Who helps refugees?
People fleeing persecution and conflict have been granted asylum in foreign lands for thousands of years. But whose responsibility is it to provide for refugees? In my way of thinking, it is the responsibility of citizens, governments, and agencies like UNHCR.
UNHCR.
The UN agency that helps refugees is UNHCR (also known as the UN refugee’s agency), which emerged in the wake of World War II to help Europeans displaced by that conflict. UNHCR was established on December 14, 1950by the UN general Assembly with a three-year mandate to complete it’s work and then disband. However, they are helped or rather given asylum for a limited time (at least a year or two).
Citizens.
After Being helped by the agency to resettle, they start living a normal life and it can sometimes be hard for them to get jobs. This is the point in which citizens should help them and consider them as humans. By this, I mean that the citizens or neighbors should try to find them jobs or even employ them as nurses or maids in the house. If they are young teenagers, they can even adopt them so that they cannot struggle for school fees, basic needs, and their wants too.
Government.
We all know that the government has lots of power over their citizens and country and this means they can provide for refugee’s estates in which they can live forever until they feel like they want a new environment or go back to their country when war and conflict is over.
Do you know of any other institutions that help the refugees?
Comments (34)
19 Apr 2022
A great activity for us all to do - to find out what other organisations and institutions help refugees. What can we find out?
19 Apr 2022
Thank you for your post
yes, the post is real nice.
Thanks for giving feedback! Can you explain what you like about this post?
Thank you katie dixon, what I like in the post is that it is really interesting to read and i wanted to read more , rational_grape talk on Who helps refugees, that question has been on my mind of like two day, rational_grape said ''We all know that the government has lots of power over their citizens and country '', but they are the one who bring refugee by have war with countries. I really like the part on Citizens and UNHCR , it was really interesting to read and I learned a lot for it, and the way he started the post was nice.
19 Apr 2022
I agree with rational_grape because it seems perfectly logical, well except from the government part I mean the government does not really help refugees some countries who a able to host refugees do not while some citizens even see refugees as people who come to take their jobs and social amenities. I do not even see the need of rejecting refugees I feel that countries should accept as much refugees as they can take because I am sure that when in times of need the people who they rendered help to will have no problem giving back to them.
I disagree with champion_elephant about countries taking lots and lots of refugees. A reminder that refugees are considered an economical burden. In a humanitarian side, yes welcoming them is a must. But on the economical side, no. The infrastructure of a country, for example, is built to handle it's own people, so the new number of people requires extending this infrastructure. Now, if the number is limited, it won't take much money, but if the number is big, it will take alot of money which some countries can't handle. Besides, refugees are considered a competition to the locals, especially in work fields. For example, refugees are known to work any job at any price, so work owners will more likely choose them over a local worker who works the same amount of time for more money.
And I didn't understand your final point. What will happen in the time of needs?
I agree with the view that the presence of refugees in a country will be a burden on its economy, but if we look at the other side of their presence, when they are given the right of residence and employment opportunities, they may become for them a role in raising the economy of the country in the sense that they may work to set up small projects in the beginning and with Over time, these projects may become important, and thus the refugees have contributed to reviving the economy of this country, and they will have sources of livelihood. In my country there are many Syrian refugees who have become owners of important projects.
I agree with you willing_imagination. This will surely help the economy of the host countries. But again, it's all about numbers. Giving equal opportunities to a big number of refugees will put a great competition to locals in various fields .
I agree with easygoing_flower about refugees being seen as an economic burden in some countries and I feel the reason for this is because people are not well informed. If people were well informed on the effects of accepting refugees into a country, they would know that accepting refugees into a country can actually be beneficial to a country as it could make room for economic growth and development in a country. It can do that through:
1. The skills and knowledge of refugees can be useful in developing an economy.
2. It can also help by making way by fostering international trade and investment between different countries.
3. Accepting refugees increase the labour force and in most cases replaces the ageing population of a country.
There are so many other benefits of accepting refugees and if looked at clearly and I think if more people knew this, they wouldn't look at accepting refugees as a burden anymore.
I agree with your points about some economical benefits of hosting refugees constructive_moth. Refugees can be a great economical booster, but my point is that it all depends on the number of refugees.
Take Lebanon for example. Lebanon is a small country with 4 million people. From the start of the Syrian war until now, 10 years passed, Lebanon hosts about 2 million Syrian refugees , that's about half it's population. Years ago, before the Syrian war, thousands of Syrians used to come to Lebanon for work, only thousands. Lebanon's economy took great advantage of those limited number of workers. But now, it's millions of refugees, millions of responsibilities on the host country: schools, health care, jobs. The Lebanese people are facing a great competition and the economy is now exhausted.
It's not about being informed, it's way beyond that.
I have a question for you easygoing_flower. If a country comes across a situation where there are lots of refugees coming into the country because of war somewhere else like the example you gave with your country, if you had a say, would you suggest that they should be stopped from entering the country because they would be seen as an economic burden?
I'm not against refugees. It's all about organizing their presence.
Look, it comes in stages. First, welcome them with open arms, give them aid, shelter...etc. Bud don't forget to organize their documents, know everything about them, where they came from, their number..etc. Then, when it comes to employing those refugees, you have to choose between them. And don't act like countries don't do that and it's all about humanity. You can't employ any refugee in a job where a certain educational level is needed. Each refugee will take a job that suits their level. Then, they are not an economical burden. This is organization. What you read might seem a little unhuman, and no we should help them all and I don't know what, but trust me that there is absolutely no country that doesn't think "what will I benefit from this?", no country. It's us people who think in a humanitarian way.
yes, what do they do
yes, that is ture, agree with you easygoing_flower,but the question in my mind is that people that are refugee where do they go, they live where in the meantime ?
Everyone agrees that the refugee issue is not confined to one place. It is a global problem that many countries suffer from. I believe that refugees have the right to international protection in order to preserve their lives. So what are the mechanisms to protect the rights of displaced persons in international law? What are the rights recognized in the international agreements relating to refugees?
On your last question, the website of the UNHCR states:
"What rights does a refugee have?
A refugee has the right to safe asylum. However, international protection comprises more than physical safety. Refugees should receive at least the same rights and basic help as any other foreigner who is a legal resident, including freedom of thought, of movement, and freedom from torture and degrading treatment.
Economic and social rights are equally applicable. Refugees should have access to medical care, schooling and the right to work.
In certain circumstances when adequate government resources are not immediately available, such as the sudden arrival of large numbers of uprooted persons, international organizations such as UNHCR provide assistance. This may include financial grants, food, tools and shelter and basic infrastructure such as schools and clinics. With projects such as income-generating activities and skill training programmes, UNHCR makes every effort to ensure that refugees become self-sufficient as quickly as possible."
https://www.unhcr.org/publications/brochures/3b779dfe2/protecting-refugees-questions-answers.html
Thank you my friend for the explanation
I agree with you champion_elephant, we have to accept refugees, however people who disagree might say that accepting refugees is so harmful for the host country and causes economicsl decline.
In contrast let's take US as an example for economical growth after refugees resettled where ann economic impact study in Cleveland found that refugee families made substantial economic contributions to the region, leading to an estimated $48 million in additional spending in 2012.
So maybe resettlement of refugees might ne expensive, but if it's well treated, economical flourish outcomes then.
I do not agree with you when you said that you feel that countries should host more refugees, because if we put ourselves in the place of the people of the host countries for them, hosting more refugees will cause them many negatives, such as professional competition and the economy will decrease
19 Apr 2022
I believe that assistance is an obligation on everyone, whether individuals, institutions or governments. Each of them has a role. Individuals have to accept refugees and integrate them into the social environment. As for institutions, their role is to work on holding courses and seminars to help refugees overcome the ordeal of asylum. As for governments, they have the greatest burden, as they have to provide care health and education for them
I disagree with willing_imagination using the word "integrate ". Refugees are a temporarily citizens. "Integrating" them into the host country will cause a real problem for both their country and the host country on the long run
And I do not agree with you on this conversation. The refugee integration process may occur automatically. The intent is not to strip them of their original identity, but rather to accept them socially, functionally and psychologically. A refugee always wishes to return to his country. Many of them settled down and started a new and successful life, and some say that I do not want to go back and start from scratch.
I will give you an example, my dear. I am one of those whose ancestors sought refuge from Palestine in Jordan and settled there, but I do not know my country of origin except through what my father told us about or through what I read about it and I hope to visit it, but at the same time I love my country in which I was born and I have friends in it and I do not think leave it
I don't want to go specific. In general, integrating refugees will cause a damage to the economy
19 Apr 2022
There is no doubt that accepting or rejecting asylum is a governmental decision par excellence. If the government accepted asylum, the asylum was legal and based on official documents and supported by many civil organizations that help the refugee to settle in the host country. But if the government rejects the principle of asylum, the refugee will face legal problems and be deprived of aid and even care. Here the refugee must rely on a country that welcomes asylum and there are supportive organizations for refugees so that he can obtain his rights as a refugee. Among these organizations, Amnesty International, UNICEF, the High Commissioner for Refugees, the search for a legal and safe presence in the receiving countries must be based on International organizations supporting and recognizing the rights of refugees.
Refugees fleeing war or persecution are often in a particularly vulnerable position, not enjoying the protection of their state - often their own government is itself a source of threat and persecution. If they are not allowed to enter other countries and are not provided with protection and assistance upon entry, these countries have condemned them to live under intolerable conditions where their basic rights, their security, and in some cases their lives, are at risk.
20 Apr 2022
I support the opinion that everyone says, which is
Let us help them as much as possible to alleviate their suffering through 1- The necessity of changing the perception of the situation of the displaced and activating an international charter or treaty that protects the displaced in particular on a large scale 2- Applying the principles of human rights. And to provide the necessary guarantees for the internally displaced, as they are part of the social structure
20 Apr 2022
Thank you to everyone who helped refugees And I salute you for your noble qualities
20 Apr 2022
I think UNHCR has a big role in helping refugees
UNHCR seeks to guarantee the basic human rights of refugees, displaced persons or stateless persons in countries of asylum or in their countries of habitual residence, and that they are not forcibly returned to any country where they may face persecution. In the longer term, UNHCR assists refugees to find solutions, either through voluntary return to their homes, integration in countries of asylum or resettlement in countries of
In many countries, UNHCR staff work alongside other partners in a variety of locations, from capital cities to remote camps and border areas. Together, they seek to enhance or provide legal and physical protection and reduce the risk of violence - including sexual abuse - to which many refugees are exposed, even in countries of asylum. UNHCR staff are also working to provide a minimum level of shelter, food, water and medical care in the aftermath of any mass exodus.
21 Apr 2022
I think that the question of who's to help refugees is very hard because they should be looked after and taken in by other people but it is just so hard because there is not always the space, money or capacity to look after more people.
Taking in refugees seems the right thing to do because it isn't even their fault that they got to that position and it is sad to see so many desperate people who have left almost everything behind. It doesn't seem right to let people like this suffer. Places like the UNHCR are really important because it really gives help to the refugees and it should get the support they need to do things like this from the government. I think though that we need a more permanent solution to help because it is all very good to give a stepping stone into a new life but I think that they should offer longer lasting help to those who would still need it after a year or so and also they should get help into finding a job as that can be hard and without a job their back in a bad position.
I think for the citizens though this is a really hard thing to do and I truly admire those who do take in refugees and give them a home because it is so hard. Firstly you need the room to house another person, the money to look after them until they can find a good job and you need to be prepared to have someone in you home that you don't even know and haven't met before. It's hard for the whole country as well because there is a limit to the space and they can't take in endless new people because there just isn't the capacity for them.
It makes it hard because even if the government wanted to help sometimes they can't because it just isn't possible but at the same time it gives you a bad name to say you aren't allowing refugees into the country because it makes you seem that you just don't want them rather than can't.
27 Apr 2022
I agree with you my friend and thank you for this useful information
27 Apr 2022
Yes, my friend, I know the names of other institutions that help refugees, such as:
Organizations that help refugees in Britain:
The organizations concerned with refugee affairs in Britain are:
UNHCR in the UK:
UNHCR aims to protect the rights and well-being of people who have been forced to flee, and works to ensure that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find safe haven in another country. UNHCR has helped millions of refugees, stateless people, internally displaced persons and refugees to resume their lives in the UK. Asylum seekers.
It offers them protection, shelter, health and education and transports vulnerable asylum seekers from the islands to the mainland.Other organizations that provide support and assistance to refugees in the UK include:
Refugee action
Refugee council
scottish refugee council
British Red Cross
04 May 2022
I do not agree with the words that we employ refugee women as domestics, and this is an insult to the class lived with dignity in a better job for you to worthier say the words that we find them jobs fit their abilities on the other hand, the government has a greater role with the assistance of refugees is the dominant force in the country, and there are many civil institutions working to provide assistance to refugees
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