The refugee crisis is a consequence of conflict, but it has also been exacerbated by broader economic and political developments. It started in the 1960s and 70s, with major, protracted displacements in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Vietnam. The number of refugees increased steadily, reaching 10 million by 1982. It rose further in the 1990s with large displacements from Iraq, Rwanda, and Yugoslavia.
Most refugees are hosted in neighboring countries – a fact that complicates the situation, as they often live in host communities facing conflict and instability of their own. Moreover, refugees often share ethnic and religious characteristics with local populations that are in conflict, which can create the perception of a demographic threat. These circumstances exacerbate fears of destabilization and push governments to limit refugee protection measures.
As a result, many refugees become militarized and hostile, even to their host governments. They can easily fall prey to exploitation, especially when host states have security interests in the conflict that has caused their own displacement. This was the case for the Palestinian refugees who were welcomed into Jordan in the 1970s, only to be exploited by terrorist organizations that fought against the government of King Hussein, culminating in the Black September events of October and November that year.
This is a complex and challenging situation, but it can be solved. The most immediate and important step is to ensure that the world’s richest nations increase their responsibility for refugees. We need to stop the race to the bottom, and to end the shameful policies that shut out vulnerable displaced people.
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