3 ms·

Not really. It is no problem to help financing the already existing UNHCR funded missions in Turkey, Pakistan, Lebanon, Iran, Ethiopia, Jordan, etc that all ar

by kpil 10y ago

Not really. It is no problem to help financing the already existing UNHCR funded missions in Turkey, Pakistan, Lebanon, Iran, Ethiopia, Jordan, etc that all are close neighbors to conflict zones. Perhaps surprisingly, as it is not following the narrative conveyed by media, it is also possible to help internal refugees for instance in Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Nigeria, Afghanistan and even parts of Syria. http://reporting.unhcr.org/node/2530 http://reporting.unhcr.org/node/2530

m_mueller 10y ago
My point is, would it really be as simple as just financing these missions, i.e. is money actually the limiting factor? I was under the impression that (a) the political situation in these locations and (b) actual boots on the ground to secure these places are what's limiting the efforts. Furthermore, this doesn't seem to take the economic situation under consideration. Say you've set up a well run refugee camp in Jordan, with all the safety and comforts needed for a few hundred thousand Syrians or so. Now what? Syria will take many years to be a safe home for them again, if ever considering that Assad seems to be fully regaining control (which again is due to a lack of concerted military intervention as far as I see it). Most Syrian refugees certainly want a way to join the economy again, and Europe still seems their best bet - so a well run camp may smoothen the process, but I'd argue they'd still show up in European countries sooner or later, with roughly the same funds needed.
- mistermann 10y ago
  That's a good point, if you're going to set up the camps, you also better have a plan to liberate the country so the people can eventually return.
- kpil 10y ago
  Yes, UNHCR is short on money. UNHCR also funds alternatives to refugee camps, and could spend much more money on integration, schools, healthcare in those sites. The syrian refugees probably have a much higher chance of joining the economy in any country in the Middle East compared to Sweden, since the outlook for them is very bleak getting a job in one of the most demanding and competitive job markets in the world. The drivers to get to northern Europe is more likely the social welfare systems, free healthcare, and free education for children, rather than jobs.
  - m_mueller 10y ago
    > The drivers to get to northern Europe is more likely the social welfare systems, free healthcare, and free education for children, rather than jobs. So how do you solve that as a humanitarian mission? Set up a permanent camp with its own welfare economy, sort of like a 'humanitarian special economic zone'?

by kpil 10y ago

m_mueller 10y ago

My point is, would it really be as simple as just financing these missions, i.e. is money actually the limiting factor? I was under the impression that (a) the political situation in these locations and (b) actual boots on the ground to secure these places are what's limiting the efforts. Furthermore, this doesn't seem to take the economic situation under consideration. Say you've set up a well run refugee camp in Jordan, with all the safety and comforts needed for a few hundred thousand Syrians or so. Now what? Syria will take many years to be a safe home for them again, if ever considering that Assad seems to be fully regaining control (which again is due to a lack of concerted military intervention as far as I see it). Most Syrian refugees certainly want a way to join the economy again, and Europe still seems their best bet - so a well run camp may smoothen the process, but I'd argue they'd still show up in European countries sooner or later, with roughly the same funds needed.

mistermann 10y ago
That's a good point, if you're going to set up the camps, you also better have a plan to liberate the country so the people can eventually return.
kpil 10y ago
Yes, UNHCR is short on money. UNHCR also funds alternatives to refugee camps, and could spend much more money on integration, schools, healthcare in those sites. The syrian refugees probably have a much higher chance of joining the economy in any country in the Middle East compared to Sweden, since the outlook for them is very bleak getting a job in one of the most demanding and competitive job markets in the world. The drivers to get to northern Europe is more likely the social welfare systems, free healthcare, and free education for children, rather than jobs.
- m_mueller 10y ago
  > The drivers to get to northern Europe is more likely the social welfare systems, free healthcare, and free education for children, rather than jobs. So how do you solve that as a humanitarian mission? Set up a permanent camp with its own welfare economy, sort of like a 'humanitarian special economic zone'?