Empowerment of refugees is necessary

The article about refugees is positive because it is written from the perspective of a refugee and by a refugee. True, empowerment of refugees is necessary. True, help for them should go beyond assistance. True, they give back to the host country’s economy more than they take from it (“Refugees can be masters of their own destiny,” Dec. 21, Gulf Today).

But, because this article is written by a refugee, it fails to take into account the perspective of the citizen of the host country. Despite helping the economy, does the host citizen really want to share their country with a refugee? No. Why? There’s a reason they are called refugees. They have run away from their country and thus, a cap cannot and is not put on the quality of people the host country is taking in. The writer cannot generalise everyone as having skills and contributing.

General unrest has increased in Europe because whether you like it or not, nobody wants intruders in their homes. Unruly behaviour, the trauma of the refugee country, strain on basic resources such as water and garbage management as well as a clash of cultures are few of the issues.

There’s a reason why there are countries and citizenships. One cannot extoll refugees and say it’s a good thing. It is not. What would be good is if these refugees use their skills to go back to their own countries and contribute to their own development there. Period.

Jane Anderson — By email