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THE FORGOTTEN MILLION


With the news of recent terror attacks around the world and the messy and bizarre Presidential campaigns in this country, we have forgotten the world’s displaced population of nearly 60 million people, of whom 20 million are stranded outside of their own countries. The latest drownings of terrified migrants plunged into the Mediterranean sea, put the death toll, so far for this year, to more than 2,000 innocent people looking for a better life. Last year, more than 3,700 migrants died in the Mediterranean, and according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) a figure that could be surpassed this year.

People are currently fleeing war-infested areas in large numbers, paying huge sums of money to travel on unseaworthy boats to rich countries. This is because Europe’s land borders are closed. The fleeing of innocent refugees, that resulted in a migrant crisis in Europe is a worldwide problem. The scale of the refugees fleeing is enormous and is only going to get worse. The rich world must get better and have a good grip of managing the crisis and a unified approach based on justice and unity must be developed.

More than 160 years ago, Baha’u’llah, the Founder of the Baha’i Faith, has addressed the world of humanity, saying, "Verily, ye are the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch."  This signifies that the entire world of humanity is one tree. The various nations and peoples are the branches of that tree. Individual members of mankind are represented by the twigs and blossoms. Bahá'u'lláh, wrote: "The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established.”

The world leaders and politicians need to come up with radical solutions to the refugee crisis. Through visionary leadership by elected officials and global co-operation - setting up legal procedures that allow people to apply for asylum, resettling the most vulnerable and children, opening up safe routes to sanctuary for refugees, provide basic healthcare and education for young and needy - we can establish peace and unity. No one should have to die, drowning in the Mediterranean while crossing a border.

But, the world’s current political and social structure, with its focus on nationalism and prejudices of flag and race can no longer meet the needs of a desperate humanity.

The refuge crisis is everyone’s problem. We all need to accept that laws and treaties related to refugees (developed by political leaders and cherished) will wither if unity is not firmly established between countries.  

The Baha’i teachings say only a global solution, a unified international order that fully recognizes the human rights of every person and brings about universal peace, will ultimately mitigate and solve the national and regional chaos afflicting the world. 

“O contending peoples and kindreds of the earth! Set your faces towards unity, and let the radiance of its light shine upon you. Gather ye together, and for the sake of God resolve to root out whatever is the source of contention amongst you. Then will the effulgence of the world’s great Luminary envelop the whole earth, and its inhabitants become the citizens of one city, and the occupants of one and the same throne. – Baha’u’llah, (Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 217.)
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