Egyptian Billionaire Offers to Buy Island for Syrian Refugees.

[Muzna]

What do you think? Would it work?

An Egyptian billionaire says he has considered buying an island in the Mediterranean to help house refugees fleeing conflict and instability.

Naguib Sawiris tweeted his “crazy idea” earlier this week, offering to purchase one of the empty islands that cluster off the coasts of Italy and Greece.

When asked if his idea could actually work, Mr Sawiris said: “Of course it’s feasible."

“You have dozens of islands which are deserted and could accommodate hundreds of thousands of refugees.”

Mr Sawiris, who has an estimated net worth of $2.9billion, said although the idea could be problematic, something needed to be done to help the tens of thousands of people attempting to reach Europe in search of a better life.

“The way they are being treated now, they are being treated like cattle,” he claimed to AFP.

The billionaire’s company Orascom TMT, which operates mobile networks across some African and Middle Eastern nations, is Egypt’s largest employer.

More than 2,000 people have died attempting to cross the Mediterranean this year. Earlier this month, a photograph of three-year-old Syrian Aylan Kurdi dead on a beach in Turkey prompted a huge outburst of public support for a change to the EU’s current policy.

Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawaris offers to ‘buy island’ in Mediterranean to help refugees

[Silaaj]

Re: Egyptian Billionaire Offers to Buy Island for Syrian Refugees.

What do you think? Would it work?

What are they going to do on an empty island? With no infrastructure, income source, or shelter, they would still be at the mercy of donors to set all this up.
Settling them in pre-settled areas would allow them to normalize life much quicker, as we arent looking at 20 something bachelors going to europe in search of a better life. We are looking at entire displaced families, simply looking for a life.

[Doppleganger]

Re: Egyptian Billionaire Offers to Buy Island for Syrian Refugees.

Big drama bazi.

[GypsyKing]

Re: Egyptian Billionaire Offers to Buy Island for Syrian Refugees.

I think if he was to buy the islands, he would probably support the residents also. This isn't really a long term solution however, as people cannot just abandon their homeland.

[Muzna]

Re: Egyptian Billionaire Offers to Buy Island for Syrian Refugees.

What are they going to do on an empty island? With no infrastructure, income source, or shelter, they would still be at the mercy of donors to set all this up. Settling them in pre-settled areas would allow them to normalize life much quicker, as we arent looking at 20 something bachelors going to europe in search of a better life. We are looking at entire displaced families, simply looking for a life.

I get it.
But what are already troubled cities with over-taxed citizens and social welfare systems going to do to support such huge numbers?

[Silaaj]

Re: Egyptian Billionaire Offers to Buy Island for Syrian Refugees.

I get it. But what are already troubled cities with over-taxed citizens and social welfare systems going to do to support such huge numbers?

Certainly all able bodied refugees will start working or running some business, thus effectively helping themselves, and quite possibly paying taxes and helping their host countries. If european countries come to some sort of an agreement where each country hosts a limited number of refugees proportional to their own population, settling in should be much easier.
I think that once Syria's situation improves, at least 50% of these refugees will return to Syria.

[arabianights]

Re: Egyptian Billionaire Offers to Buy Island for Syrian Refugees.

The real question is has he or will he follow through on his promise or is it all just talk?

[_MuNiYa]

Re: Egyptian Billionaire Offers to Buy Island for Syrian Refugees.

^ Not likely!

[ReadMe]

Re: Egyptian Billionaire Offers to Buy Island for Syrian Refugees.

@arabianights

The real question is has he or will he follow through on his promise or is it all just talk?

I think it is all talk. This is a good opportunity to showcase the generosity and it would have forced some of the Saudi billionaires to follow suit.

[mAd_ScIeNtIsT]

Re: Egyptian Billionaire Offers to Buy Island for Syrian Refugees.

I get it. But what are already troubled cities with over-taxed citizens and social welfare systems going to do to support such huge numbers?

Social welfare states need more people working and being taxed in order to pay for those welfare services. The general ageing population of welfare states (including Canada) means that there are fewer working age people having to pay the benefits of more and more non-working elderly. Refugees need to be appropriately helped into the general workforce.