NGOs play a prominent role in refugee search and rescue (SAR) missions in the Mediterranean Sea. They are involved in more than 40 percent of all rescue missions for refugees in the region. Despite saving thousands of lives, NGOs regularly deal with harsh criticism. The opponents of these NGO’s accuse them of acting as a facilitator of the increased amount of refugees in the region and collaborating alongside human smugglers. The 2016 Turkey-EU refugee deal and the closure of the Balkan have increased the number of refugees embarking on the treacherous journey across the Mediterranean Sea. Often these vessels…
Author: Lena Riebl
Lena Riebl
Lena is from Leipzig, Germany, and is currently an exchange student at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Her academic interests include American Studies, history and international politics. Lena is a soup enthusiast: if she could only eat one food for the rest of her life, it would be potato soup!
SEATTLE — In 2012, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) launched food e-card programs in several countries neighboring Syria — Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq — to provide help for Syrian refugees. The cards, which look just like debit cards and can be used similarly, are charged with a set amount of money per month determined by family size. The food e-cards have several advantages over traditional in-kind food aid. Traditional food rations leave little room for choice and are limited to durable staples like grains and cooking oil. In contrast, with the e-cards, aid recipients can add fresh…
SEATTLE — The world’s population is aging. Many developed countries, in which the aging process is further advanced, are confronted with an increase of old-age poverty. In recent years, the number of people over the age of 60 has increased in virtually every region of the world, a trend that can be expected to continue, according to a 2015 U.N. report. In Japan, the aging process is the most advanced; it is the oldest country in the world, with a third of the population over the age of 60. Germany and Italy follow with 28 and 27 percent respectively. Economic…
BERLIN — High costs and the lack of required documents often create barriers to higher education for refugees in their host countries. In Germany, for instance, it often takes years until young refugees are able to enroll at colleges and universities. This issue prompted two German students to create an alternative: Kiron Open Higher Education. Providing refugees with access to higher education is not only a humanitarian mission. It is also a significant basis for the newcomers’ economic integration and enables them to gain financial independence. Additionally, host country businesses can profit from the skills and experiences of well-educated refugees.…