When you hear the word “crisis” in the news, it is often alarmist and predisposes you to a negative perception of the situation. It incorporates a quantitative element—there are too many refugees. As a result, the focus of international negotiations often shifts to dealing with the excess population produced by conflict and displacement, which can distract from more productive methods of nonviolent dispute resolution and the pursuit of the human rights of those displaced.
Refugee populations also bring with them a host of social problems that are difficult to address without access to resources. For example, poverty and hunger lead to a cycle of deprivation that can increase the likelihood of family violence and of children being recruited into armed groups or forced into child labour. In addition, lack of economic opportunity means that communities may not welcome refugees and are likely to discriminate against them.
The length of time a person is displaced also has a significant impact on their life chances. People living in protracted displacement are twice as likely to be involved in a violent conflict and three times as likely to live with a mental health problem, including post-traumatic stress disorder.
The current crisis is a reminder that it is unacceptable for wealthy nations to avoid sharing responsibility for refugees or to limit their response to humanitarian aid alone. Instead, all countries—including those that host most of the world’s refugees—should invest in development assistance and open their borders to asylum seekers who meet their legal criteria.
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