Among last week’s headlines were several regarding the topic of the great number of refugees fleeing to Europe. This week’s headlines are a continuation of this significant story.
Back in April, 2015, however, UNHCR Special Envoy, Angelina Jolie Pitt appeared in front of the UN Security Council in New York to raise awareness on the ongoing refugee crisis in Syria. She offered three pleas to the international community on behalf of over 4 million displaced Syrian refugees, all of which are worthy of recognition, specifically now.
The first, and perhaps most important, is to recognize that “the responsibility to help is not determined by the accident of geography but by adherence to universal human rights and values," Jolie said. "It transcends religion, culture and ethnicity. We should not be reaching for the lowest common denominator in our response to the refugee crisis, but striving to live up to our highest ideals. Every country in the world, not just in Europe, must be a part of the solution.”
As the number of individuals seeking refuge continues to grow larger, what is more important is effort being put forth by a handful of countries to support them. While reasons for doing so vary from nation to nation , countries have been doing more to accommodate the growing population of refugees.
To show support and agreement towards the efforts put forth by some European nations in offering assistance to the growing number of refugees, President Obama has told his administration “to take in at least 10,000 displaced Syrians over the next year,” the New York Times reports
Although it has been met with a variety of reactions, Obama’s decision mirrors that of several other countries. Some would argue that 10,000 isn't enough compared to the numbers other countries including Germany, Britain and Australia are wiling to accept.
According to the New York Times, Germany has considered taking more than 800,000 Syrian refugees, “thousands of whom have already flooded train and bus stations throughout Europe.” Similarly, Britain is to respond to the refugee crisis planning to take 20,000 refugees from the camps on the borders of Syria over the next five years, according to the Guardian.
While Germany's decision to take in more and more refugees can be seen as a result of a sense of morality and sympathy (having dealt with similar experiences during the second world war) it can also be viewed as an opportunity. Because of Germany's high-age population, they gladly welcomes young, new talent, intellect and ideas.
Unfortunately, despite the newly offered help, many refugees have decided to forgo their decision to travel to Europe. Upon their arrival, Europe wasn't exactly what they expected.
After facing severe struggle and hardship in making the journey to Europe, many refugees are considering returning to their war-ravaged homeland rather than "endure poverty, hunger and a futureless exile in the neighboring nations where they are stranded," the UN has warned.
Seeking asylum is a long, drawn out process that can take weeks or months, depending on the country and many refugees face threats of refusal and of deportation.
In addition, the father of the drowned Syrian boy who was photographed lying lifeless on a beach, is preparing to take the bodies of his two sons and wife to be buried in his home town of Kobani.
The father, Abdullah Kurdi, is a Kurdish Syrian who has been in Turkey for three years told the Guardian that "he no longer had any desire to continue on to Europe."
Instead, he said, “I just want to see my children for the last time and stay forever with them.”
Ultimately, as Jolie stated over five months ago: “The crisis in Syria illustrates that our inability to find diplomatic solutions causes mass displacement, and traps millions of people in exile, statelessness, and displacement. 52 million people are forcibly displaced today – a sea of excluded humanity."
