Duterte offers to take in refugees

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte has offered to welcome to the Philippines refugees from around the world.

In an Al Jazeera report on Thursday, November 17, Duterte said his decision to take in refugees was triggered by the failure of western countries to help them. 

There has been a 300% increase in the number of people displaced by force from their homes. It is estimated that 1.8 million people became refugees in 2015.

“I say send them to us. We will accept them. We will accept them all. They are human beings,” Duterte said.

He added: “They can always come here. I will welcome them until we are filled to the brim.”

He did not elaborate on how the Philippines would deal with the arrival of refugees.

Wealthiest nations ‘do the least’

Duterte said western nations appeared to “be very accommodating on human rights [issues] but suddenly change course and say no” when it comes to welcoming people who are fleeing from conflict.

In an October report, Amnesty International said many of the world’s wealthiest nations “host the fewest and do the least” for refugees.

The organization also said that the top 10 hosts for refugees are not the wealthiest countries. The top 4 hosts are Jordan (more than 2.7 million people), Turkey (more than 2.5 million), Pakistan (1.6 million), and Lebanon (more than 1.5 million).

Iran, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Chad round out the list.

“You stay there. We will build a wall [and put up] barbed wire. And now the hypocrite is there, staring at us eyeball to eyeball,” the Philippine president said.

Duterte has received criticism from the United Nations, the European Union, and the United States over possible human rights violations in his ongoing war against drugs. (READ: Duterte requires ‘public debate’ with UN expert before probe – DFA)

More than 4,800 deaths have been tallied in the drug war – made up of deaths from police operations and deaths from vigilante-styled or extrajudicial killings – since Duterte began office on July 1. – Rappler.com