The Situation…
It is not untrue that we are in crisis. A Nigerian soldier of about 40 years of age was narrating his experiences during one of the battles against the dreaded Boko Haram insurgency, which cannot easily be wiped out from the memory of every Nigerian. What touched him so much was the helplessness he saw in the people of Borno, togetherness with the hopelessness that they seemed to have worn on their bodies. Children were seen crying and no one seemed to have had the interest of calming them. No one remembered anything outside the untiring alertness to save oneself from death. People deserted their homes and in transit when darkness meets them, slept under trees and even on top of trees. There was no good water, no food, no shelter, as people were killed one after the other, which made many to even give up on the struggle for safety. It was a horrible experience for this soldier in the face of such displaced individuals. This is not just a story told in the national level but also told in the global level. Why would the nation not be called to act when human life suffers such a threat? Why would the world not be called to quick action in the face of such crisis that seriously knocks to erode the sacredness and dignity of the human person? Why would Non-Governmental Organizations not be alerted when such heinous crime is committed against human right? And why would ecclesiastical institutions not come in when such grievous sin is committed against the image of God (man)? We are all in this together. And we have to solve it together.
The Explication…
According to the UN 1951 Refugee Convention, a refugee is any person who owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or owing to such fear is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or owing to such fear is unwilling to return to it {League of Nations Treaty Series Vol. 171, p.77}. This definition was later expanded to include every person who, owing to external aggression, occupation, foreign domination or events seriously disturbing public order in either part or the whole country of origin or nationality, is compelled to leave his place of habitual residence in order to seek refuge in another place outside his country {Assembly of Heads of State and Government, 6th Ordinary Session 1969}. This definition unveils the causes of refugee crisis, and spells out the fact that being in such status results from fear and the protection of life.
The complication…
Despite the obvious risk faced by refugees seeking Asylum in various places all over the world, many of them have decided to rather die en route to their destination than remain in their country. In a more particular outlook, Nigeria amongst other African countries is currently experiencing an upsurge in refugee crisis because of the presence and activities of majorly, the Boko Haram terrorist group. According to the Integrated Regional Information Networks, there are 8,128 Nigerian refugees in Cameroon’s far North Region, with only 5,289 being registered. The presence of Boko Haram which is an Islamic terrorist group affiliated to international terrorist groups like al Queda and Isis in the Northeastern part of Nigeria has practically destroyed economic, and social growth in that part of the country, making majority of its residents to seek asylum elsewhere. Since 2009 when the country experienced an upsurge in these acts of terrorism, more than 20,000 persons have been killed and more than 2.3 million displaced of whom about 1.3 million are children. In 2014, 276 schoolgirls were reported to have been abducted from a school in Chibok, Nigeria. In 2015, the Global Terrorism Index named Boko Haram the world’s deadliest terror group, ahead of Isis. In a Northeast Nigerian aid camp, more than 1200 people have died of starvation and illness. One fifth of the 800 children suffered from malnourishment and almost 500 had died since entering the camp, Maiduguri is estimated to host between 1.2 million to 2 million refugees, in addition to these staggering facts, There are reports of food thefts, spread of communicable diseases, lack of proper medical health care, impoverished living conditions, diversion of funds, and terrorist infiltration in these camps. These are the ingredients which qualifies this refugee crisis as indeed a crisis unto the human race.
In consideration of a more general outlook, in April 2015, 5 boats carrying almost 2000 Migrants to Europe sank in the Mediterranean Sea, resulting to a combined death of more than 1200 persons. The dead included young women and children who were fleeing from Asian and African countries in the throes of genocidal warfare. From Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, Egypt, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Eritrea, Sudan and Iraq they all sought to enter Europe in hope of economic safety and better life. Some from places like Syria fled from religious persecution, and terrorist occupation others from Egypt and Afghanistan in addition to terrorist occupation fled political and social unrest which has caused national instability.
The Implication…
In the first place and in consideration of the above particular outlook, the situation is vividly a very deplorable one for these refugees who have fled their homes. The internally displaced aid Camps set up by the Nigerian government has not met the needs of these refugees adequately, the conditions of these citizens forced to be refugees in their own country is a proof of the callousness and greed that has permeated the veins and marrows of the Nigerian structure. It is a big source of worry, when one imagines how Africa, and Nigeria in particular can take care of her refugees, when they have not been able to cater for citizens who are not refugees? This is a reason why many of these refuges are still trooping into the countries, where they opt to stay with friends and families while fending for themselves rather than remain in the refugee centers which has assumed the status of a dumping ground for forgotten victims of terrorist attacks.
In the second place and in consideration of the above general outlook, the migration of refugees has led to an increase in human trafficking, exploitation of human labor, security threats, over-population of local demographics, lack of proper health care services and a breakdown of law and order, terrorists have been known to infiltrate countries under the guise of refugee status, unleashing mayhem on their unsuspecting hosts. This has led to a rise in Islamophobia because a greater percentage of these refugees are fleeing from Islamic countries. This explains the strict laws from their host Countries. Countries like Denmark, Hungary, Croatia, France and Sweden have adopted strict laws regarding the acceptance of refugees even those on transit. While other countries like Germany, Italy, Russia, and America have opened their doors to accommodate as much people as possible. Germany has been the most sought—after final destination in the EU migrant and refugee crisis.
The Deplication…
The threat and danger of displaced persons all over the world due to war, terrorism, poverty, and natural disaster has thus become an alarming problem in need of urgent global attention and action. The United Nations and the European Union have been the two most powerful organizations fighting for a positive global action towards refugee crisis. The United Nations in particular has been at the fore front of peace keeping and crisis resolution especially in places like Syria, Egypt, Libya, Iraq etc. this is to stop the migration of citizens in these countries to other places and to facilitate the return of those who have already migrated, secondly the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees {UNHCR} which is the UN refugee agency has protected and supported millions of refugees all over the world. They offer voluntary repatriation, local integration and resettlement to refugee. Its principal mandate is to provide, on a non-political and humanitarian basis, international protection to refugees and to seek permanent solutions to them.
The European Union has also responsibly confronted the challenge of global refugee crisis especially within the European continent. In a press release given by the European commission on 9th September, 2015 in Strasbourg, the Commission outlined the measures and policies set in place to tackle the problem of global refugee crisis. This includes the promise to relocate 120,000 people in clear need of international protection from Greece, Hungary and Italy to other EU member states, a common European list of safe countries of origin, a more effective return policy, communication on public procurement rules for refugee support measures, addressing the external dimension of the refugee crisis, and setting up a € 1.8 billion trust fund for Africa in order to improve stability and address irregular migration in the Sahel, Lake Chad, Horn of Africa, and North Africa.
In 2015, the EU was able to reach an agreement with Turkey to offer 3 billion Euros to the Turkish government over a period of 2 years to manage more than 2 million refugees from Syria who sought refuge in Turkey in return for curbing migration through Turkey to EU. Refugees under the 1951 convention relating to the status of Refugees have the right of return, right to no-refoulement, right to family reunification and right to onward movement. The Holy Father Pope Francis has been very consistent and forceful in his call for the acceptance and right treatment of refugees all over the world especially in Europe. He did this through integrating and offering assistance to refugees in the city of Rome. Since his accession to the Chair of St. Peter he has always washed the feet of refugees at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, A symbolic act of love which reminds World leaders of their duty to the less privileged and poor of the society. The pope has also called on world leaders to assist in ending global production of Arms and chemical weapons, the killing and persecution of religious minorities and all other actions which enhance global refugee migration and crisis.
Indeed, religion has offered a great deal to the refugee crisis. Many historians are of the opinion that religious fanaticisms ought to be addressed at least or even held responsible at worst for the global refugee crisis. Christianity, Islamism, Budhism, Confucianism, Hinduism must all donate their efforts in this fight against this cankerworm that is eating deep into the fabrics of our world.
The Occasion…
I have no occasion for this write-up if there is no refuge crisis in our globe. There is the need to calm the global refugee crisis in the face of the ever growing selfish individualism of the world, whereby no one seems to care about the other. Some countries abhor refugees for fear of issues of security or religious invasion. These are not excuses to shy away from the responsibility of caring for every human person. The need to be active in this refugee crisis is spelt out in Matt 25:35: for I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took me in. These words should resound in the ears of the people of the world. Pope Francis calls the attention of the World to the present raging epidemic of hostility and indifference. He condemns the development which favors bureaucracy and organizational structures at the expense of the human person. The ongoing global refugee crisis is fostered by greed, ignorance and poverty which relegate the right and value of the human person. World leaders and all persons are thus called to hearken to the voice of good reason, of true conscience, and of sincere charity and stand with solidarity for the common good. This voice is in accord with the United Nations Declaration on human right.
Though various countries and organizations are making effort to end the global refugee crisis, such efforts must commensurate to the level of crisis currently going on. The global effort by UN, AU, EU and all other organizations must be sincere, just, urgent and humane, and must be unlike the politics being played by various countries over the current Syrian crisis. Those in charge of making global policies must recognize the deplorable condition and dangers which refugees are exposed to. They must recognize the pains, horrors, and sufferings of the people who appear in their manual as statistics. Those who support and make profits from global crisis through arms trade must desist from doing so. All the people of the world must be spurred by this personal dimension to take decisive and urgent actions to end global warfare and refugee crisis. Yes, together we help humanity.
Fr. Peter Ezekoka (published in the WISDOM SATELLITE magazine, no. 39, June 2017/2018 edition )
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