This year, more than 800,000 people have entered the EU from the Middle East and Africa. Recently, EU leaders met in Malta to discuss the handling of the migrant crisis.

EU leaders decided to institute a €1.8 billion fund for African countries to tackle problems that contribute to the refugee crisis, such as a lack of economic opportunity, climatic shock and ethnic conflict. This action supplements the U.N.’s decision to give $53 million in emergency aid to Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Chad and Sudan.

By funding development assistance programs in Africa, EU leaders are taking proactive measures to improve the livelihoods of people in their home countries. However, as attention continues to be given to the refugee crisis, donors are focusing more on providing humanitarian aid to refugees after they have left their home countries. While both humanitarian aid and development assistance are critical, one cause should not eclipse the other.

When funding for development assistance is diverted to humanitarian aid, money does not go to the root causes of the current crisis. Migrants from Africa are fleeing climatic shocks, ethnic conflict and a lack of opportunity for making a livelihood.

Implementing development assistance programs to support the African people within their communities, as the European Commission voted to do, could help reduce the number of migrants in the future. Thus, development financing serves as a proactive measure with strong long-term payoffs.

In order to make a substantial difference in the long run for the millions of people at risk for displacement due to conflict, climate change or a lack of opportunity, fighting poverty and development financing could not be more important. As people in destination countries for migrants continue to consider options for addressing the crisis, it is critical to consider the underlying causes of the problem.

– Priscilla McCelvey

Sources: BBC, CERF, The Guardian
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