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Lessons Learned from the Failed Spanish Refugee System: For the Recovery of Sustainable Public Policies

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  • Pablo Bris

    (Higher Technical School of Engineering and Industrial Design, Technical University of Madrid, Ronda de Valencia, 3, 28012 Madrid, Spain)

  • Félix Bendito

    (Higher Technical School of Engineering and Industrial Design, Technical University of Madrid, Ronda de Valencia, 3, 28012 Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

The migration crisis affecting Europe since the war in Syria began is the greatest challenge facing our continent since the Second World War. In the last three years, the number of applicants for international protection in Spain has grown exponentially. Our refugee system has been unable to scale up its supply at the same rate and 20,000 requests have accumulated without response. In addition, the EU has set up a mechanism to relocate 160,000 asylum seekers from Greece and Italy in the rest of the member states (hotspot approach). Of the 17,337 refugees Spain pledged to offer asylum before September 2017, only 744 have been received so far. This article analyzes the strategy the Spanish government has followed to increase the housing capacity of our refugee system. The main conclusion drawn from this case study is that the strategy of expanding supply based on outsourcing the refugee system via subsidies to NGOs is ineffective and, therefore, unsustainable. If the Spanish government wants to solve this problem it will have to launch a program to build new public refugee centers in the short to medium term. This article develops recommendations for the sustainable planning of this plan in the construction system (prefabrication) and in terms of the need to set minimum standards for the centers.

Suggested Citation

  • Pablo Bris & Félix Bendito, 2017. "Lessons Learned from the Failed Spanish Refugee System: For the Recovery of Sustainable Public Policies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-27, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:8:p:1446-:d:108560
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Julie C. Faure & Kasey M. Faust & Jessica Kaminsky, 2019. "Stakeholder Legitimization of the Provision of Emergency Centralized Accommodations to Displaced Persons," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-26, December.
    2. Wonjung Ryu & Sun Won Park, 2018. "Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Social Isolation among North Korean Refugee Women in South Korea: The Moderating Role of Formal and Informal Support," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-15, April.
    3. Pablo Bris & Félix Bendito, 2019. "Impact of Japanese Post-Disaster Temporary Housing Areas’ (THAs) Design on Mental and Social Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-26, November.

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