutional elements of the so-called global order are currently undergoing a tumultuous phase as the governments of different countries and international organisations are desperately trying to tackle the havoc wreaked by the Second Covid-19 wave. With the focus currently fixed on securing vaccines, carrying out rapid inoculation drives and ensuring successful economic revitalisation in the urban setting, the world is presently somewhat complacent to another perplexing humanitarian crisis that is slowly flaring up.
Right now, there are more refugees and displaced people in the world than ever before in history. No matter how hard people try to run away, avoid, or reject the existence of such a perturbing issue, even the affluent and technologically resourceful nations can’t entirely safeguard their lands and societies from falling into the clutches of this problem. The very recent Migrant Crisis in Spain is inarguably an ideal example to prove it and with an unprecedented rise in the number of those forcibly displaced (the total number reaching a disturbing 80 million in 2020 according to UNHCR), this is only expected to worsen in the close future.
So, what can be done to reach a suitable solution? Should the developed countries blindly accept anyone who wishes to stay and work in the state on the ground of him/her being a refugee? Should such states relentlessly pursue the strategy of complete social and political isolation of refugees? Well, in either case, the result won’t solve the problem but shall only exacerbate the tension. Hence, it is essentially important to realize that an immediate extreme step (such as building a wall) isn’t going to fetch the desirable outcome.
States must follow a pragmatic approach to chart out a rational and reasonable plan to mitigate those in distress. The first step in my humble opinion should be catering to the needs of those suffering - whose demands till now have been subdued. The point is, that instead of sabotaging and targeting the migrants or tagging them as outsiders with potential threats, the focus should be on attending to the triggering factors which drive such people to leave their homes and native lands behind: These major factors being conflict, fear of persecution, food shortage and loss of livelihood.
According to a report by World Vision (an organisation working towards combating hunger and malnutrition in children), more than two-thirds of refugees today are from just FIVE countries - Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, South Sudan, and Myanmar. These five countries alone represent 68% of all refugees and forcibly displaced people who today are subject to a truly deplorable state of life. A close observation of Immigration Detention Centres in Australia, refugee camps in South Sudan and Asian Nations, Asylum system in Turkey and Heavily Fortified Borders of Europe and the US suggests that the World System for protecting refugees is in shambles as the rich states continue to pump in money for securing their borders propelling Middle Eastern, African, and South Asian countries, to host an incredible 86% of all refugees.
This truly is a grim scenario and requires the attention of all major players. While it is somewhat intelligible and acceptable that the developed countries can’t solve the whole crisis altogether, there are some critical measures which if implemented properly can bring a significant change. Ensuring safety, ending trafficking and racism, scaling up resettlement, providing political asylum, allowing for integration, and granting employment opportunities are some plausible ways that have been put forth by Amnesty International which have been known to produce convincing results in recent times.
While most nations continue to remain oblivious and turn their backs towards relieving the plight of those in a miserable state, recent attempts of some countries like Canada for instance to help the resettlement of Syrian refugees and promotion of multi-culturalism surely reflects a ray of hope for many people who need immediate aid. After all, it is necessary to understand that sometimes, all it requires is just lush-green trees, open skies, brilliant sunlight, and a whisper of love for a person to recuperate.