The recent report by Fabrice Leggeri, the Director of the FRONTEX agency, has sparked controversy regarding non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and volunteers that rescue hundreds of migrants daily near Libyan waters. The report accuses these organizations of indirectly supporting illegal immigration and promoting irregular migration. Despite their undeniable role in saving lives and providing aid to refugees and immigrants for years, the NGOs' actions are perceived as contributing to the problem.
NGOs and volunteers play a crucial role in managing the refugee crisis by handling tasks governments are reluctant or unable to perform. They fill gaps in assistance, offering various forms of support where governments do not. However, this task is complicated due to opposition from governments in countries where these organizations operate. The extent of their assistance depends on the government's interest in providing it and its migration policies.
In Greece, numerous NGOs significantly improve the living conditions of refugees, but in other countries like Macedonia and Serbia, governments prohibit or hinder the situation mitigation for migrants. For example, the Serbian government only allows small volunteer organizations to provide daily meals to those outside official centers, fearing more services would encourage more migration.
Despite their invaluable efforts, these organizations inadvertently mitigate the effects of restrictive migration policies implemented by the EU and its member states, as well as Balkan countries. Their actions reduce the severity and visibility of the crisis, making the problem latent and less visible. They must face the dilemma of saving lives while also potentially reducing the gravity and tragedy of the situation faced by over 74,000 people blocked in the Balkans and Greece.
Organizations like Médecins Sans Frontières in Greek islands have had to choose between continuing their humanitarian work, which could worsen the situation, or abandoning their mission, leaving thousands of refugees and immigrants in distress.
Humanitarian actors are indeed part of the problem, participating in a restrictive migration system that alleviates public and governmental concerns while keeping the crisis from exploding. While it is not a critique of NGOs and volunteers' essential and immeasurable work, it is crucial to acknowledge the complexity of their situation and the ongoing dilemma they face: being part of the problem rather than the solution.
