Refugee crisis in the world
What is a Refugee?
First of all, we have to understand what is a refugee? According to the definition given by UNHCR, A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee his or her country due to the fear of persecution, war or violence. The 1951 Geneva Convention on Refugees is the main international instrument that sets the terms and definition of a refugee.
Now, the question arises, where do refugees come from? The Syrian conflict appears to be the biggest driver of refugees to Europe, with people fleeing the tyrannical regime of Bashar al-Assad and the brutality of Islamic States. Those coming from Afghanistan and Iraq are also fleeing conflicts of different kinds. Human rights abuse is the main factor encouraging people to flee their country. However, those coming from Kosovo are considered by some to be searching for a better life in Western Europe rather than their own less prosperous country. People from Afghanistan and Myanmar have fled their country in order to seek protection and a better lifestyle.
Major Refugee crisis:
· Afghan Refugee crisis!
One of the biggest refugee crisis rose in 1971 as the Afghan refugee crisis. According to a survey by Amnesty International, there are currently more than 2.6 Million registered refugees in the world from Afghanistan. These people were fleeing Soviet occupation during the cold war era. Although Pakistan, at that time, was not a signatory of the Geneva Convention of Refugees, still it extended recognition to afghans as refugees as a humanitarian gesture. In 1979, USSR came to an end and lost the war in Afghanistan. Yet, still, by the end of 2019, there were 1.4 Million registered Afghan refugees living in Pakistan.
· The Gulf Refugee Crisis!
Syrian crisis: Since the beginning of the rule of Bashar al-Assad, Syria has encountered a huge economic and social backlash. Therefore, Syria in hands of Wahhabi-Shia rivalry has been exploited by international forces as well as national and sub-national governments due to which a widespread reign of terror has begun which led in forcing people to flee from their once flourishing homeland. The US and Saudi governments have placed military and political forces which leads to the denial of one’s right to a safe haven. The Syrians are denied their access to the outside world which portrays their helplessness. The protesting Syrians are publicly executed. According to a survey by UNHCR, there are 5.6 Million registered refugees around the world and another 6.2 Million are displaced within Syria.
Yemen crisis: The state of Yemen has been withstanding the Youthi militant strikes, which have led to various riots and civil disobedience. The government fails persistently and all non-religious refugees which once came to find a safe haven are now dying eventually due to the toxic narratives of the militant ideologies. As reported by Al-Jazeera, the Yemini people have been themselves a part of the militant revolution. A survey conducted by the UNHCR shows that Yemen is the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. Over 3.6 Million Yemenis are scattered around the world as refugees and approximately 20 Million people in Yemen are on the brink of a famine.
· Myanmar and Rohingya Refugee crisis!
Due to historical communist regency in Myanmar and Rohingya people are suffering. Due to ideological instability, these states never flourished and now due to recent changes the international community has tightened their access to the outside world. Countries like India, Bangladesh and Nepal have withdrawn their responsibility to safeguard any more incoming hostiles. The Rapporteur on Myanmar in 2015 reported that more than half of the population dies either from Malnutrition or commit Suicide. The military expansion in these areas is also one of the biggest reason that is forcing people to flee this country. Reportedly from 1974 till 2010, more than 1.6 Million people have been killed. By the end of 2018, there were 1.2 Million refugees from Rohingya and Myanmar.
Conclusion:
Islamophobia is seen as one of the biggest factor that is causing these refugees. Historically, Muslims have suffered worst, let it be the 16th century’s colonial rule or the Muslim genocide in Rwanda. In Europe, the countries do not permit Muslim refugees to adhere there cultural lifestyle which further threatens their right to expression. The world has progressed, and we need to move on from these religious and cultural feuds and focus on creating a sustainable race free society for our next generation.
