Kenya is one of the most hospitable nations for refugees in the world, a global humanitarian index has revealed.
Study commissioned by Armenian’s Aurora Humanitarian Initiative (AHI) show the country is among the most receptive to people fleeing war and persecution.
It found that 87 per cent of Kenyans polled are willing to accept refugees, compared with a total of only 37 per cent respondents globally.
Additionally, at 50 per cent, Kenya has the highest proportion of respondents who believe the country has compassionate policies for asylum seekers.
It is the highest percentage across all countries surveyed, compared 34 per cent of total respondents.
“Similarly, 95 per cent agree that refugees deserve help (compared to 42 per cent of total respondents) and 92 per cent agree that people who are forced to flee to save their life or preserve their freedom deserve a second chance in another country, the highest proportion of respondents across countries to think so and compared with 61 per cent of total respondents,” the Aurora report in part.
Despite the overwhelming majority of respondents in Kenya who believe that refugees deserve help, most think the country absorbed so many in what has potential put native culture at risk.
“Sixty-three per cent of respondents agree that the county has taken on too many refugees, the third highest across countries, compared to 42 per cent of respondents overall,” read the report.
Aurora Humanitarian Index comes amid a growing anti-refugee political rhetoric in Europe, and other parts of the world in the wake of migrant crisis.
“The sense of apathy towards humanitarianism today highlights an urgent need for engagement in every sector,” said AHI co-founder Ruben Vardanyan.
But respondent are more likely to help manage or address the refugee crisis than other respondents overall.
Results from the Index, which surveyed nearly 6,500 people in 12 countries, were compounded by the fact that only nine per cent of individuals believe their actions can make a difference in solving the global refugee crisis.
For the second year in a row, terrorism is cited as the undisputed top humanitarian issue at 63 per cent, followed by the widening gap between the rich and poor, hunger, climate change and forced migration.
The annual public opinion survey gauges attitudes towards humanitarian issues worldwide, the effectiveness of humanitarian intervention, and individuals’ motivations to intervene on behalf of others.
A bright spot in the 2017 Index showed youth outpacing their older counterparts, showing greater openness toward and support of refugees, and willingness to take humanitarian action.
Meanwhile, Kenya has the lowest proportion of respondents who rate forced migration as the most pressing, global humanitarian challenge facing humanity right now at 21 per cent.
“Instead, 67 per cent of respondents are concerned about hunger, the highest proportion across all the countries surveyed. Other top concerns for the country include the disparity between rich and poor (61 per cent), and terrorism (60 per cent).
SOURCE: Media Max Network
