An ambitious global strategy is essential to ensure that
countries that respond to humanitarian crises by welcoming
refugees are supported over the short, medium and long term.
Current practices fail both refugees and the countries that host
them, says a new report from the International Development
Committee.
Ahead of the UN Global Refugee Forum later this year, the
International Development Committee is calling for meaningful
debate on how the global community supports host countries to
move from the initial humanitarian response to a longer-term
development approach that incorporates the needs of host
communities.
In addition, the international community needs to commit to
finding political solutions to enable refugees to return home.
The report says the international community must be able to
demonstrate its lasting commitment to the host country and
provide certainty that it will ‘stay the course’ of the refugee
response.
According to the World Bank, 76% of current refugees have been
displaced for more than five years. Today’s report considers the
situation in Jordan and Lebanon, who have some of the highest
levels of refugees per capita in the world. The countries have
been at the forefront of the Syria response and have hosted
Palestinian refugees for decades.
For example, Jordan is now the second most water-scarce country
in the world with some households seeing the frequency of their
water supply fall from every week to every four weeks. Housing
units in the Za’atari refugee camp, home to 80,000 people, need
replacing as they have exceeded their shelf life. Lebanon’s
economy has severely contracted since October 2019, with serious
repercussions for healthcare and education. The Committee heard
that some 90% of Syrian refugees in Lebanon live in extreme
poverty.
Host countries are often left to pick up a disproportionate share
of the costs but are rarely in a strong financial position to do
so. These protracted crises can impact the economies and social
cohesion of the host countries, but this should be addressed with
long term international support.
Chair's comment
The Chair of the International Development Committee, , said:
“Today, we are calling for the international community to stand
in solidarity with countries that provide sanctuary to huge
numbers of refugees. A sustainable global strategy is the only
way to ensure that refugees and host communities in countries
like Jordan and Lebanon receive the support they need in the
long-term. It cannot be fair that rich nations like the UK can
scale back their assistance when the tv cameras move on while
those closest to crises continue to provide refuge, often for
decades.
“We must not lose sight of the fact that most refugees want to
return home. The search for diplomatic solutions should begin the
moment crises arise. The international community has a crucial
role to play in bringing crises to an end so refugees can safely
return to their home country.
“The Global Refugee Forum is taking place later this year. The UK
Government must use this opportunity to be bold and bring
effective, credible pledges for fair responsibility sharing to
ensure that no refugee hosting country is left to pick up the tab
while the rest of the world turns to the next crisis.”
