This paradox is at the heart of warnings about how foolish is a short-sighted approach to the global buildup in numbers of refugees, asylum speakers and displaced people. Ireland comes comparatively well out of Grandi’s assessment, though he criticises accommodation policies and the slow handling of refugee applications. He commends decisions to allow refugees to find work and recommends local policies such as community sponsorship of refugee families. The UNHCR’s valuable and steadfast pursuit of fair treatment for the world’s 26 million refugees, 3.5 million asylum seekers and 41 million internally displaced people deserves continued support by governments. It is all the more important in combatting short-sighted egotism masquerading as good public policy.

Source: The Irish Times July 15, 2019 05:00 UTC