Refugee crisis refers to various complex issues and problems in the absorption of large numbers of forcibly removed people from their homes and country. These may be either domestic refugees, asylum Seekers, internally displaced or any other large group of immigrants. These have resulted due to war, terrorism and various other prevailing situations. The sheer numbers and rapid rate of demographic growth have made these refugee issues very problematic for the international community. There is a great deal of global concern about the prospects of a mass influx of displaced people as a result of religious and ethnic conflicts and political unrest. There are in fact many examples of this happening right now in places like Iraq, Nigeria, the Middle East, and the large Mediterranean countries of Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria.
As this mass influx continues and grows, there are a growing number of political and social pressure parties that are coming up with different solutions to deal with this crisis. The increasing number of displaced people has prompted countries such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany and others to take different actions. Some of them are welcoming refugees and providing shelter, assistance and resources to them while others are blocking entry to certain countries or making it hard for migrants to register with local authorities or apply for international aid. Some countries such as Greece are even conducting police operations against illegal migration.
A recent study by the International Rescue Committee highlights that there are now an estimated three to four million displaced people within the borders of the EU as a result of the ongoing refugee crisis. It also estimates that there are at least two million more displaced people within the borders of the central European countries Austria, Hungary and Romania. It further adds that there are about one million children who have been left without any means of paying for education as a direct result of the refugee crisis.
These numbers can significantly vary depending on which source you choose to verify these facts. These estimates are largely based on the current practices of individual countries. On the one hand, a country that has been receiving large numbers of asylum applications from Africa and other countries with high rates of displacement could be considered to be a country experiencing a rapid rise in the number of its displaced people. On the other hand, countries with lower immigration levels, may have higher population densities and thus more permanent residents displaced due to the refugee crisis.
Religious intolerance is playing a major role in affecting how the distribution of refugees is going. Many religious groups are calling for action to help and support the persecuted minority groups including Christians, Shiites and Alawites in Syria and elsewhere in the world. However, human rights defenders have also been targeted and killed in many cases. These acts of religious intolerance are being driven by religious fundamentalism and the desire to impose a strict version of Islamic law in countries where the majority practices a liberalized form of religion. Religious intolerance is also a product of political power and the ability of countries to use migration as a weapon against local minorities.
There is a very real danger that the number of people entering Europe will outpace the ability of the countries to welcome them. As a result, there is an increased pressure on the EU to do more and to provide more support. The migration routes have become more crowded over time, creating great difficulty for those trying to reach safety. In addition, there has been a sudden increase in trafficking of illicit goods, causing an increase in the number of deaths at sea. Add to that the increasing number of people risking their lives to cross the Mediterranean Sea and it is no wonder that the ability of the EU to provide safety and shelter is being strained.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid bin Qassim, has expressed his fears that the increasing number of arrivals by Syrian refugees this year will lead to more conflicts and possibly more mass movements of people. If this happens then the spectre of large-scale conflicts will be re-occurring. It is important that the world focus more on the need for safe havens for people who cannot otherwise get to safety and security in their countries of origin, as well as more immediate action to stop the movement of people through organized crime, which is a huge problem in many parts of the world including the Middle East.
If the numbers of arrivals continues at this rate then there will be an increasing pressure on the EU as a leader to take stronger action. Italy and Greece have been reluctant to take in large numbers of illegal immigrants, partly because they fear they will receive an equal number of Muslims. But the numbers have been rising significantly recently, with more than a million people arriving in Greece alone. Turkey has also been overwhelmed by the number of arrivals, with much of the surge coming from Greece. The Pope is right to call on the EU not to take pressure but to find a solution.
