Why do some countries refuse to take in refugees to give them better lives?
- Obama wishes to resettle in the United States. Seventy-seven percent replied that “at least one of those coming through this process will be a terrorist who will succeed in carrying out an attack on U.S. soil.”
- A week after the Paris attacks shows that six out of 10 (61 percent) oppose the president’s plan to accept 10,000 refugees. Going deeper, it shows that 63 percent fear any Syrian refugee admitted to the U.S. could be connected to terrorism.
- In Germany, for instance, a rapidly aging population is becoming increasingly aware of the need to welcome foreigners. Other countries, where the aging trend is much less severe, have fewer incentives to welcome newcomers.
- Some countries refuse to take refugees because they are considered liabilities for an economy. But some others, such as Germany, take refugees in as opportunities for economic growth.
- Some countries argue that refugees usually take advantage of public services before contributing to the economy.
- On average, a country has to spend about $119,000 per asylum seeker each year, and it usually takes years to settle one refugee. This means that host countries' taxpayers are left to pay the hefty toll. Additionally, countries fear that refugees could take jobs from locals and raise the unemployment rate. Refugees usually start with low-skilled jobs in the host country because of language barriers, and then move to more advanced positions as they become acclimated to the new country's culture. Considering costs and efficiency, companies are more willing to employ refugees, and therefore the locals lose in the job market.
- The country relies on immigrants to fill the working age population and to stabilize the state pension system as more Germans retire. Even without a worker shortage, refugees are not burdens because they play an important role in creating new jobs.
- The reason is intuitive, as the refugees could create economic value by working, and the money they earn from the jobs could alleviate the economic burden of the host country.
How are the situations of the refugees in refugee camps?
- more than one-third of these refugees are no longer fed each day, let alone survive
- Many of these refugees end up living in camps, surviving only on daily handouts from UN-donor countries
- refugees aren't all helpless and just sitting in tents waiting for food-handouts; on the contrary, the vast majority do adapt and adjust to the new societies around them, and usually they can integrate with time and become part of the rich social fabric of our global community
In what ways can the refugees help themselves?
- Despite the squalid conditions, the makeshift camp of Idomeni is witnessing something of a marriage phenomenon.
- In the past few days, a handful of couples have become engaged and the camp has become a wedding venue for the first time.
- "The borders won't open anytime soon, so we thought why not marry now?" said Saher. "I am happy of course to be married, but I am sad too.
How can we help refugees?
- distributing sleeping bags, thermal blankets, raincoats, socks, clothes and footwear to the most vulnerable refugees.
- Supplies food for Syrian kids and supports education in Syrian refugee camps.
- MSF is operating two rescue ships in the Mediterranean Sea that can carry hundreds of people to land.
- It delivers vaccines, winter clothes and food for children in Syria and neighboring countries.