ExploringEuropeanShortcomingsinAddressingtheHumanitarianAspectoftheRefugeeCrises:LessonsLearntandWayforward.

MuhammadAffanJaved

MemberMigrationResearchGroup(MRG),Islamabad.Duetotheprolongedunresolvedinternationalconflicts,andthemultiplicationofnewerones;theworldwitnessedastaggeringescalationinthenumberofrefugeessince2011.Around86percentoftheserefugeeswerehostedinthedevelopingworld,andforsignificantperiodoftime,‘refugeecrisis’failedtogaintheattentionoftheglobalmediaandtheInternationalleaders.IntheSpringof2015,whenoveronemillionpeopleriskedtheirlivestocrosstheMediterraneanSeaandenteredintoEuropetoseeksafetyandprotection;therefugeecriseswassuddenlypropelledtotheInternationalstage.ThisawakenedtheInternationalcommunity,asitconsideredthismassmigrationapotentialthreattointernationalpeaceandsecurity.TheEuropeancourtsonHumanRightsmadesomeverypositivedecisionsupholdingtheHumanRightsofrefugees,however,withanexceptionoffewgenerouscountrieslikeGermanyandSweden,mostcountriesshiedawayfromtheirshareofresponsibility.ThisresultedindisproportionateburdensharingbetweenEuropeancountries,eventuallymakingitharderforthecountrieswhichdecidedtohelp.Subsequently,moreandmoregovernmentsinEurope,cavedintotheprevalentxenophobiaandintolerance,furtherreducingrefugees’chanceofseekingsafetyandprotection.Therefore,inlightofthecatastrophichumanitariancrisesathand,Europe’scollectiveresponseatitsbestcanbecategorized,as‘poorlyplanned’and‘insufficient’.Inthisvein,thispaperaimstoexploretheEuropeanshortcomingsinaddressingthehumanitarianaspectoftherefugeecrises.Thepaperwillalsomakepolicyrecommendationsonthepossiblewayforward,mainlydrawingfromPakistan’sexperienceofhostingover1.56millionAfghanrefugeesandaddressingsimilarchallengesovertheyears.Keywords:International,HumanitarianandRefugeeCrises,Syria,Iraq,Afghanistan,Pakistan,Europe.