Podcast (in Dutch)
'It's hallucinatory,' argues Middle East expert Willem Staes, 'that after all these years politicians still come up with: "I have a new idea; what if we make sure refugees find shelter in the region." Three-fourths are already in that region as it is.' Sheltering refugees in the region is therefore not a solution, but a given. And a lot goes wrong in that region, notes professor of Migration Law Tineke Strik. The fact that the EU keeps its borders closed, even with the latest migration pact, strengthens regional countries to discriminate against refugees and even deport them. Strik: "How can you ask other countries to take in refugees, while you yourself say: not in my backyard?"
Listen to this podcast from Radboud Reflects with conflict researcher Nora Stel, professor of migration law Tineke Strik and Middle East expert Willem Staes on providing shelter for refugees in the region.