UK parliament calls for global strategy to support refugee hosting states
People forced to flee their homes to escape conflict or persecution must often leave everything behind to make the dangerous journey to safety. © UNHCR/Roger Arnold
Ahead of the Global Refugee Forum later this year, the UK parliament’s International Development Committee (IDC) issued a call for meaningful debate on how the global community supports countries hosting large refugee populations to move from the initial humanitarian response to a longer-term development approach that incorporates the needs of host communities.
The Committee’s report says the international community must be able to demonstrate its lasting commitment to the host country and provide certainty that it will ‘stay the course’ of the refugee response.
According to the World Bank, 76% of current refugees have been displaced for more than five years.
Jordan and Lebanon
The IDC report considers the situation in Jordan and Lebanon, who have some of the highest levels of refugees per capita in the world. The countries have been at the forefront of the Syria response and have hosted Palestinian refugees for decades.
Jordan is now the second most water-scarce country in the world with some households seeing the frequency of their water supply fall from every week to every four weeks.
Lebanon’s economy has severely contracted since October 2019, with serious repercussions for healthcare and education.
Host countries are often left to pick up a disproportionate share of the costs but are rarely in a strong financial position to do so. These protracted crises can impact the economies and social cohesion of the host countries. The report sets out how these challenges should be addressed with long term international support delivered in such a way that it supports inclusion of refugees in national systems, including education.
Urgent need to ease the burden on hosting states
The Chair of the International Development Committee and a founding member of IPNEd, Sarah Champion MP, said:
“We are calling for the international community to stand in solidarity with countries that provide sanctuary to huge numbers of refugees. A sustainable global strategy is the only way to ensure that refugees and host communities in countries like Jordan and Lebanon receive the support they need in the long-term.
“It cannot be fair that rich nations like the UK can scale back their assistance when the tv cameras move on while those closest to crises continue to provide refuge, often for decades.
“The Global Refugee Forum is taking place later this year. We call on all governments, including the UK government to use this opportunity to be bold and bring effective, credible pledges for fair responsibility sharing to ensure that no refugee hosting country is left to pick up the tab while the rest of the world turns to the next crisis.”
Mobilising parliamentary support for greater responsbility sharing
Before the second Global Refugee Forum, IPNEd, UNHCR, the World Bank and the San Remo International Institute of Humanitarian Law are co-hosting an in-person parliamentary forum on international solidarity to deliver the Global Compact on Refugees at the San Remo Institute in Italy on 9 and 10 October 2023.
The Forum will allow parliamentarians to discuss opportunities, challenges, and ways in which responsibility-sharing in support of the objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees can be enhanced. This will include the development of concrete initiatives and durable solutions, including in respect of refugee access to education.
More infomration on the Forum including details on how to register are available at this link.