Statement by Rima Khalaf, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, on the occasion of the launching of the 2015 Situation Report on International Migration.
14 January 2016
UN House, Beirut
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a pleasure to welcome you all on the occasion of the launch of the report on Migration, Displacement and Development in a Changing Arab Region, which ESCWA and the International Organization for Migration have published, in conjunction with an array of United Nations bodies working in our region.
This is the first in a series of reports bringing in-depth and ground-breaking analysis on migration from and to the Arab countries. It presents a realistic, if distressing, picture of the unprecedented waves of migration and displacement. The numbers exceed anything seen in the region since the Palestinian Nakba, reaching proportions unheard of since World War II. Masses of migrants today are running for their lives, fleeing tyranny and persecution. Their journey is a gamble. Some end up stranded in makeshift camps, face life-threatening sea crossings, or fall into the hands of ruthless criminal gangs of traffickers engaged in the sale of human beings or their organs.
It was not always thus. Not so long ago, the story of migrants was altogether different. They set forth of their own accord, in search of more education or a better life. It was a natural process of integration between neighbouring countries, some rich in natural resources, others in human resourcefulness. It was mutually beneficial to the host countries, the migrants, their families and their countries of origin.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Migration (Hijra) in the Arab world has a particular significance. Behind it often lay the hand of the oppressor, forcing its victims to flee their homelands, but it also represented a voluntary act of resistance. It marked the beginning of a new era, one of conquest and homecoming. Migration brings estrangement from homeland and adopted country but soon transforms into a sense of belonging to both. Moving freely has historically been the norm. It is no coincidence that the free movement of people, among them artisans, scientists, philosophers and writers, produced the greatest renaissance of the sciences and culture seen in the Arab world.
But at that time there were no borders, barbed wire, separation walls, officers and controls. Our world had not yet been divided up by the flimsy lines traced on maps by the victors of successive wars, lines which have torn families apart.
The unrelenting waves of refugees, migrants and the displaced that we see today in more than one country are the result of colonialism, tyranny, foreign invasion and civil war. This report attempts to set forth a clear and precise assessment of the phenomenon of migration, both forced and voluntary, in the Arab region, to consider its causes and consequences, and to propose ways of dealing with it that take into account the rights of the migrant and the best interests of the host countries.
Although most studies underline the role of migrant workers in the economic growth and sustainable development of host countries, policies in the majority of those countries still disregard their right to protection and care. It is not enough to open the labour market so as to benefit from migrants’ skills. Legislation must also be put in place to guarantee the human rights of migrants and their families, their freedom of movement, decent pay, decent work and decent living conditions. Migrants should not be made to feel like beggars. They have the right to be treated as equals. Narrow interests should not be allowed to prevail over universal values.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Arabs today are 30 times more likely to become refugees than people anywhere else in the world. People are fleeing countries plunged in smoke and darkness. They seek safety in other countries, some of which, such as Lebanon and Jordan, share the little they have with their guests and even suffer hardships in order to help them eke out an existence, however difficult. In other countries, fine words are uttered about respecting the rights of refugees, until the first boat arrives on their shores.
The refugee problem becomes more pressing and complex as the flames of war spread, more parties become involved and the number of those who profit from protracted conflict grows. It is unacceptable to plead a lack of resources while squandering vast sums on armaments. We cannot deal with the consequences without addressing the root causes. Humanitarian aid, important as it is, is not the answer. Solutions are needed to end the armed conflicts that force people to flee, leaving behind their past, present and future. Solutions are needed to roll back the policies that deprive citizens of free choice, so that exile becomes the only choice with all the hardship and desolation that it entails.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Five million Palestinian refugees, with or without education or wealth, live with an abiding sense of injustice that will only be placated when they return to the homes from which they were forcibly expelled. The plight of the Palestinians has had a profound impact on the region and the rest of the world. And now we see unfold before us the tragedy of Syria, where more than four million people have been forced to abandon their homes, fleeing injustice, oppression and unremitting violence. As long as our approach to these two problems remains unchanged, there will be little hope of a solution and calamities will only multiply.
The refugee crisis rocking our societies today is not a natural disaster that requires a humanitarian response. It is a matter of politics and there can be no solution if we ignore its political dimension.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The report that we are launching today proposes combining emergency responses with the search for a thorough and comprehensive political solution. Our responsibility in the region is twofold. First, we must immunize our States against the scourge of war, which unleashes renewed waves of migrants and refugees. This will not happen unless we build just systems of government in which human and citizenship rights are respected. Secondly, we have to address the current refugee crisis on the basis of the principle of shared responsibility. This cannot be left to civil society organizations and disaster relief groups. It is incumbent on Governments to act, to transform their declared ideals and values into tangible measures. It is painful to see UNRWA reducing its services to besieged refugees because of a lack of funding. It is equally painful to see that, in 2015, the United Nations received only 38 per cent of what it requested for its Syria aid appeal. It should be noted that Kuwait has led the way in meeting its commitments and in the generosity of its contributions.
The Arab region was founded on brotherhood between migrants fleeing oppression and supporters who welcomed and helped them. Only a few hypocrites among the people of Medina were reluctant to offer their hospitality to those migrants. Since that symbolically charged moment, brotherhood, solidarity and unity have become the cement and cornerstone of the region. It behooves leading politicians to comprehend the message of this story, which children learn by heart in school, and to transform it from mere story-telling, which may or may not be heard, into action. For there are no words to describe what has befallen us.