UN refugee chief encouraged by Pope in the quest for just migration policies
By Linda Bordoni
Speaking to Vatican Radio immediately after a papal audience on Monday morning, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees commented on the Holy Father's upcoming apostolic journey to two African nations where millions of people have been forced to flee violence, and spoke of the need for a common and just legislative model to guarantee the respect of human dignity for all.
After having been received in audience by Pope Francis, Filippo Grandi said the Pope’s personal encouragement provided him with a much-needed energy recharge after a heart-breaking visit to Ukraine.
“As always,” a meeting with Pope Francis, Filippo Grandi said, “is immensely inspiring.” Especially for someone like himself, whose job entails dealing with so many desperate situations: “Desperate for people and desperate in political terms, because they seem to have no issue most of the time.”
This meeting came on the heels of having spent six days in devastated Ukraine, Grandi added: “So I did need that moral booster.”
The voice of the Pope
The UN refugee chief expressed his firm belief that Pope Francis’ tireless appeal to welcome, protect, promote, and integrate our brothers and sisters on the move is “phenomenally important in so many ways, and beyond the Church, [...] globally.”
For example, he continued, the upcoming trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to South Sudan, which was discussed during the papal audience, provides the occasion to remind the world that “there are conflicts that are largely forgotten,” and that “when you have a huge crisis - a high profile crisis like Ukraine - that forgetfulness increases somehow.”
Humanitarian awareness
It is also important, Grandi said, “that he reminds the world that the consequences of these conflicts need to be dealt with. That means humanitarian responses need to be supported.”
And then, he said, it is important that the Pope encourages peace efforts, “because very often they are not sufficiently supported internationally, and therefore they linger for years without much result, as we have seen, certainly in eastern Congo, and to an extent, on and off around the South Sudan conflict as well.”
As mentioned, both these countries pose significant challenges to humanitarian organizations that work with migrants and refugees because of the sheer number of people who are displaced and fleeing violence in both nations.
UNHCR
UNHCR operates together with other UN agencies, NGOs, and civil society groups in DRC and in South Sudan, notwithstanding the danger for officials and aid workers.
“These are among two of the most dangerous areas in the world,” Grandi said.
So, he continued, “we look to this [papal] visit to highlight this important aspect.”
The vicious circle of violence and displacement
Another issue Grandi said he discussed with Pope Francis regards the vicious circle of violence and displacement.
As we have seen with the recent tensions between Rwanda and Congo, he explained, “it becomes a factor that needs to be addressed.”
Learning the lesson
Grandi’s mandate and vision are much broader than tackling refugee issues in specific areas. UNHCR’s mission, international outreach, and presence mean having to deal with a lack of common policies and political diversity in an increasingly polarised and divided world.
Asked what his hopes are for the year to come, he reflected on the lessons garnered from the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Describing the situation in Ukraine as a terrible tragedy, the High Commissioner noted that the fact that such a huge number of Ukrainian refugees have been welcomed and offered shelter and assistance has led to comments by some regarding double standards and discrimination towards migrants and refugees from other regions.
“But I try to see this from the positive side,” Grandi continued, noting that important lessons have been learnt: “Temporary protection, access of refugees to services, to the job market, freedom of movement.”
Reflecting on how it is inevitable that people will continue to migrate, Grandi said the response Europe has had for Ukraine has “created a model along lines that we've been advising governments to follow for many decades.”
On this theme, Grandi concluded, he discussed the Global Compact for Migration with the Pope and said they agreed it is “the way to go.”
Because, he reiterated, that is not only humane, it is also effective.
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