APROPOS the news report (Oct 3) reflecting the UNHCR Report on the growing ranks of the world’s refugees. It is a matter of shame and sadness that more than two million had to flee their homes and countries during 2017.

Much of these refugees and asylum seekers had to flee persecution, starvation, destroyed homes and lives, and trauma at the hands of an aggressive human majority and that too in the developing regions of Africa and Asia, where poverty is still widespread in spite of rapid economic progress having been achieved in the last few decades.

Whereas the tide of refugees keeps on growing, the developed world has displayed xenophobia. Australia’s policy towards the boat people is a case in point and so are the utterances of President Donald Trump towards the Mexicans. However, in Germany, Angela Markel had the guts to let in a million-odd Syrian migrant refugees.

Pakistan is another great country which still supports and houses around 2-3 million Afghan migrants and refugees, owing to a host of reasons because the conditions in their homeland are still far from pleasant.

The UNHCR, in conjunction with great economic powers and responsible countries especially Germany, UK, France, Pakistan, Iran and Bangladesh, need to develop a focused yet flexible politico-economic policy for all refugees.

Our great religions teach us to accommodate one another and not to resort to wanton destruction of each other’s homes, habitats and lives out of jealousy, hatred or greed.

Abbas R. Siddiqi

Lahore

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2017