REFUGEE CRISIS TAKES CENTRE STAGE: UNGA - COMMITTEE REPORT - DAY 2

 By Mekakannika. K

Day 1 of SMUN began at 11:00 AM after a short mock session. Five countries—Somalia, Canada, Bangladesh, Russia and Saudi Arabia—outlined their country’s stance on the assistance for refugees and displaced, with each country utilizing their allocated time of a minute and a half. Somalia kick-started the debate, affirming their commitment to adhering to international refugee conventions and their implemented policies to support refugees, offering humanitarian aid. Canada mentioned the Refugee Act of 1980 which established a systematic procedure for admitting refugees, and several refugee resettlement  programs governed by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) which provide financial and settlement support to refugees. Bangladesh stated that they’ve shown exceptional hospitality to refugees, the Rohingya refugees for instance, despite facing immense strain on its resources. The delegates of Turkey and Canada questioned Bangladesh about their efforts on dealing with the resource strain, to which Bangladesh stated that attempts on increasing the economic value of the country through international export are being carried out. The delegate of Russia talked about the help that they’ve offered to Ukrainian refugees for which they faced criticisms from the delegates of various countries like Turkey, Germany, and Somalia. Turkey questioned Russia about the massacre of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians, and many other brutal “atrocities” they have committed in the past, to which Russia stated that it was a war and that it had to be done to protect their country. Saudi Arabia concluded the first round of debate by talking about the various funds in partnership with international organizations such as the UNHCR and WHO to provide humanitarian support for refugees. 

The United Kingdom got majority votes on their moderated caucus topic—protection of vulnerable groups among refugees. The United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada, Bangladesh and France participated, discussing the help they are willing to provide to the more vulnerable refugees—women, children, people with disabilities, the LGBTQ community, the elderly, etc.—on the basis of employment, education, healthcare and shelter.

After the lunch break, at 1:30 PM, the chair announced the crisis which all the countries were to address—South Korean civilians seeking refugee in other countries due to a fallout from North Korea’s nuclear weapons testing. On one hand, few countries including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom, offered to provide temporary asylum instead of permanent refuge due to various problems within the country like abundance of already existing refugees, lack of geographical space, and poverty. On the other, various countries like Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, Somalia, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom, offered to provide ample support in relation to the 1951 Refugee Convention Treaty. South Korea, being in good relation with all the countries represented in the conference, received immense support and various solutions to their crisis. 

Day 1 concluded with the second round of moderated caucus during which various countries talked about their efforts on long term settlements and resettlements for refugees, a topic again chosen by the delegate of the United Kingdom. Nine countries—Japan, Somalia, Bangladesh, Turkey, Germany, Canada, Cambodia, Spain and the United Kingdom—participated. “Displacement doesn’t mean despair” said the delegate of the United Kingdom, wrapping up the first day of the conference on a positive note.