“Having courage does not mean we are unafraid. Having courage and showing courage mean we face our fears. We are able to say, “I have fallen, but I will get up.”- Maya Angelou

It is said that the current global migrant crisis is the worst since WWII. While the influx of 1 million displaced people from war torn areas in the Middle East into Europe is making international headlines, the crisis is felt globally. Facing significant political unrest, Ethiopia, my country of origin, has overtaken Kenya as Africa’s largest host country for people escaping war torn regions in neighboring countries. According to the United Nations, forced displacement has topped over 50 million. People are escaping their homes and lands because of war, persecution, or hunger. Countries targeted by the masses are struggling to find the right balance between accepting a large influx of refugees and shutting their doors to newcomers.

I argue that there is no right balance and surely no perfect answer to the current migrant crisis. What we are currently experiencing is partially the result of global imbalances upheld for various economic and political gains over decades. Short sighted Western foreign policy practices and lack of human, technical and financial investment into sustainable development are contributing factors to the current crisis. It is clear that supporting terrorist or anti-democratic governments will not only lead to short term political and economic benefits for a privileged minority but also to long term societal damages that trigger mass exodus of its people.

As I reflect on my very own experiences as a refugee in Germany, I can only stress the importance of expressing basic human decency. I can vividly remember the exhaustion written on the faces of my parents and the hundreds of fellow refugees from Afghanistan, Eritrea, and Iran, amongst many others. While we were saddened to find ourselves in an unknown environment, we appreciated the mere fact of being alive and also remembered those who died in search for safety and protection. In the face of anxiety and insecurity, we all shared a common sense of relief. But we were also subjected to harsh anti-migrant sentiments that we are witnessing today. We, refugees, were comprised of farmers, homemakers, lawyers, doctors, and politicians and faced intolerance, xenophobia, and discrimination, while trying to adjust to a new environment.

Only seven years young, I wondered how I could come out of the valley of misery and pain victoriously and become a successful member of a new society. I felt a very deep sense of defeat and desire for greatness concurrently.

To deny asylum to people fleeing for their lives is inhumane. The negative narrative around refugees and migrants will not halt current and future displacements. It will only lead to refugees becoming more creative in continuing their passage into safety-wherever that journey may lead them to.

First, I believe that accepting refugees is only a temporary but very necessary fix. However, it is obvious that destination countries cannot have a permanent open door policy, which would be both unfeasible and unrealistic. Sustainable development also applies to developed countries in that societies should be peaceful, just and inclusive. An unrealistic, open door migrant policy would not only have an economical toll but also create a hostile society consisting of sub classes that are alienated, marginalized and deprived.

Even today, children of refugees find themselves isolated and regarded second class citizens in many host countries. While I was celebrated by some people as a best in class example of successful integration into the German society, it was only with strength, perseverance and hope that I managed to rise above the harsh realities of discrimination and rejection to pursue a dignified life. However, in my case, the German society did not provide me with the opportunities I was seeking, and so I spread my wings to open new doors in places where immigration had been an essential and historic part of the society’s fabric. I can only imagine the societal conflicts that would arise with an unmanageable number of newcomers that host countries would not only need to take care of but also facilitate the daunting task of integrating them into their societies. Countries like France and Germany are already struggling with the failed integration of second and third generations of immigrant communities.

In order to manage the waves of newcomers, destination countries need to create rules and principles by which they grant refuge and asylum into their lands. It is of utmost importance that countries work with multi-lateral institutions in order to establish international agreements that commit to the redistribution of refugees, in particular to address the flow of masses in times like these. While I applaud and am proud that Germany is taking almost 1 million refugees, I do think that other Western countries need to step up and partake in the humanitarian burden instead of focusing on futile anti-migrant rhetoric that ends in no action.

Second, many wealthy countries need to take a hard look at their past and current political and economic agendas that have contributed to the current migrant tragedy. Over decades, many Western countries have financially and militarily supported developing countries that may have shown remarkable economic growth. However, many of these countries have often failed to accomplish social and political progress, undermined by foreign policy interests that stand in direct conflict with goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals. Goal 16 aims “to promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies”, acknowledging that rule of law and development are significantly interrelated.

One cannot celebrate the success of economic growth and support the absence of rule of law which often triggers conflict and leads to domestic and international displacements. I myself have spent considerable amount of time in fragile regions and can testify to the negative consequences of lacking robust and transparent government institutions. Western governments need to carefully assess the support they provide if they aim to mitigate the future risks of desperate people arriving at their shores.

The current migrant crisis shows the true nature of global interdependence. Famine, persecution, and war in fragile regions are creating unrest and instability in rich economies. Focusing on helping to stabilize developing and emerging economies through participatory approaches in development can lead to capacity building, pro-poor economic growth as well as the establishment of transparent and accountable institutions.

I am a big believer in sustainable development and the positive effects it can create. As long as governments, global institutions and local civic representatives don’t come together to formulate and implement win-win policies that create stable, just and inclusive societies the world will continue to see displacements of epic dimensions.