The refugee problem has caught the attention of the international community as the number of refugees worldwide has reached a record high, leading to the most serious refugee crisis in Europe since World War II, with the Middle East and Africa two of the major sources. Focusing on this issue, the 32nd Ordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) was held in late January and early February under the theme of Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons: Toward Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement in Africa.

According to Global Trends: Forced Displacement in 2017, released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in June 2018, the global population of forcibly displaced people increased to 68.5 million by the end of 2017, which means one out of every 110 people in the world is displaced.

Wars and conflicts are the root causes leading to the refugee problem in Africa, the continent most vulnerable to regional chaos and military conflicts, although as a whole, it has remained peaceful and stable since the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s. However, there are still nearly 10 African countries facing wars, military coups or internal military conflicts to various degrees. Frequent unrest has hindered economic development in Africa and weakened efforts to strengthen African unity and national reconciliation, leading to a series of political and social problems such as a refugee crisis, weapons smuggling and drug trafficking.

Poverty and underdeveloped economies are another root cause of the refugee problem. Africa is the world's second largest continent in terms of size and population, but also accounts for the largest number of least developed countries. Though the continent has seen restorative economic growth in the past two decades, it is still the most impoverished due to its poor infrastructure and late development.

In addition, high rates of HIV/AIDS infection, along with other diseases, low literacy levels, heavy dependence on single-product economies and frequent famines and natural disasters are also reasons leading to refugees and displaced persons.

Peace and development needed

In the short term, the international community needs to help refugees and internally displaced persons when famines or conflicts take place by providing accommodations, food and medical services. The host countries also need to finance the establishment of settlements, rescue stations and shelters for refugees.

In the long term, the sustainable solution to the refugee problem is addressing the root causes through maintaining stability and promoting economic development. Although Africa, as a whole, remains stable in terms of politics and security, some regions face arduous security situations, which may become new sources of increased numbers of refugees. Security problems should be addressed through joint efforts of related countries, regional organizations, the AU and the international community.

South Sudan, for example, is the world's third largest refugee source. After a civil war in 2013, neighboring countries such as Ethiopia, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a regional organization, and countries such as China and the United States actively participated in mediation and negotiations for reconciliation.

Since December 2017, IGAD has held three High-Level Revitalization Forums, while related parties finally signed the Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities, Protection of Civilians and Humanitarian Access.

The AU's role in addressing the refugee problem on the continent should also be further strengthened. Although the continental organization has made unremitting efforts in building Africa's security structure to deal with crises and challenges, the AU's efforts in solving African problems with African solutions are often frustrated by the heavy intervention from Western powers and lack of resources and capacity. Trends show that, to some extent, the AU is currently marginalized.

In this context, maintaining hard-earned peace and stability in Africa and improving the AU's capacity to independently solve African problems are the key political and security requirements to addressing the refugee problem and promoting African unity and rejuvenation. Economic development is equally important. Since the 1990s, African economies have trended toward steady growth with an annual economic growth rate of nearly 6 percent. According to statistics from the International Monetary Fund, the African economy saw strong growth in 2018, reaching 3.4 percent. The GDP per capita in African countries reached $1,990, only slightly lower than India, which was $2,020.

Behind the encouraging figures, however, poverty, inequality, weak economies, single-product economies and regional chaos are still apparent. In reality, people feel the gap between rich and poor growing, making the impressive economic data count for very little. For instance, in Nigeria, which ranks first in Africa in terms of economic aggregation, population and oil production, economic growth exceeded 8 percent in 2018; however, its absolute poverty rate also increased to 69 percent during the same period and the unemployment rate among young people between 15-24 years old rose to 60 percent.

Due to terrorist organizations like Boko Haram, the humanitarian crisis in northeast Nigeria and around Lake Chad has entered its 10th year. The new round of Boko Haram violence has resulted in tens of thousands of displaced people. The UN estimates that there are about 2.5 million displaced persons around the Lake Chad region, including 1.8 million in Nigeria. On January 29, it launched the 2019-21 Humanitarian Response Strategy and the Regional Refugee Response Plan, seeking $848 million and $135 million, respectively, to continue providing food, water, shelter and protection to the most vulnerable people in Nigeria and neighboring Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

Chinese experience

China's 40-year rapid development since reform and opening up in late 1978 has seen it grow from a closed and impoverished country into the world's second largest economy with its GDP per capita growing from less than $200 to more than $8,600. Throughout this period, the Chinese Government has prioritized development as the key to promoting reforms in various fields, following the concept of "using development to solve the problems in the process of development."

While visiting the Democratic Republic of the Congo in early 2015, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the media that peace and development are two major themes in today's world, which are interconnected and the two major issues facing Africa. Without peace, there can be no development and without development, peace is unsustainable. For developing countries such as China and those in Africa, development is fundamental and the basis to solving all problems.

China not only offers generous support in helping African refugees by providing funds and materials for settlement, but also actively provides Chinese solutions in helping African countries alleviate poverty and promote development. For example, when Somalia and other Horn of Africa countries suffered a drought and large-scale famine in the summer of 2011, the Chinese Government provided immediate emergency assistance consisting of grain and cash worth 443.2 million yuan ($68.2 million). In March 2014, when the Ebola epidemic broke out in West African countries such as Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, China provided assistance through materials and funds totaling 750 million yuan ($122 million).

To promote sustainable economic development in Africa, the Chinese Government has been rolling out packages of development, assistance and cooperation plans to strengthen China-Africa economic cooperation and promote infrastructure construction and industrialization in Africa every three years since 2000, when the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was established. This has made a great contribution to economic recovery in Africa over the past two decades. For instance, in December 2015 and September 2018, the FOCAC summits were held in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Beijing, China, respectively. Against the backdrop of the rise of trade protectionism worldwide, the Chinese Government pledged 10 China-Africa cooperation plans and eight major initiatives during these summits, both supported by $60-billion financial packages, helping Africa fight poverty and address the refugee problem with concrete action.

Copyedited by Rebeca Toledo

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