Refugees represent an opportunity, not a challenge

There are now more than 50 million people living as refugees worldwide, fleeing conflict and climate change. The international community is required to provide more support than ever before. Many countries view an influx of refugees merely as a problem. However, with every crisis comes opportunity. When refugees receive full rights to engage meaningfully with the local economy and are given unimpeded access to work, not only do they relieve a host country of burden by supporting themselves, they also benefit the local economy. It is a simple fact, but one too often ignored: refugees can be good for the economy. Rather than considering refugees a drain on local resources, one should see their potential to become a productive, sell-sufficient human capital windfall. Allowing refugees to achieve self-sufficiency is not just a fulfillment of your commitment to human rights, it is a wise policy that can reap rewards for all.