Need for a more involved Europe

The displacement of people from several countries in our region, due to the conflicts that erupted in these countries in the aftermath of the failed Arab Spring, and the unprecedented levels of violence and bloodshed that have accompanied them are a tragedy that affects these poor people, first and foremost.

Millions of Syrians, Libyans, Yemenis and others have either lost their lives or their homes due to unfortunate developments since 2011. It is to them that our hearts go out, for they are the most immediate and real victims of these mad conflicts.

But several countries in the neighbourhood and Europe have also been negatively affected.

Neighbouring countries like Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey received refugees in the millions and are unable to cope. Jordan and Lebanon, being the smallest and least economically strong, have been hit the hardest.

Europe, much larger and much stronger economically, is also complaining, though the numbers of refugees going arriving on its shores — proportionally speaking — do not compare to the numbers seeking refuge in Jordan and Lebanon.

If Europe, however, is feeling the burden, and if it is averse to receiving and housing refugees in increasing numbers, there are two things that it should push more forcefully for in order to address its inability to cope and to alleviate the suffering of the poor refugees.

First, it should lend more support — much more than it has done so far — to Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey; especially Jordan and Lebanon. Jordan in particular is being pressured beyond what it can possibly tolerate.

Even before the advent of refugees, there had been a severe water shortage, rising unemployment and a slackening of the economy.

If more economic support is given to Jordan and Lebanon, these two countries will be able to cope better with the refugees and keep them in the region until solutions to the conflicts are reached. For all kinds of reasons — cultural, societal, humanitarian, economic, etc. — it is better to house the refugees in the region than to have them compelled to flee en masse seeking refuge in Europe, drowning in the sea, being stuck at borders or getting lost in new, foreign cultures.

Second, Europe should push harder for a peaceful resolution to the conflicts in these violence-torn countries.

This, in fact, is both the ultimate and the most effective solution to the refugee problem.

There is already a peace process going on for Syria, and there are attempts at resolving the conflicts in Libya and Yemen.

The US and Russia are playing key roles with respect to the Syrian situation; Europe’s role appears, at best, secondary.

Europe needs to be more involved in peace making and more aggressive in pushing for speedy resolutions.

For, it is only by addressing the root cause of the problem that the suffering of the refugees will come to an end and that the neighbouring countries and Europe will be somewhat relieved.