The first wave of refugees, about 500 people, arrived in Sumte Nov. 2 following a controversial decision by regional lawmakers. Sumte’s mayor, Christian Fabel, told the New York Times his wife thought the move was a joke.
“It certainly can’t be true,” Fabel recounted his wife as saying. “She thought it was a joke.”
Regional authorities had initially earmarked Sumte to receive 1,000 Syrian refugees, but reduced the number to 750 after realizing the village’s sewage system could not handle a tenfold increase in population overnight.
Amazingly, outcries from villagers were ignored and their opinions were not considered in reducing the migrant tally. When all the migrants are moved into Sumte, refugees will outnumber native residents by 7:1, and the village’s total population will balloon 700% overnight.
Sumte’s largely middle-aged and elderly population are shocked their small, isolated community was assigned to house so many refugees because the town has only one street, no shops, no school and no police station.
“We have zero infrastructure here,” said Fabel. “Public transport barely exists. We are in the back of beyond.”
As the alarming refugee crisis in Europe reaches a fever pitch, it’s estimated that up to one million refugees will pour into Germany. Almost all are Muslims fleeing war and poverty in Syria, Afghanistan, North Africa and Iran.
Sumte lawmakers are now beefing up security in the quiet, friendly town as villagers express concern for their safety. “Life here is going to change,” said Mayor Fabel.
While Northern European countries like Germany and Sweden bear the brunt of the Syrian refugee crisis, the wealthy Arab states of the Persian Gulf (Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) have done next to nothing to help their Muslim brethren fleeing war-torn Syria, Afghanistan and Iran.
“Letting in more foreigners doesn’t just mean sharing the (shrinking) oil wealth, but increasing the potential for political, ethnic and sectarian tension,” according to Bloomberg. Actually, that’s exactly what’s happening right now in Europe.
Meanwhile, Germany will take up to 1,000,000 Syrian refugees, while Sweden will house 190,000 this year alone. As Digital Journal previously reported, Sweden is buckling under the financial strain of the refugee crisis, as it currently takes in 10,000 refugees a week.
Some Arabs are asking the Gulf States to step up and do their part to help their fellow Muslims.
“The Gulf must realize that now is the time to change their policy regarding accepting refugees from the Syria crisis,” said Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, a commentator on Arab affairs. “It is the moral, ethical and responsible step to take.”
Related: Refugees in Sumte complain about bad food, boring village
