Original source:
The UN refugee chief warned on Monday that the global economic crisis will generate more refugees and fuel xenophobia.
UN high commissioner for refugees Antonio Guterres said that refugees and migrants can expect to be blamed for the economic problems that are deepening in many countries.
The former Portuguese prime minister said: ‘In my experience as a politician, I’d say that when things go wrong in a country, there are two potential targets – one is the government, the other is the foreigners.’
Mr Guterres described the economic crisis as a ‘generator of xenophobia’ in some countries. He did not, however, name any country.
‘Xenophobia is an inevitable trend in many parts of the world when the economic situation deteriorates,’ he argued.
Mr Guterres said that he would travel to Bangkok next month to discuss international concerns about Thailand’s treatment of refugees from Myanmar.
The Thai government acknowledged this month that authorities had towed boats carrying ethnic Rohyingya migrants, who are denied citizenship in their native Myanmar, out to sea.
Rescued migrants have alleged that they were hauled out to the high seas in boats with no engines by the Thai navy and left to drift for weeks with little food and water.
Survivors who were picked up by the Indian navy said that hundreds of people had perished.
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