IN the last article, we spoke
of how Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s had ignored Russian President
Vladmir Putin’s opposition to Ukraine formally joining the North-Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO), which resulted in the current war.
Now, we will be talking on how
the conflict had created a massive refugee crisis not seen in decades and how
the European Union (UN) is bearing the brunt of the preventable conflict.
The
conflict and refugees
The United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has issued a warning that the humanitarian
crisis that has engulfed Ukrainians is only getting started. It is estimated
that over four million people would become refugees, with millions more
displaced within Ukraine as a result of Russian offensive.
Meanwhile, EU have announced
that they will activate the temporary protection directive, which has been
dormant since the wars in Yugoslavia and Kosovo in 2001.
Temporary protection,
according to the European Commission, is an unusual measure designed to provide
urgent and temporary protection to displaced persons from non-EU countries who
are unable to return to their home country.
There are two reasons for the
EU’s minimum criteria on this matter. First, it eliminates inconsistencies in
EU Member States’ policies on the reception and treatment of displaced persons
in times of mass influx. Second, it fosters cooperation and burden-sharing
among EU member states in the face of large-scale potential refugee arrivals.
It applies where there is a
possibility that the standard asylum system would be unable to cope with demand
resulting from a large influx, causing delays in claim processing.
Ukrainian refugees would be
allowed to remain and work in the EU for up to three years, according to
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
This would allow Ukrainian
nationals and permanent residents to live, work, access healthcare, housing and
education without having to go through long asylum proceedings for up to a
year. That status could be extended for another two years if the war continues
or if refugees are unable to return safely.
Even if the EU’s action is
commendable, I believe that this conflict could have been avoided in the first
place. This is due to the fact that women and children are the hapless victims
of any conflict.
A leader’s most important
responsibility is to safeguard his people, especially the children. The safety
and well-being of these children is critical.
The mental health of young
children who witnessed bombings and, in some cases, the deaths of their
parents, will have a long-term impact on their lives.
As a result, any leader who is
about to participate in a dispute must assess whether it is necessary or can be
averted by placing a high priority on the protection of children.
The
innocent suffers
Any conflict, including the
Ukraine crisis, ends with a reminder of what leaders and wars can do to
innocent people.
War is never a feasible
option. War is the playground of egotistical leaders who are apathetic to the
lives of ordinary people.
The League of Nations’
inability to prevent World War II put an end to its role as an international
organisation. The UN’s failure to avoid wars on several occasions raises doubts
about the organisation’s efficiency.
People should be involved in
decision-making process, rather than expecting their leaders. For example,
altruistic leaders like former South African President Nelson Mandela put their
lives on the line for the people, not the other way around.
As history has often demonstrated, “great leaders” frequently make grave errors, particularly during conflicts in which they pawn their own people for their own self- grandeur. – March 13, 2022
Source: https://focusmalaysia.my/european-union-picking-up-the-pieces-for-ukraines-blunder/
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