Brazil will have economic gain to invest in the integration of refugees'

The world is the greatest humanitarian crisis in 60 years. Refugees from Africa and the Middle East trying to reach the boat from Europe are at risk of dying en route. Others survive, but face xenophobia or under precarious conditions in the countries.

With tradition of welcoming immigrants, Brazil offers an attractive alternative for people on the run and can take great advantage - including economic - the arrival of foreigners, says the American researcher Leah Zamore.

"Refugees bring human capital, ideas and skills that local residents may not have, accept jobs that others do not accept, and many want to own businesses, creating employment opportunities," she says.

Graduated from Harvard (USA), with a Masters in Forced Migration from Oxford (Great Britain) and doctorate in law at Yale (USA), Zamore was UN agency's consultant for refugees in Geneva and worked with displaced populations in several countries in Africa .

A few months ago in Brazil, where he intends to continue his work with refugees, she says in an interview with BBC Brazil that the country has had a commendable stance in the current crisis, but gain much more to invest in the integration of those who have arrived.

For it says that we must "fight the perception that refugees are a threat" and convince the population to spend on the new residents pays off, even in times of economic trouble.

According to the Brazilian government, now live in the country 8,500 recognized refugees, mostly Syrians (2097). In recent months, President Dilma Rousseff has said that Brazil is "open arms" to receive new refugees.

Read below the main stretches of the interview with Zamore, granted last week in Sao Paulo.



Movement of Syrian refugees towards Europe shows no sign that it will cease

BBC Brazil - As Brazil has been ported on the global refugee crisis?

Leah Zamore - I think Brazil is doing an amazing job, something almost no other country has done today, which is to have an open arms policy. Syrians in Lebanon or Jordan can go to the Brazilian Embassy and get a visa.

They have to pay to come to Brazil and it costs a lot of money, but the pass is probably cheaper than middlemen charge to take them to Europe.

Brazil is thus acting in a time of tremendous political and internal economic instability, which makes his gesture even more commendable. There is no better way to stand out on the international stage.

BBC Brazil - a country gets to host refugees?

Zamore - There is a great lack of knowledge about what they are refugees. Many think that they are simply a burden, but most studies indicate that this is false.

Lebanon has a million Syrian refugees - in the country, one in four people is a refugee - and is having the highest economic growth since 2010. A recent study showed that the average wage in Turkey increased, although two million Syrian refugees have entered in the country.

BBC Brazil - How does this explain?

Zamore - Refugees bring human capital, ideas and skills that local residents may not have, accept jobs that locals do not accept, and many want to own businesses, creating employment opportunities. And when they can bring with them money, resources and connections.

A recent study in Cleveland (USA) showed that an investment of US $ 4.8 million in the reception of refugees in a single year generated a return of $ 50 million. [The study, sponsored by an economic consultancy, counts as return all the expenses of refugees with housing and business, in addition to expenses of philanthropic organizations that help.]

The average age of a refugee is low. For countries whose populations are aging, refugees can increase the manpower available.

BBC Brazil - Brazil is doing enough to integrate refugees?

Zamore - Integrate them is very difficult for any country, especially those going through economic problems.

One thing that most countries do not collect data is to include refugees in their population censuses. This is important to understand their socioeconomic status, know what they did before, what kind of skills they have, what their training. As this information is easier to develop policies to help them.

The Brazil gives refugees the right to work, which is fantastic, but often employers do not know how is the document of a refugee and can hire you. Some countries are educating employers on the legislation for refugees.

BBC Brazil - What other policies can assist them in adapting?

Zamore - The first thing is language courses. I read that the Brazilian embassy in Beirut (Lebanon) began to give Portuguese classes for Syrians who want to come to Brazil. It's a great idea. Temporary hosting is also important.

Countries that invest in the reception can have huge benefits in the long run. A study by the World Bank, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) showed that, in most countries, immigrants spend more on taxes and social contributions they receive from the government.

It is a type of investment that brings returns of moral points of view, legal and economic.

BBC Brazil - And if nothing is done to integrate them?

Zamore - They find ways to survive because they are survivors. But if they have no right to work and can not move freely, just pushed into the informal economy, where they face huge threats from exploitation, abuse, imprisonment and even deportation.

It is a situation where everyone loses - they and the community.

BBC Brazil - How to convince the public that Brazil should invest in receiving refugees at a time when the country is experiencing economic difficulties?

Zamore - we must fight the perception that refugees are a threat and a problem. If people realize that refugees have as much to contribute not only economically, but culturally and socially, they begin to see them as opportunities and members of society.

Most people think the refugee crises are emergencies and that they need a temporary treatment until you return home. But the average length of a displacement is 20 years. It is a fairly long-term situation that justifies spending some money now to reap benefits later. Besides being the right thing to do.

BBC Brazil - Why choose a refugee living in Brazil at a time of economic crisis, and not in other more developed countries?

Zamore - First, because the government said it would accept them, and few governments did it. For anyone who is considering risking their lives to try to go to Europe, Brazil offers an alternative. It is also a country with a long history of receiving immigrants.

BBC Brazil - Some say that refugees and immigrants steal jobs from locals. The risk exists?

Zamore - Every influx of people can create competition for jobs and increase housing prices. But there is another side of the coin: refugees are also consumers and create demand. And they create as many jobs as they take from others.

In Jordan, for example, there was no increase in unemployment in areas with large refugee population.

BBC Brazil - Some lawmakers said that if Brazil open their doors to refugees, can attract members of terrorist organizations.

Zamore - Of the many ideas about refugees, that is another that has no support in the studies.