ETHICS GS IV ::17-AUGUST-2019: SECTION B

Q1. You are the officer in charge of overseeing refugees’ related issues in Assam. There is an ethnicity cleansing going on in a Myanmar region and as a result, many people are being displaced. The violence in the region has increased recently and the flux of people seeking refuge has grown substantially. With countries sealing their borders, the refugees are left in a vulnerable situation. You are sent to negotiate for humanitarian settlement of refugees with the neighbouring states, who also happen to be a powerful vote bloc. However, they refuse any more accommodation on the following grounds:

(a) Drainage of resources in face of subdued economic conditions.

(b) Domestic political repercussions.

(c) Rehabilitation will encourage more influx and indirectly fuel the persecutors.

(d) Permanency of settlement in face of better prospects than at home.

What are the counter-arguments that can be cited to convince the countries for an immediate solution? Suggest some long term measures as well that should be followed to address the problem.