Every day, families flee their homes for many reasons. War and conflict are the most common causes, though famine and poverty also lead people to make desperate choices to escape their situations. Some seek asylum in another country, while others take the dangerous journey to survive and start a new life elsewhere. Refugees and internally displaced persons face a host of threats, from trafficking to sexual assault. They often live in oppressive settings, cannot work legally, lack access to education, and are targets of exploitation, discrimination and violence.
Displacement crises are often entwined with civil and international conflict, as witnessed in Syria, Libya, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Neighboring states are concerned about regional destabilization, and some even fear a spillover of the conflict to their own territory. Politicians may also view refugees as a threat because they may have different ethnic and religious characteristics than local populations, or simply because of their demographic makeup.
In addition to these concerns, many countries refuse to take in refugees, citing economic pressures or fears of terrorist attack. This “race to the bottom” must end. We need more rich and middle-income countries to accept their responsibility and increase the number of refugees they resettle. At the same time, we must work together to address the root causes of displacement – the fragile governments, rebel and terrorist group activity and religious or ethnic divisions that fuel conflict in many places. Ultimately, the only way to end this global refugee crisis is to stop the conflicts and persecution that force people to flee in the first place.