Why don’t Syrian refugees choose rich countries such as Saudi Arabia that are closer to them, but Europe that is more distant?

Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war, millions of refugees have been displaced and homeless. They have gathered in refugee camps in neighboring Turkey, looking for every possible opportunity to make a living in Europe.

In order to reach the destination, in addition to passing through Turkey, Greece, Seville, Hungary and Austria, etc., you also have to pay high ticket prices and take an overcrowded boat. , across the stormy Mediterranean Sea. It can be said that there are many dangers along the way, and there is a narrow escape from death.

Since the journey to Europe is long and full of hardships, why don’t these refugees choose to take refuge in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and other countries that are closer and are also rich in the Middle East?

(Refugees in the Syrian Civil War)

1. The countries in the Middle East are not refugee contracting parties.

Before analyzing the asylum routes of Syrian refugees, let’s first take a look at the country’s geographical environment. To the north is Turkey, which is the only way to go to Europe by land; to the east is Iraq, which is also unstable; to the east is Iran, which has strict regulations and different doctrines; to the south is Saudi Arabia, the richest tycoon in the Middle East, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates; only to the west are fellow countries Lebanon and Jordan, and further away Egypt.

As a smart refugee, it is obvious that he will not choose to go east, because after the fall of Saddam Hussein, Iraq in the east, like theocratic Iran, was dominated by Shias. The Sunnis practiced by Syrian refugees are heretical sects with a thousand-year feud.

After Iraq was crippled by the United States, the country is still in chaos, the economy is stagnant, and even local residents cannot find jobs. Since Iran has been sanctioned by the United States for many years, the situation is even worse, and the people are in dire straits.

So, whether it is based on inter-sectarian hatred or if you want to obtain a stable life and job, you cannot go to these two places.

As for Lebanon and Jordan in the west, their territories are already small. Over the years of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the continuous influx of Palestinian refugees has already made it difficult for them to bear the burden. They are also unable to accept these Syrian compatriots. .

Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates are all Sunni believers, and their economies are also very developed. However, these countries are not party to the Convention on the Status of Refugees and have no international obligations to admit refugees. Therefore, there are no plans to open the border to accept refugees. Naturally, the situation for refugees who enter the country illegally will not be much better.

From this point of view, if you want to change your living conditions and find a better new life, the most sensible thing to do seems to be to enter developed European countries by land or sea. In addition, during the Iraq War, many refugees who entered Europe have now obtained green cards and have become legitimate Europeans. Their shining example has made Syrian refugees yearn for it.

(Refugees fleeing the border)

2. It is relatively easier to go to Europe than to the Persian Gulf.

Looking at the map, the straight-line distance between the Gulf oil countries and Syria is indeed very close. But in fact, compared with the long distances in Europe, it is almost impossible for Syrian refugees who do not have money to take planes and other means of transportation to travel long distances by land to countries such as Saudi Arabia.

This is because if you want to reach countries such as Saudi Arabia, you must first pass through Iraq and then enter Saudi Arabia, which is vast and sparsely populated. The current security situation in Iraq is not much better than that in Syria. Various exchanges of fire between the Iraqi government forces, the opposition, and the ISIS terrorist organization occur from time to time. I was on tenterhooks all the way, finally entering the Saudi border, and what came my way was the boundless desert. It is almost impossible for refugees who lack food and drink to walk out of the desert on two legs.

In contrast, although the route to Europe is much longer and more difficult, as long as you don't risk capsizing by sea, there is basically no risk of life. And you can enjoy humanitarian care along the way. As long as you enter the Schengen Convention area and obtain a certain status, you can travel freely throughout the EU. The road ahead in life is so broad.

(Merkel’s old photo)

3. An inclusive Europe and an exclusive Saudi Arabia.

European countries have signed the "Laws Governing International Asylum". Refusal to accept refugees is tantamount to a crime. Therefore, as long as these Syrian refugees find ways to enter these countries, not only will they no longer be troubled by war, but their lives will also be guaranteed.

Especially in Germany, the kind and kind-hearted Aunt Merkel not only provides food, clothing, housing and transportation to these refugees who have come from afar, but also finds jobs for them. Moreover, the German people are also very enthusiastic. Hundreds of Germans often organize themselves and go to the train station with welcome slogans and gifts to welcome these refugees. The scene is touching and spectacular.

On the other hand, Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia, which are also friends of Islam, recruit a large number of workers from Pakistan, Egypt and other countries, but Syrian refugees are not an ideal labor force in their eyes.

Saudi authorities say Riyadh has always been an enemy of the Damascus regime and they fear reprisals if it accepts Syrian refugees. However, this excuse is simply untenable, because most of the refugees are not Shiites from the Assad family, but Sunnis from the same ancestry as Saudi Arabia.