When Amnesty asked more than 27,000 people across 27 countries if they would welcome refugees, the response was incredible: 4 in 5 people replied with a resounding “yes, we will”!
All over the world, people are watching in horror as the global refugee crisis goes from bad to worse. Our survey shows that while many governments still claim they simply can’t find room for refugees, their citizens feel the opposite way.
The UK and Australian governments are probably more out of touch than any other leaders globally: an astonishing 87% of British people and 85% of Australians are ready to invite refugees into their countries, communities – even their own homes.
China, Germany and the UK are the most welcoming
We created a ranking based on our survey results, called the Refugees Welcome Index. China comes out on top, with almost half of those we spoke to saying they would accept refugees in their own home. Russia, Indonesia and Thailand – which thousands tried to reach by boat after fleeing Myanmar last year – came bottom of the list.
People in Germany and the UK are also taking the refugee crisis particularly personally, ranking second and third as the most welcoming.
Almost a third of people in the UK – 29% – are willing to open up their own homes to refugees. Another 47% would let refugees live in their neighbourhoods.
An incredible 96% of Germans, who made room for 1 million people in the last year, are still open to the idea of hosting more. In Jordan, a small country already hosting over 600,000 refugees from Syria, 94% feel the same way.
Governments should start pulling their weight
Almost 3 in 4 people worldwide – 73% – agree that people should be able to take refuge in other countries to escape war and persecution. This feeling is particularly strong in Spain (78%), Germany (69%) and Greece (64%).
Across the globe, 2 in 3 people, or 66%, say their governments should do more to help refugees – including in countries that have already welcomed huge numbers: 84% feel this way in Jordan, 75% in Germany, and 74% in Greece. In Kenya, which hosts nearly 600,000 refugees – including 413,000 people from Somalia – 65% agree.
Others are waiting impatiently for their country to start pulling their weight: 86% of those we spoke to in China, for example, 85% of those we spoke to in Nigeria, and 82% in Spain.
Læs mere på Amnesty Internationals websted
