Susan Smith argues that the devastating truth about the refugee crisis in Europe proves why we need to address the rise of right-wing nationalism
It’s ironic that refugee week has fallen as the campaigns for Britain to remain in or leave the EU drew to a conclusion.
The EU referendum debate has focused on immigration, highlighted some truly ugly sentiments within British society and masked the humanitarian crisis that is occuring right now in Europe. Views that are more aligned to the unenlightened xenophobia of the Second World War generation have come to light as the UN reports that the problem of refugees has reached levels not seen since that disaster.
Since the 1940s, Britain has become a truly multi-cultural country. Its capital is one of the most diverse cities in the world, with around a third of London residents born outside the UK and 200 languages spoken every day.
No matter what the outcome of the EU referendum, we need to step up and respond to the spread of right-wing nationalistic views
For some of us, immigration makes our country exciting and energetic. Others clearly find it a threat.
The anti-immigration debate contrasts sharply with the sympathy expressed by British citizens after the death of three-year-old Alan Kurdî in September last year. That led to a rise in donations to help refugees and a swathe of petitions calling for the government to take in more refugees.
From a mainstream UK media perspective, however, it would seem the refugee crisis has calmed since last year. That’s not true. In January and February 2016, over 123,000 migrants landed in Greece, compared to about 4,600 in the same period of 2015. The death toll amongst migrants attempting to reach Europe up to the end of May 2016 was 2,443 compared to 1,828 in the same period last year, according to the International Organisations for Migration.
The situation is in fact so bad that this week, Médecins Sans Frontières made a public protest about theinadequacy of the EU response to the crisis by stating it would no longer accept EU funding.
No matter what the outcome of the EU referendum, Britain needs to step up and respond to the spread of right-wing nationalistic views. The anti-immigration debate during the referendum has covered the truth about the refugee crisis and the role of EU and non-EU immigrants in our society. It is this kind of thinking that leads neighbour to turn on neighbour and countries to end up at war.
Fortunately, there are still plenty of British citizens who want to welcome refugees to their communities. The Scottish Refugee Council’s refugee festival celebrated that fact this week.
But it’s not enough to just encourage more of this, what we really have to ask is why are British citizens so unhappy they are turning to extreme politics? And how can we ensure a fairer life for everyone in this country, both those who are born here and those who come here to build a better life?
