Effects of Refugees on the Host Country
While refugee status and its effects on an individual are horrific, the brunt of the damage in a refugee situation is borne by the nations expected to provide for these displaced persons. Geographically misfortunate countries are vulnerable to thousands of refugees fleeing from nearby conflicts. This is a more prevalent issue in Africa than in most regions. Africa’s refugee problem stems from its decolonization, followed by the arbitrary re-sectioning of its interior, which both separated and mixed ethnic and religious groups. The result is today’s frequent and brutal civil and intercontinental wars, which create hundreds of thousands of refugees. Because of the developing state of the African nations, conflicts unimagined in regions such as Europe arise; such as competition between natives and refugees for scarce resources. Because of the tense political situations, refugees make a statement to other countries in regards to where the innocent host’s loyalties lie, creating added conflict to the war. Because of the alien terrain, refugees put strain on the African environment that would never occur to the average privileged European or American. In addition, local violence erupts due to differences in beliefs, but also because refugees must be cared for but do not work and are a notorious source of the unfortunate economic state of the natives.
The political blocs involved in this issue are largely grouped by region, simply because of the countries’ proximities to one another and their shared knowledge of ongoing regional conflicts. Some blocs are collaborating; others are making no effort to appear part of the group. Africa itself is currently focused on helping refugees, and trying to do more than it can. It wants aid for its refugees, but has not yet thought of aid for itself. The European Union sends supplies to Africa, but unwanted refugees are beginning to appear in Spain. The EU wants to help Africa, but not to a point where its refugee burden is shared. The EU has refugee codes currently in place that work only because of its economic situation. It is currently collaborating with Africa to solve its problems in a more logical manner. Asia is in a precarious situation with its refugees. It is focused on asylum, and in some cases this means ways to fit as many refugees into its countries as possible. This works in some more stable nations, but not in the developing ones. Asia will take a stance in favor of care for refuges. It is also currently collaborating with Africa, like the EU. The actions of the Middle East in negotiations are harder to predict. Africa and the Middle East take in refugees from each other constantly, but the Middle East is less accommodating than Africa. It is not currently collaborating with any other region, and during the conference, it can be expected to protect its own interests. Moving to the other side of the world, the United States has a very straightforward policy, but when dealing with refugees, will only allow certain ethnic groups to enter. It can be expected to have a prejudiced point of view. Finally, Latin America is experiencing a large reprieve from its refugee situation due to highly successful UN-established programs currently in place, which provide for many aspects of refugee welfare including shelter, provisions, and relocation efforts. These programs could work wonders if implemented in other regions. Latin America will provide valuable insight into its program and encourage others to adopt it.
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has tried much in regards to refugees, but none seem the ultimate solution. First was the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, which asserted that host countries must offer the same treatment and privileges to refugees as their own citizens. This is largely impossible, and therefore largely ignored. Other than this, all recent activity has amounted to little more than ineffective and unrealistic plans and minor resolutions. Most were met with difficulties in the execution. On the other hand, the South America plans for refugees that were instated by the UNHCR have been highly successful. It should consider enacting these in other regions, as nothing else has sufficed.
Egypt is quite literally connected to the problem at hand. It controls the Sinai Peninsula, the small land juncture between Africa and the rest of the eastern hemisphere. Transitively, it is connected to the Gaza Strip. 82 percent of some 85,000 refugees in Egypt are fleeing Palestinians. Egypt does not extend asylum to these, but they come nonetheless. The remaining 18 percent are Sudanese, also unwelcome. Egypt is currently recovering from the effects of terrible economic decisions on the part of a former president. It pays 8 percent of its yearly GDP in subsidies just to provide basic necessities for its own people. How can it be expected to provide equal treatment for citizens not its own? Sustenance has become a major concern due to population growth and desertification (fertile, arable land becoming barren desert). Fresh water is also scarce, because while it is true that the “White” Nile runs through the country, it has an offshoot that branches into Ethiopia called the “Blue” Nile, which carries 60 percent of all water flow. Egypt will never be able to resolve its economic difficulties if it is expected to care for an illegal population.
Egypt sees few plausible solutions that would benefit its cause. If new legislation forced Egypt to care for its refugees, it may never reach financial stability. The root of the refugee problem seems to be conflict, but wars cannot be arbitrarily halted. For instance, if all Palestinians were suddenly driven from Israel, they would flee to Egypt, and Egypt would become a new Israeli-Palestine battleground. Additionally, Egypt’s only nearby export is Syria; its only import is Saudi Arabia. If troops were stationed to control “problem areas,” the Sinai Peninsula would be one of the first places to be occupied and Egypt would have difficulty with the trade that is being desperately used to bolster the economy. Clearly, we must work backwards to solve this problem and begin with the refugees themselves.
At the upcoming assembly of the UNHCR, Egypt feels it is imperative that we discuss the issue of provisions for unwelcome refugees. This burden should no longer be on the shoulder of the unfortunate host country. Egypt recognizes the efforts and eagerness of the NGO’s, but also realizes the limited good these small organizations can accomplish. Egypt wishes to discuss alternate forms of aid for refugees and wants to see that their care is no longer a responsibility of their chosen host. If this cannot be attained, Egypt hopes also to discuss special attention and aid for countries struggling to host an illegal population.
An ideal resolution would possess a few key provisions. To start, it would repeal the mandate that a host country must provide for its refugees. This would discourage refugees from settling in countries they know they will not receive aid in. Second, it would address alternate forms of aid for refugees, because although Egypt does not want to harbor them, it is not unsympathetic to their plight. Next, a thorough resolution would divert special attention to countries in precarious geographical situations that create inevitable vulnerability to an uncontrollable refugee flow. Finally, it would grant special aid to countries hosting refugees. Clearly, the negative effects of refugees on a host country are too great, and Egypt believes that these solutions could salvage the global community by relieving economic strain.