Why in news:
The large scale migration of people from West
Asia and northern Africa to Southern Europe by crossing Mediterranean sea has
resulted into huge refugee crisis and the world has witnessed the shameful
incidence of drowning of people in sea,dead children lying on the sea shore.Even UNHCR(United Nations Commissioner for Refugees) has
recognised it as one of biggest humanitarian disaster.
What is the situation:
- The civil war in many West
Asian countries(Syria), ongoing violence in Afghanistan, abuses in Eritrea, as
well as poverty in Kosovo are forcing people to look for
- According to UNHCR, almost 59 million people were forcibly displaced in 2014 and the number is rising and as per International Organization for Migration(IMO) around 650,000 people have reached Europe by sea,so far.
- In terms of asylum seeking destination,Germany has emerged as favourite spot and Hungary came up at second position.
Why Situation has resulted into crisis:
- The most important reason is that West Asia and most African countries are suffering from destabilised democracy resulting into civil war(Syria) and conflict in various groups aiming to capture power.This lead to fleeing of people for better livelihood.
- Further the migration has resulted into refugee crisis owing to the lukewarm response of Europe.Many European countries have denied to share the burden and refuse to contain the influx due to anti-immigrant sentiment.Even the mandatory quota sharing proposal suggested by EU faced stiff opposition by many countries.
- Well these causes the present crisis but the actual seed was sowed by Western countries. They utilised energy rich middle east counties for vested interest. Their technique of “democracy establishment from outside(Iraq war)” has always resulted into conflict ridden zone.
- Authoritarian regimes and Islamic fundamentalism(emergence of ISIS) also created tension and destabilised the social fabric.
- Apart from it though war is going on since last 3-4 years but problem became accentuated now because earlier ,people used to trekked Europe through Balkan routes but now they have found illegal channel(smuggler) to cross Mediterranean sea in unseaworthy boats.
- Moreover people find European countries as economically prosperous ,socially secure, and have better immigration laws.While neighbouring countries like Turkey don’t have better environment for migrants(unavailability of legality of ‘right to work’).
- The problem is also accentuated by the failure of international organization. Shortage of funds in UNHCR ,inefficient UN peacekeeping process(owing to difference of opinion among big powers),unequipped UN peace keeping force are unnecessarily worsening the situation.
How it is important for India:
- India’s largest diaspora belongs to West Asian countries.
- Moreover energy hunger(esp for economic growth and infra development)India finds its solution for energy supply from middle east only.
- Any intolerance and violence among Shia-Sunni may have impact on the domestic Muslim population of India.
- Apart from it this refugee crisis is a lesson for India as India is a centre to South Asian refugee movements (1971 war) and yet it is neither a signatory to 1951 UN Refugee Convention nor does have any domestic policy for asylum framework.
Need of Hour:
A two pronged strategy is needed.
- First of all not only European countries take it as their sole responsibility but all major countries(USA and other developed ones) should come together and share the responsibility.In this regard India can also suggest a practical framework and prove herself as a global responsible actor.
- Secondly the situation in West Asia must get resolved. For that all powers have to work under UNSC umbrella rather supporting their ally(Russian support to Assad regime and USA to rebels).And sending a UNSC peacekeeping force as short term solution and UNSC reform as long term solution could be a positive step.
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