by Nirmala Carvalho

Fr Prakash Louis SJ is the former director of the Jesuit Refugee Service and the Indian Social Institute in Bangalore. "Heartening that some European countries have opened their borders". The sensitivity of Pope Francis who opened parishes and religious centers. The need for action at a global level, also leading to the resolution of the conflicts in theaters of war.

Mumbai (AsiaNews) - To remain silent “in this massive crisis is to turn deaf ear to human crisis" says Dr. Prakash Louis SJ, a Jesuit priest and former director of the Jesuit Refugee Service, in comments to AsiaNews about the massive exodus of refugees seeking refuge in Europe, fleeing from war zones and difficult social realities in the countries of origin.

"It is heartening – he continues - to see that some of the European countries put together have assured to take 150,000 refugees fleeing from Middle East and North Africa seeking asylum in these countries. It is also heartening to see that the citizens in Germany have held public demonstration welcoming the refugees [this morning Denmark resumed rail connections with Germany, interrupted due to the influx of asylum seekers - ed]. Similar protest to welcome the refugees have been reported from other countries. At the time of crisis, it is human to seek asylum for safety and security”.

Debate over the migration crisis of unprecedented proportions that is pouring into Europe in recent weeks continues. The latest figure speaks of 53 million refugees worldwide, of which most are from Asia and the Middle East. Yesterday afternoon, addressing the European Parliament meeting in Strasbourg  Jean-Claude Juncker, European Commission President, reiterated the need to consider the "human" side of the suffering of migrants and had harsh words for States which to date have been repelling refugees (also rejected at the border between Hungary and Serbia-Greece-Macedonia).

Fr. Prakash points out: " the international family has the responsibility to work in and through the UN to address the issue of this major crisis which has been going on in the Middle East for a long time but especially from 2014." At last count, the number of Syrian refugees fleeing the civil war against the Assad regime and the violence of the terrorists of the Islamic state, has reached a record level of four million, most hosted in neighboring Lebanon.

The Jesuit, also director of the Indian Social Institute in Bangalore, appreciates "the sensitivity of Pope Francis, who is echoing the human sensibility of welcoming those who seek asylum has called upon all to respond to this crisis [calling on each parish, religious center in Europe to open its facilities to accommodate migrants - ed]. Emerging as the voice of those who are persecuted and vulnerable he has been defending their cause. This is the sense every conscious citizen of the global family will have. This does not mean one overlooks the aspects of internal security, jobs that have to be shared, sacrifices that have to be made to accommodate others, attending to the most vulnerable etc. As conflict and crisis engulfs in many parts of the world it is natural to be worried about safety and security. It is also possible that along with those who really need asylum, some economic migrants also may join the bandwagon. Yet it is time to look into these aspects and respond to this human tragedy. "

• india
• refugees
• syria
• assuylum
• welcome