OPINION: UN Global Compacts For Migration And Refugees Lack Ambition

The Rohingya refugee crisis is perhaps the most pressing in modern history. Since a military campaign of ethnic cleansing began in late August, more than 671,000 Rohingya Muslims have crossed into Bangladesh, creating the world’s largest refugee settlements.

Despite appeals for humanitarian assistance and aid, the international community has fallen well short of the $950.8 million needed to save lives and improve conditions. This has placed a great deal of burden on UN agencies and the government of Bangladesh to stretch every dollar. Those who have fled violence and persecution in Myanmar continue to struggle with disease, starvation and meeting their basic needs. The Canadian government is mulling over recommendations on how to act.

This crisis highlights the need for global action on the movement of people around the world. Currently there are 244 million people living outside their country of birth, including 65 million who have been forcibly displaced, and an additional 31.1 million who have fled their homes but have not crossed any national borders.

At the international level, two Global Compacts for Migration and Refugees are being negotiated to bring forward common principles and practices that would guide responses to migration.

Read the entire article on the Huffington Post’s website.