Week six 歐洲難民潮

Angelina On The Refugee Crisis

 

what:a piece for The Times
who:Angelina Jolie

why:Refugee Crisis

where:Europe

when:07 September 2015

how:not given

ANGELINA JOLIE has joined with Baroness Arminka Helic to write a piece for The Times, appealing for those fleeing war to be given priority over economic migrants as Europe strives to get a grip對…的影響力 on the refugee crisis. Helic, who was herself displaced by the Nineties war in the Balkans, and Jolie make a clear distinction between those fleeing "extreme poverty" and those "facing an immediate need to be saved from persecution迫害 and death" - and assert堅持 that the problem will not be solved without addressing the conflict that is causing the influx湧入 of migrants.

Read the piece below in full, and here on The Times online.

At time in recent history has there been a greater need for leadership to deal with the consequences and causes of the global refugee crisis. Nothing brings home this truth more than the sight of columns列 of refugees marching across European borders, from countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria.

The Syria conflict has created a wave of human suffering that has rolled out across the region and now reached the shores of Europe. Syrians are fleeing barrel bombs, chemical weapons, rape and massacres屠殺. Their country has become a killing field.

It should come as no surprise that people who have endured years of war, or who have been living in refugee camps on dwindling減少 rations配給, are taking matters into their own hands. How many of us could honestly say that in their shoes we would not do the same, confronted by fear, lack of hope, and a glaring明顯的 lack of international political will to end the conflict.

We identified with Syrians when they called for political and economic freedom in their country. We were outraged by the images of their families bombed in their homes, children being dug out挖出 of the rubble瓦礫堆, and cities overrun侵占 by extremists. Whether in Europe or elsewhere, Syrian refugees deserve our compassion.

Over the past few weeks we have seen many members of the public and growing numbers of political leaders take a moral stand, groups of refugees being welcomed, and new commitments保證 of assistance made. For the first time in years, refugees are leading the news and are at the forefront最前線的 of debate.

We need to build on this and make it a turning point in people's understanding not just of the Syria conflict but of the global refugee crisis. It requires us to use not just our hearts but also our heads and not just aid but also diplomacy外交, and to focus our efforts not just this year, but for years to come.

We must face some hard truths. The first is that the responsibility to help is not determined by the accident of geography but by adherence堅持 to universal human rights and values. It transcends勝過 religion, culture and ethnicity種族劃分. We should not be reaching for the lowest common denominator起源 in our response to the refugee crisis, but striving to live up to our highest ideals. Every country in the world, not just in Europe, must be a part of the solution.

Second, there is no question that the scale of the current refugee flow into Europe poses political, social, economic and security challenges for EU countries. When this is voiced, it should not be simply dismissed去除. It places a particular responsibility on governments to find the resources to deal with the domestic implications and to help refugees to integrate使完善.

Syria's neighbours have been bearing much greater burdens for years, with exemplary模範的 generosity大方, and need more assistance. Every country, and every government, needs to have a clear plan to meet their international obligations責任 and balance the needs of their citizens.

Third, at this moment of emergency, we should be conscious of the distinction between economic migrants, who are trying to escape extreme poverty, and refugees who are fleeing an immediate threat to their lives. All people on the move in these tragic circumstances情況 must have their human rights and dignity尊嚴 respected and their needs understood and addressed. We should not stigmatise汙名 anyone for the aspiration渴望 to a better life.

But refugees are facing an immediate need to be saved from persecution and death and their rights are defined in international law. That is why effective reception and screening are so important, to enable claims to be analysed and protection extended to those who need it.

Furthermore, however much we welcome refugees on our shores, the problem will grow so long as the conflict in Syria continues. We cannot donate our way out of the crisis, we cannot solve it simply by taking in refugees, we have to find a diplomatic route to end the conflict.

 

http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2015/09/07/angelina-jolie-on-refugee-crisis---helping-migrants-from-syria