The EU must reach out to the refugees but Gulf States should too

Worldwide there are now nearly 60 million refugees and people displaced by conflict and violence fleeing for their lives – most of them towards Europe.

Europe must reach out to those in need of protection, but we need a lot of wise heads in the corridors of power to ensure that promises made at this point in time don’t lead to more chaotic situations down the road.

A petition is circulating around social media at the moment, calling for two urgent steps to be taken immediately, preferably by the United Nations under their auspices:

1) Reception centres should be established outside of the European Union, and at the borders, so that the proper regulations and vetting can be maintained; order and the rule of law must be re-established; and

2) Wealthy Gulf States - like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Iran - should be asked to start accommodating some of these refugees.

This should have been done long before now, but better now than never.

Genuine refugees, once they are assured of receiving just and equitable treatment, will happily seek shelter in these centres.

Also, the establishment of these centres will have the added effect of quelling the fears of those who claim that ISIS is using the refugee crisis to sneak potential terrorists into Europe.

The petition also calls on the UN and NATO to provide medical, humanitarian, logistical and organizational assistance in the Middle East.

Also launching concrete projects to help reconstruct parts of the Middle East ravaged by war – such as farms, schools, hospitals and roads – which would speed the recovery of peace and calm, and would allow people to return to their homes.

I believe it makes sense.

Nora Bennis

Revington Park

North Circular Road

Limerick