As refugee crisis explodes, U.N. faces scrutiny

As Europe hardens its stance and tensions between refugees and police become more explosive, many are scorning the U.N.’s inaction. Critics, who include former U.N. High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) staffers and humanitarian policy experts, said the refugee agency should have been more assertive in opening doors in Europe, as it has done in past crises, such as the exodus from Hungary in 1956 and the plight of Vietnamese boat people in the 1970s and 1980s. One reason for the lack of bold early action in Syria may have been a belief that the conflict would be over quickly.

Complacency might be a little bit too strong, but until mid-2012 there was a sense that clear heads would prevail [in Syria].

Joel Charny, vice president for Humanitarian Policy and Practice at InterAction, an alliance of U.S.-based relief and development organizations

A March 2015 evaluation by the U.N.’s internal audit arm said the agency was hampered by being too focused “around an emergency response model” and was failing to get governments to see the benefits of integrating refugees into their own economies. UNHCR rejected criticism of its part in the European crisis, saying UNHCR chief Antonio Guterres has been pressing European governments to take more refugees for years.

We have been constantly calling for strong reception and registration capabilities to be introduced in these countries. It’s not new that people have been arriving. It’s just become so dramatic.

Melissa Fleming, UNHCR chief spokeswoman

Europe Refugee crisis