Ukraine crisis could overshadow plight of refugees elsewhere, warns UN refugee chief
Solidarity, generosity toward Ukrainians needed for other refugees too: Filippo Grandi
The crisis in Ukraine could overshadow the plight of refugees elsewhere, particularly if defence spending diverts resources from international development aid, says United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.
"I understand the necessity of [military spending]. It has proven necessary to respond to this crisis, unfortunately," Grandi told The Current's Matt Galloway.
"My only plea is here: don't take this away from development assistance."
Canada's development assistance program funds projects aimed at improving life in developing countries, though it has faced some controversy around the projects and locations receiving funding.
Canada spends much more on defence than development assistance, however both were slated to increase in last week's budget.
The federal government pledged an additional $8 billion in defence spending, including $500 million to arm Ukraine's military. Development assistance spending — which reached a record high of $7.6 billion in 2020-21, driven by efforts to help developing nations weather the pandemic — was projected to reach just over $8 billion total in 2022-23.
WATCH | Can Canada do more to help refugees?
Grandi said the funding can be "an easy target when it comes to reducing public budgets," and with all eyes on Ukraine, there is a risk that other conflict zones are "being overshadowed in terms of the political attention that they need to be resolved, [or] addressed at least."
"All of them deserve attention, and need it before they become bigger," he said.
While Grandi praised Canada's efforts so far, he said the generosity extended to Ukrainian refugees needs to be shown to non-Europeans as well.
Only 'a speck' of refugees resettled
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has displaced 4.7 million people in just seven weeks, according to UNHCR. Those refugees have largely fled west, spreading across Europe.
In figures that predate Russia's invasion, the UNHCR estimates 82.4 million people worldwide have been forcibly displaced from their homes due to conflict or persecution. More than two thirds of those come from just five countries: Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, South Sudan and Myanmar.
Grandi said that of those tens of millions, only "a speck" will ever be permanently resettled in a country like Canada.
"In good years, we resettle between 100,000 and 200,000 … the bulk stays in countries that are poor, that have other challenges," he said, referring to efforts by UNHCR.
That's why it's important to provide development assistance and other supports to those poorer countries that host the majority of displaced people, he said.
Grandi met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a visit to Ottawa last week, and said he got the sense that the federal government understands it cannot neglect other crises.
He said Canada is a country that relies on immigration to meet labour needs, but also does not directly receive as many refugees as other countries, due to geographical location.
That means the country can afford to have a large resettlement program, he said.
"It's a mix of necessity and solidarity, and I think that Canada plays it very well," he said.
What an extraordinary privilege to be invited by <a href="https://twitter.com/SeanFraserMP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SeanFraserMP</a> to a citizenship ceremony for 80 new Canadians, including some refugees.<br><br>Witnessing the moment in which they became citizens of this free, vibrant and diverse nation was one of the most moving experiences of my life. <a href="https://t.co/bgnDf3PC3m">pic.twitter.com/bgnDf3PC3m</a>
—@FilippoGrandiSyrian family split by war
Some refugees who find new beginnings in Canada are forced to leave loved ones behind.
A year after Alaa Alakel came to Toronto to study, Russia started to bomb her home town of Kafr Nabl, in Syria's Idlib province. Her family's home was destroyed — but they got out just in time.
Alakel was granted refugee status to stay in Canada and continue her studies, but her family ended up in a refugee camp in northern Syria.
I wish that the government would extend this policy for Syrians, but I'm still happy for the Ukrainians.- Alaa Alakel, Syrian refugee separated from family
She hasn't seen her parents or siblings since 2017, but stays in touch when the camp's patchy internet allows. She tutors math in the evenings, sending them whatever money she saves.
"I don't care if I have to give up all my life, just to at least make them comfortable in a war zone, because I don't know if I'm going to see them again," she said.
Alakel said there are financial and bureaucratic obstacles to bringing them to Canada, including the fact that they can only make a refugee claim at an embassy outside their home country.
"It's a lot of money. It's a lot of work, and I have none of this," she said.
Following the invasion of Ukraine, the federal government pledged to take in an unlimited number of Ukrainians.
"I wish that the government would extend this policy for Syrians, but I'm still happy for the Ukrainians," Alakel said.
"Honestly, I don't want anybody to suffer the way we're suffering."
Ukraine help 'not a refugee program': IRCC
In a statement, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said that each humanitarian crisis requires a tailored response, and "there are no simple answers to unique and complex situations."
The department pointed out that the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel (CUAET) "is for Ukrainians and their family members who want to come to Canada temporarily while the situation in Ukraine unfolds and then return home. It is not a refugee program."
The statement also said that IRCC "will continue to look at more ways that Canada can support those in need of protection," but said that "for refugees resettled from abroad, Canada relies on referrals from the UNHCR or another designated referral organization, or a private sponsorship group."
Grandi said racism has played a role in how the world has responded to Ukrainian refugees, compared to those from other countries — but he hoped the public solidarity for Ukraine could be applied elsewhere.
"Fear is fear," he said. "You are afraid of bombs in Ukraine, as you are afraid of fighting in villages in Africa, or afraid of persecution and discrimination if you are a Muslim Rohingya."
"Everybody needs the same compassion, the same solidarity and the same support."
He also hopes to see a change at government level.
WATCH | Ukraine crisis shows how we can help refugees everywhere: Grandi
"For a long time, we were told by ... politicians, 'It's impossible. They have to go back. We have to build walls," he said.
"Well now, Europe has taken in four and a half million in just over a month, so it is possible."
'We left them behind'
Human rights advocate Razia Sayad fled Afghanistan as the Taliban retook power last August, but couldn't evacuate her staff at the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission.
"We encouraged them to work for human rights, for democratic values and for humanity in the last 20 years," said Sayad, who was commissioner at the organization.
"And then we left the country, and we left them behind."
Sayad was granted permanent residency in Canada. She came here in October, settling in Ottawa in December.
She's helped to get almost 100 of her staff to safety in Europe, but about a dozen remain in Afghanistan, under threat and in hiding from the Taliban.
Sayad said the federal government hasn't been forthcoming with help because staff didn't have direct contracts with Canada's embassy or army — but she thinks that shouldn't be the only consideration.
"My suggestion is that they should consider the vulnerability, in addition to the affiliation," she said.
IRCC said in a statement that it is "unable to provide details on specific cases," but that the federal government remains firm in its October pledge to bring 40,000 Afghan refugees to Canada, and has "welcomed over 10,600 Afghan refugees," as of April 8.
In March, IRCC told CBC News that IRCC efforts to resettle Afghans faster had been hampered by multiple factors, outside its control.
WATCH | Refugee crisis will only grow without unified approach: Grandi
Grandi said there are Afghans who need help leaving, for their own safety. But he added that UNHCR's priority is now "to help those who will remain."
He urged world leaders to continue to engage with the Taliban, to avoid "a major humanitarian crisis and possibly an exodus of Afghans."
Dialogue and negotiation are also needed on a global scale, he added.
"If we cannot solve conflicts, if we cannot make peace, we will not have 95 million refugees and displaced people. We'll have many, many more — very, very soon," he said.
Written by Padraig Moran. Produced by Julie Crysler, Lindsay Rempel, Ben Jamieson and Matt Meuse.