There’s more than one
The refugee crisis in Greece. I know, not the easiest topic but bear with me.
I haven’t been to Greece and neither have many others.
Journalists have been there, though. And politicians. And NGOs.
We read or hear about it on the news or the internet: refugees fleeing their torn-apart country, seeking a better place.
But I wonder, are they really better off in a refugee camp in Greece? Or Turkey, for that matter, if they’re sent back?
From what I’ve seen and read, there’s nothing comfortable about their current situation. Despite the absence of war. Hopelessly waiting for what comes next.
A news article I read earlier today about the horrific conditions these people find themselves in is not very hopeful. The EU politician reporting in the article tells about the negligence of the (EU) government to provide better accommodation and prospects.
This topic is not easy. It’s difficult to put yourself in the shoes of someone who has been forced to relocate, family members and friends having been killed.
Yet,—and here’s why I write this—there are many, so many people (those commenting on the article) who believe that the refugee crisis is not their problem and that these refugees are merely “economic refugees” seeking to take advantage of the prosperity European countries have to offer.
Their solution? Send them back to Turkey, or some other place. Keep them out of Europe and definitely out of our country. “Protect our culture” they say. And “why should we fight their war?” Stop the war and send them back. Problem solved.
Indeed, making sure that their country is safe to return to is a high priority I’d say and definitely worth fighting for, I’ll give you that, but we are dealing with more than just one problem.
There’s a war going on in Syria. That’s a problem and we need to try to fix that.
There are refugees dying on the Mediterranean Sea trying to get from Turkey to Greece. Another problem (two problems to be precise) we need to fix.
But trying to fix these two problems does not fix the inhumane conditions refugees in Greece are currently living in. That’s an immediate problem and we need to fix that immediatly. Not by fixing a war or the faulty deal with Turkey, but by treating them as humans. And if we consider ourselves human, too, then the refugee crisis is not something to ignore and let go quietly. We need to support these people and at the same time deal with the other problems. Cause there isn’t just one.
I wanted to write about how when we only see one problem and one solution there’s usually a multitude of problems and we need to solve each of them individually. Having finished written this opinion piece I think I’ll save it for the next blog post.