Dr Ritesh Shah examines the starkly different responses to the Ukrainian refugee crisis compared to past influxes from regions like the Middle East. He notes that while Western countries have warmly welcomed Ukrainians—granting them temporary protection and access to services—others fleeing persecution often face hostility, discrimination, and barriers to entry. Dr Shah argues this division reflects racial and religious biases deeply rooted in “orientalist underpinnings” and “norms of whiteness,” which shape public sympathy and policy. Through personal stories from both Ukrainian and Syrian children, he highlights how humanitarian responses value some lives over others, and calls for equitable treatment of all refugees, regardless of origin.
Read the full article on Newsroom: Why can’t the west welcome all refugees?