OPINION
By supplying arms to the Ukraine war, the federal government is taking on a great deal of responsibility, especially for those who are fleeing to us. A situation like 2015 must not be repeated.
For a long time, Germany hesitated, waited, tactically. So now the federal government is sending weapons to Ukraine after all. It’s the right sign. We too must help stop the maniac in Moscow – but we must also be clear about what an arms delivery means: responsibility. Especially for those who have to flee this cruel war. Those who sow guns will reap refugees, but this time we must be ready.
With the arms deliveries, Germany is involved in the Ukraine war
There has been much talk in recent days about a turning point brought on by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The federal government followed up this grandiose rhetoric with action: an additional 100 billion euros for the Bundeswehr and arms deliveries to Ukraine. With these decisions at the latest, Germany is – at least indirectly – involved in this war.
The decision to support Ukraine in its right to self-defense is absolutely correct. But it goes beyond fired German Stinger missiles. Being involved in this war also increases Germany’s responsibility to care for those fleeing war, suffering and destruction. And it’s not enough to illuminate the Brandenburg Gate in the colors of the Ukrainian flag. Solidarity is not an empty phrase, even if it often seems that way these days. True solidarity means actually doing something.
The UN refugee agency UNHCR already puts the number of Ukrainian refugees at 500,000. More will follow. And quite a few will try to find security in Germany. This time we have to be ready for it. The situation in 2015 and 2016, when all the agencies were overwhelmed with taking in the refugees, is a cautionary tale: it must not be repeated. We must not again allow people to endure months in overcrowded refugee homes. We must not allow the feeling of security to quickly give way to a lack of prospects again. We must not again allow refugees to be isolated against their will and denied the opportunity to participate in society.
A situation like 2015 must be prevented
We must immediately start creating the infrastructure to prevent this situation. We must take responsibility for ensuring that refugees can integrate as quickly as possible and give them the opportunity to earn money with jobs in order to also help their relatives in Ukraine who may still be suffering from the Russian invasion.
The responsibility that comes with an arms delivery doesn’t end with the bullet leaving the barrel of a German gun – it only begins there.
We still have a few days until more refugees ask for protection at our borders. And this time we can’t say we couldn’t have expected it.
Source: Stern
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