Opinion

What working with refugees taught me

Internal divisions further complicate the endeavour of countering an incessant wave of agendas that jeopardise a nation's unity and the well-being of its people. These internal divisions are fuelled by foreign intervention, exacerbating the crisis.

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Mohammed Al-Dairi
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What working with refugees taught me

Mohammed Al-Dairi
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When the lecturer of the civil law course asked us at the beginning of our studies at the Law School of the University of Grenoble in France about the profession we aspired to pursue after graduation, my answer was that I would like to join the diplomatic corps.

Years later, fate led me to assume the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs in my country of Libya after a long career at the UN.

For 22 years, I was involved in international humanitarian work through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). During that time, I made remarkable efforts to serve those deprived of their rights to remain in their homeland and enjoy a normal life due to tyranny and arbitrariness. These individuals often found their way to other countries that offered them refuge.

Working with refugees took me to various countries. It began in Peshawar, Pakistan, and then I moved on to Syria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and Egypt. I also spent time at the headquarters office in Geneva. Understanding the plight of refugees from Arabic countries was relatively easy, although it was disheartening to realise that we could not meet all their needs.

During the years I spent in each of the aforementioned countries, I had a brief but significant involvement, spanning only two months, in two emergency operations as part of the extensive plans carried out by the UNHCR during the early stages of displacement. These experiences had a profound impact on me.

Working with refugees had a profound impact on me, although it was disheartening to realise that we could not meet all their needs.

Experiences in Rwanda and Lebanon 

One of these experiences involved my participation in the effort to alleviate the suffering of internally displaced persons in Rwanda following the genocide of nearly one million citizens of the Tutsi ethnic group by the Hutu ethnic group in 1994.

In response to the request of Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Mrs. Sadako Ogata, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, extended assistance to internally displaced persons, which was an exception to the rule that limited the UNHCR's engagement to legal protection operations and assistance for refugees who had fled their countries of origin.

The new authorities in the capital, Kigali, and the families of the victims, who had triumphed over the Hutu war criminals, were furious at the United Nations, as the Security Council had failed to intervene months earlier to prevent the horrific massacres.

The other experience was comparatively easier in terms of dealing with the displaced persons and the local authorities responsible for their care. After participating in the reception of Lebanese refugees in Syria following the 2006 war, I was subsequently deployed to southern Lebanon after the ceasefire in early September.

Here, I cannot overlook the overwhelming feelings of warmth and brotherhood displayed by our fellow countrymen in the beloved south.

Shift to political track

Following a profound humanitarian experience, I found myself confronted with political responsibilities in a crisis-stricken government formed during the turmoil that beset my country in the fall of 2014.

After the House of Representatives rejected a ministerial formation in mid-September, the head of the Libyan interim government sought to establish another government, and I was chosen to assume the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs.

To represent my internally-divided country had its own challenges in a world where the permanent members of the Security Council failed to reach a consensus in support of negotiations led by the Secretary-General's representatives.

Moreover, there were disagreements among European nations competing to further their own interests, and unfortunately, conflicts even among certain Arab countries.

Internal divisions further complicate the endeavour of countering an incessant wave of agendas that jeopardise a nation's unity and the well-being of its people. These internal divisions are fuelled by foreign intervention, exacerbating the crisis.

Thus, the task of elevating the Libyan voice and safeguarding the country's paramount interests through national diplomacy, amidst these complex circumstances, is subject to numerous challenges.

Internal divisions further complicate the endeavour of countering an incessant wave of ambitions and agendas that jeopardise the nation's unity and the well-being of its people. These internal divisions are fuelled by foreign intervention, exacerbating the crisis.

However, one must not overlook the daily recurring tragedies within the Ministry's office caused by negligence and outdated practices, aimed at impeding diplomatic efforts through the involvement of various pressure groups seeking to sabotage the work by appointing unqualified individuals.

In conclusion, it is crucial not to diminish the significance of the obstacles encountered in humanitarian work, in which I have been actively involved.

However, the challenges inherent in political work, which I have had the opportunity to experience for a limited period, are indeed more arduous due to the multitude of actors involved in the crisis, particularly external actors who, instead of providing solutions as they claim, further complicate the situation.

-Mohammed al-Dairi  is the former Libyan Foreign Minister and UN Official at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

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