World’s six richest countries host nine per cent of refugees

The UK currently hosts less than one per cent of displaced people

 

Poor countries are bearing the brunt of the refugee crisis, as the world’s wealthiest countries shirk responsibility, according to a new report publish by Oxfam today.

The study, A Poor Welcome From the World’s Wealthy, finds that the UK, the US, France, Germany and Japan collectively host just nine per cent of refugees and asylum seekers (2.1 million), despite making up half of the global economy.

While Germany has, in recent years, welcomed far more refugees than the other six countries, the UK is host to less than one per cent of the world’s total.

The current number of refugees around the world is the highest since records began, 65 million people having fled their homes due to conflict and violence.

More than half of those are resident in six countries that comprise less than two per cent of the global economy— Jordan, Turkey, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Pakistan and Lebanon

‘This is one of the greatest challenges of our time,’ commented Mark Goldring, chief executive of Oxfam GB. ‘Yet poorer countries and poorer people are left to shoulder the responsibility.’

He continued:

 “Now more than ever, the UK needs to show that it is an open, tolerant society that is prepared to play its part in solving this  crisis. It is shameful that as one of the richest economies the UK has provided shelter for less than one per cent of refugees.”

See also: Ask refugees if Theresa May offers ‘a safe pair of hands’

4 Responses to “World’s six richest countries host nine per cent of refugees”

  1. zigzag 2016

    Forgot to mention Saudi Arabia again, didn’t ya.
    So why should they take any at all?
    That’s what I’d like to know,
    Why should the 6 richest countries take ANY AT ALL?
    WHY?

  2. CR

    These are not refugees. They are economic migrants.

  3. Jacko

    Dripping with sixth-form naivety and self-righteousness.

  4. ad

    People in Syria who wish to avoid the fighting there can do so by moving to Turkey or Jordan. If they then move on to the UK, they are not leaving Jordan to avoid the fighting in Syria.

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