Gulf states, BRICs should do more for Syrian refugees: US
52
WASHINGTON: Wealthy Gulf Arab states such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar as well as the so-called BRICs emerging market nations should do more to help Syrian refugees, a senior United States (US) official said on Friday.
"I would like to see more aid come from the Gulf states that are in the Middle East area and are relatively wealthy compared to Jordan and Lebanon," Assistant Secretary of State Anne Richard told C-SPAN's 'Newsmakers' program.
"We would also like to see more from the so-called BRICs — Brazil, Russia, India, China and, to a lesser extent South Africa," she added.
"These are the wealthy states that care about the region that could and should be doing more on the humanitarian side."
About 250,000 people have died and some four million driven abroad as refugees because of the Syrian conflict, which began in 2011 with protests against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has evolved into a full-blown civil war.
The majority of the refugees have flowed into neighbouring nations such as Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon but hundreds of thousands have also made their way to Europe.
Richard said that some Gulf Arab states such as Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had contributed strongly for refugees while others, such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, could do more.
She said some Gulf states' contributions for refugees varied from year to year and that she would like to see their efforts better integrated into the international humanitarian system.
None of the six states in the Gulf Cooperation Council — Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar — has signed the United Nations (UN) convention on refugees, which has governed international law on asylum since World War Two.
Gulf states say they have taken in hundreds of thousands of Syrians since the civil war began — just not as refugees.
The Saudi Press Agency in September cited an official source in the foreign ministry as saying that the kingdom had received nearly 2.5 million Syrians since the conflict erupted.
The source said Saudi Arabia had given those who wished to stay residency, including such benefits as free health care, and had provided humanitarian aid to countries hosting Syrian refugees and via international relief organisations.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (52) Closed
Nov 07, 2015 01:09pm
Yes they should spend money to send these refugees to Iran or USA.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 01:09pm
I think all the countries can help by not supporting any group and not providing any weapons. And Syrian people can help themselves by not being stupid.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 01:15pm
There is nothing "so-called" about BRICS... BRICS is a reality of this Century... Digest it people...
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 01:19pm
Whatever, modi looks outstanding.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 01:19pm
Yes the rich countries like China, India, SA, Qatar etc must do more to help Syrian refugees.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 01:28pm
"We would also like to see more from the so-called BRICs — Brazil, Russia, India, China and, to a lesser extent South Africa," she added.
BRICs countries are under recession they cannot take care of themselves , how can they help others ,silly statement makes no sense at all.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 01:35pm
@Salim Khan yaar there are already 3-4 crore illegal migrants(bangladeshi,srilankan tamilians,rohingyas etc) here in india...and 70 lakh legal(nepalese,tibetans etc) migrants...do you think we need more?..india is not rich where cheap labour is beneficiary.!!
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 01:48pm
BRICS are now next power house of the world.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 01:57pm
American created mess should be cleaned by Europe & Gulf. Great strategy.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 01:59pm
BRICS didnt start the problem by removing Saddam and Gaddafi. The people who started this problem and their allies need to deal with it.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 02:19pm
Look who's talking!
American and their stooges the Brits et al, broke Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Afghanistan etc. But want someone else to bear the burden of fixing it, or to solve the refugee crisis!
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 02:31pm
More aid is simply not required except food,medical,and clothing and shelter aids.One solution to all problem.Total Full stop on gun and Ak 47s and their ammunition in black market world wide and all terrorist organization will disappear overnight.Let them fight with sticks.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 02:35pm
Yes as a major economy, India should help refugees
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 03:10pm
@Zak BRICS countries did not invade Afghanistan, Iraq not raided Libya, Syria or Yemen, So they should not be expected to bear the burden of the mess created by the Western countries, mainly U.S. British and the French!
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 03:33pm
India already bearing huge amount of refugees all over the neighboring countries & already India has Huge Huge population. Why don't they solve the problem in Syria instead of helping refugees.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 03:44pm
Look who is / are standing on the country flag in the picture
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 03:52pm
Among the BRICS - R is in big trouble from economic sanctions. US says something when it suits its political activities at home and economic reality people consumption.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 04:31pm
"These are the wealthy states that care about the region that could and should be doing more on the humanitarian side."
Look at the double standards of US. They dont consider India and Brazil as developed nations for all other matter and also point out the poverty etc in the respective country. However now they are saying "wealthy states". Shame on you US. Who created mess and initiated wars in all Islmaic countries? Afghan, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan..list endless.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 04:58pm
@Mahmood your statement is good and ligical.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 05:07pm
The powers who have created this situation should sort the mess. The big powers want the world to sort the awfull mess. The west should pay the Syrian people the damage done to their country.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 05:09pm
India and China are already too populated,the western nation have less population so they can easily absorb the migrants in large number and besides the mess were created by them so they should bear the responsibility.Likewise they created too much pollution due to industrial revolutions last century and asking us to cut emission on climate change.But since cutting emission is also in the interest of all nations so voluntary cutting should be no problem so is humanitarian crisis. US and EU jointly created the mess and now EU is taking refugees in large number but US is not.So US should also bear the responsibility and start taking refuges in its own territory rather than try to pass it to BRICs.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 05:16pm
Gulf States should do MORE? Actually, they should do SOMETHING, since they have done nothing to date.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 05:27pm
US passing the buck here. As for BRICS, only Russia and China can afford to help, the other 3 need help themselves, specially poverty stricken india.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 05:28pm
Parents of ISIS, Israel and America, should do more.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 05:32pm
Those countries take this responsibility who initiated Arab spring. You must pay their families who were killed.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 05:52pm
@Zak Whats u r doin these days...??? brics r emerging economy not in recession
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 05:53pm
@Zak "US passing the buck here. As for BRICS, only Russia and China can afford to help, the other 3 need help themselves, specially poverty stricken india."
Your ignorance has no bound,taunting India where it is not necessary.Btw for your kind information the sheer size of all BRICs economy except South Africa enables them to afford anything.India's economy is currently bigger than Brazil and Russia except China and you says India cannot afford.Good luck for your IQ.But the question here is not about affording but about why should these nations take the burden that they have not created but they can help in providing aid on humanitarian ground.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 05:58pm
Stop supporting different groups by weapons and money, the problem is solved
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 06:07pm
you keep in destroying and we keep on building things
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 06:47pm
I wish India takes the initiative and help the Syrian refugees.Rope in China and Brazil and Russia as well?
It is heart-breaking to see the ordeal of little children, the old and the infirm, and the human misery.
India should not get into politics, but just help them, the way Nepal was helped after the earthquake?
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 07:09pm
You should be citing the example of Pakistan whom took 6 million Afghan refugees during Russian invasion and still paying to this day. And what to say of these unworthy Afghans who know nothing but to blame their hosts. As for the Gulf states, these are pretty much heartless people. They consider everyone a sub standard human being except only Arabs from Gulf.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 07:15pm
why BRICS? should be just KSA, one solely or at least mostly responsible for this disaster, should be paying for all displaced Syrian.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 08:31pm
The U.S. has only one advise for everyone else nowadays - DO MORE!
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 08:33pm
The westerners create mess every where and then leave people at their own fate.They settled European jews in Israel after holocaust instead of settling them in their respective countries of Europe,which latter on became a big problem and cause of immense bloodshed.These western countries are responsible for bloodshed in Iraq,Afghanistan,Syria,Palestine,Egypt & many more places.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 09:16pm
Saudi Arab and their allys should be help responsible for Syria refugees problem, specially Kings of Saudi Ariba and rich middle eastern country who started this war in Syria shall take all Syrian refugees in their country. Non muslim countries have been doing more for refugees than these muslim dictators the Middle East. Shame on Saudi Arabia who was the instigator, started Syria and Yemen war so they can protect their dynasty.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 09:57pm
This is an Arab problem as such they should solve it themselves.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 10:45pm
@Vectra
Your assertion that India has bigger GDP than Russia & Brazil sounds good however it's does not mean that India's standard of living is better than even Bangladesh and Srilanka. It's undeniable fact that More than one million people live all their life on Footpaths in Calcutta alone.
There is nothing wrong in accepting reality. May be after five decades you will be in a position to take refugees provided you adopt one child policy like Chinese did and solve problems with your neighbours like Nepal, China Pakistan and Srilanka.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 11:16pm
BRICS are with seryan Govt, does US does not know.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 11:22pm
@Zak : You can help others what ever you have. If you have one bread you can still help other who is hungry.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 11:25pm
@Bitter truth : India is already helping millions of Bangladeshi, tamilians migrants.
Recommend
0
Nov 07, 2015 11:30pm
I think gulf countries should contribute more because they are the rich and very near to Syria. But others can also contribute based on their capacity. Even a poor can help other poor if he wants to help.
Recommend
0
Nov 08, 2015 12:35am
Whatever natural resources including oil available in Syria belongs to its citizens and should be utilized for the welfare of all Syrian refugees by Gulf states and BRICS.
Recommend
0
Nov 08, 2015 12:51am
@Zak
Recommend
0
Nov 08, 2015 12:59am
Zak on what basis you say India is in recession. Brazil is in recession. Russia is almost there. China is slowing down and India is the only bright spot in emerging markets as per report published by WEF, IMF and World Bank.
India has notched up significantly in ease of doing business, is the largest recipient of Global FDI, has the worlds largest remittances.
The stock market looks positive and so do the bond and debt markets. Inflation is manageable and food stocks are abundant.
Govt. Business focussed firms have solid order books. Only steel is reeling due to Chinese dumping. Cement looks in good position. In other BRICS the auto industry which is bacbone is in tough situation.
I don't think what you said is factually right.
Recommend
0
Nov 08, 2015 01:40am
Iraq, Libya and Syria mega-mess is a creation of the US and Britain ... all the refugees should go to these two countries ... unfortunately, other countries in Europe are bearing the brunt ... !!
Recommend
0
Nov 08, 2015 02:50am
Did BRICS countries create Syriyan refugees? Let the nations that created them take care of them.
Recommend
0
Nov 08, 2015 03:15am
Catastrophic human tragedy,after Rawanda wherein 800000 people were killed in merely 100 days.It is for UN to intervene more aggressively to stop the fighting between the parties as early as possible,intensify the rescue and relief operations,no single country can tackle this gigantic mission.
Recommend
0
Nov 08, 2015 04:54am
We live in a very contradictory world. On one side we fight agonist each other for proving in what we believe in is better than the others. On the other hand we say we are helping those who are affected by the crisis. Is this not really a total contradiction of all human rights issues. One of the very basic United Nations Charter just deals with that topic. Where are we going wrong. Are we the manipulators of UN Charter or supporters of the United Nations Charter.
We must decide how we want to see our planet earth go up in the air in fumes or make it a peaceful and a livable planet. Everything mostly is in human hands for making a good or bad choice.
Live and let live each other in peace.
Recommend
0
Nov 08, 2015 06:10am
Why?? Syrian crisis is a power struggle between USA and Russia for petroleum. Saudi has joined it out of sheer naivete. Why should BRICS take responsibility for their foolishness? Why not ask Israel which is a neighbor to Syria to help?
At least we in India are very clear to not step into this power influence game of wealthy nations.
Recommend
0
Nov 08, 2015 07:08am
@misaq You pointed out the right solution for the problem.
Recommend
0
Nov 08, 2015 07:31am
@Mahmood BRICS countries did not invade Afghanistan, Iraq not raided Libya, Syria or Yemen, So they should not be expected to bear the burden of the mess created by the Western countries, mainly U.S. British and the French!
Spot on.
Recommend
0
Nov 08, 2015 10:16am
@sandeep Well Said.
Recommend
0
