Europe is witnessing an unprecedented influx of large number of migrants coming from war ravaged countries. The issue has got traction in the aftermath of highhandedness shown by European countries in dealing with the refugees. Europe has always been a votary of human rights but when it came to walk the talk they are performing abysmally poor compared to their economic prosperity.
• At least 350,000 migrants crossed the EU's borders in January-August 2015, compared with just 280,000 during the whole of 2014.
• Majority of the migrants are from Syria, Afghanistan and Eriteria.
Migrants cover perilous journey to reach Europe which are organized by syndicates of human traffickers and smugglers. More than 2600 people have drowned in the Mediterranean trying to reach Greece or Italy in flimsy dinghies or unsafe fishing boats.
Source: BBC
Why Migrant prefer Europe?
Migrants see Europe as the land of hope and opportunity due to its economic and social prosperity. Continuous war and impoverishment has forced them to seek asylum in EU countries. Many of these migrants die on their way before reaching their place of hope.
The drowned body of the Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi which washed up on a Turkish shore drew the worldwide criticism on social media of Europe’s handling of migrant issue.
Source: European Commission, Reuters, BBC and Vox.com
Reasons for sudden upsurge in migrant’s influx
The recent upsurge is from Syria and Iraq as these countries are going through brutal civil war. The increasing threat of Islamic State in this region has made people to flee from their homes. Much of the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region is witnessing turmoil due to continuous war between the government forces and militias being supported by opposite faction.
Dublin Regulation of EU (agreement to deal with refugees)
The Dublin Regulation places responsibility for examining an asylum seekers application with the first EU country that the migrant reaches. The rule is to prevent applicants from orbiting the EU Countries.
Due to this regulation Greece and Italy are flooded with application which they finding hard to cope with.
Schengen Area
Countries in the Schengen Area have eliminated internal border controls with the other Schengen members and strengthened external border controls with non-Schengen states. It mostly functions as a single country for international travel purposes, with a common visa policy.
The outpouring of large number of migrants have pushed countries to put travel restrictions in the Schengen Area which goes against the provision of free movement of people and goods.
Europe’s apprehension on rising migrants
• Countries in EU fear that binding quotas for taking in refugees will lead to changes in their society and encourage more refugees to come in.
• As the Europe is going through economic downturn they are finding it hard to cope with this additional burden.
• The ongoing influx of refugees is bound to provide a fillip to anti-immigration right-wing political groups in different parts of Europe.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1950. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country.
In the present context UNHCR is both under staffed and funded to deal with this extent of migrant exodus.
Germany’s unilateral effort
Germany has shown generosity by accepting more refugees than any other country. Germany has set aside 6 billion euros to help refugees in resettlement. Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel is often quoted as “mama Merkel” by refugees for her extraordinary support to cause.
India’s position
India has always opposed any kind of external intervention in the internal affairs of a nation other than UN specific measures. It has urged other nations not to meddle in the internal affairs of other countries as it will only worsen the situation that is what exactly happened in the MENA region. Western adventurism in Libya and Syria through external intervention has put both the country on boiling and unleashed thousands of mercenaries in the region which had put the entire North Africa in the state of turbulence. The menace of Islamic State has its root in Arabian and western adventurism.
Conclusion
The rescue operations on the high seas by countries like Italy and Greece and acceptance of large number refugees by Germany despite their constrained capabilities is laudable. The 28-member bloc has so far struggled to find a unified response to the crisis. Fair distribution of refugees among the EU members and a common asylum policy can address this crisis. EU in particular should adopt a more flexible and humane approach to deal with migrants.
Countries world over should commit fund and functionaries to deal with this humanitarian crisis. It is indeed moral duty of all countries to protect humanity and India too cannot remain oblivion to this.
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