World Vision says refugee quota increase is a ‘small step’ in right direction

World Vision says the Government’s move to increase New Zealand’s refugee quota is a small step in the right direction, but more must be done given the unprecedented numbers of refugees and displaced people in the world today.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says the world is witnessing the highest levels of displacement on record, with 59.5 million people around the world forced from home.

Among them are 20 million refugees, over half of whom are under the age of 18. Some 42,500 people are forcibly displaced every day as a result of conflict or persecution.

The Chief Executive of World Vision, Chris Clarke, says many host countries are bearing the brunt of the refugee crisis, and the Government’s review of the refugee quota represented New Zealand’s opportunity to step up and do its fair share.

“It is heartening to see the New Zealand Government turn to face the severity of the migration crisis and consider its responsibilities on the refugee quota, after decades of inaction,” he said.

“But while we look forward to 250 extra refugees being able to call New Zealand home, we see this as a gesture, rather than a full response, and a fraction of what this country should be providing.”

World Vision and other organisations had asked the Government’s review of New Zealand’s refugee policy, to double our UN quota intake from 750 to 1500 over three years.

This would allow resettlement and social services sufficient time to adjust to the increase.

However, Mr Clarke said raising the quota should be just one part of this country’s response.

“We maintain that for every dollar spent on military deployment or training of foreign troops, New Zealand must spend the equivalent on humanitarian aid to alleviate the devastation caused by war. To do otherwise is to accept refugees are simply collateral damage.”

He welcomed the Government’s recent announcement it would be providing $2.5 million in matched funding for New Zealand-based non-government organisations to scale up their response to the Syrian refugee crisis.

World Vision is also urging the Government to use its elevated position on the United Nation’s Security Council to encourage other countries to do the same and honour their existing commitments.

“We pride ourselves on being a little country at the bottom of the world willing to speak truth to power – we need to reinforce that reputation, and make our two year tenure on the Security Council count,” said Mr Clarke.

“Our term on the council puts us at the heart of international decision-making, and allows us to hold some of the world’s most powerful nations to account…we should be continuing to urge them to realise their promises.”

The single largest humanitarian crisis the world is facing today is the Syrian Refugee Crisis. Four million people have fled Syria and Iraq for neighbouring Lebanon, Jordan, Iraqi Kurdistan and Turkey. A further 7.6 million people are displaced within Syria and Iraq.

“Those affected are not merely statistics; they are human-beings whose lives have been torn apart by war. Alarmingly, half of them are children at risk of becoming a lost generation; largely uneducated and entirely traumatised. These same young people will one day be expected to rebuild and govern their country. It is hardly a recipe for success,” said Mr Clarke.

ENDS

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