The document outlines the Refugee Responsibility Sustainability Index (RRSI), designed to measure and assess countries' responsibilities in handling refugee crises, particularly focusing on the Syrian refugee situation. It evaluates countries based on their ability to absorb and resettle refugees, their contribution to humanitarian aid, and the overall responsibility towards global refugee crises. The index incorporates various economic indicators and aims to provide a numerical value to responsibilities, potentially influencing policy discussions and humanitarian efforts.

1. The Refugee
Responsibility
Sustainability Index
And its potential impact on our world
By Gurkaran Singh Goindi

2. Who is a refugee?
1. According to the 1951 refugee convention,
 A person, “…owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of
race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or
political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or,
owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that
country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of
his former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing
to such fear, is unwilling to return to it”.
(Article 1A, 2)
2. A person who is subjected to some kind of persecution, within his country,
such as religious persecution, political persecution, and being a member of
a social group. This person thus needs a safe place to live, other than his
country of origin.

3. Why is this important?
1. There has been significant dispute over responsibility
over tackling refugee crises around the world.
2. As of now, there is no numerical way to measure
responsibility in tackling refugee crises around the
world.
3. Due to this, people on the ground suffer.
4. This project seeks to solve this problem.

4. What is this index?
Measures:
1. Countries’ ability to handle refugees
2. Potential economic impact on absorbing refugees
3. Assigns responsibility level to each country
4. Decides if:
a. Country should take in more refugees, and/or
b. Increase contribution to humanitarian efforts (increase in aid,
technology transfer, economic assistance…)

5. Parts of the Index
The index consists of three parts
1. RRSI 1: Measures if countries are responsible to absorb
and resettle refugees.
2. RRSI 2: Measures if the countries are responsible to
contribute more humanitarian aid.
3. RRSI 3: A composite of the the two; Measures if
countries should take the burden for various refugee
crises around the world.

6. What is ‘High’ and ‘Low’?
GDP Per Capita (PPP):
1. High: ≥ $18,000
2. Low: < $18,000
Unemployment Rate:
1. High: ≥ 9%
2. Low: < 9%
Natives per Refugee:
1. High: ≥4,000
2. Low: < 4,000
GDP Growth Rate
1. High: ≥ 6%
2. Low: < 6%
Humanitarian Aid Given:
1. High: ≥ $100 million
2. Low: < $100 million
Poverty Rate:
1. High: ≥18%
2. Low: < 18%
Native Population as Refugees :
1. High: ≥ 0.01%
2. Low: < 0.01%
Population Density:
1. High: ≥ 250 people/km
2. Low: < 250 people/km

7. How does RRSI 1 work?
Takes into account:
1. GDP Per-Capita (PPP)
2. Natives per refugee
3. Native population as refugees (%)
4. Unemployment Rate
5. Poverty Rate
6. Population Density
1. Listed parameters matched against each
other, in groups, in ‘Punnett Squares’.
2. Groups:
1. GDP Per-Capita vs. Unemployment
rate
2. Natives per refugee vs. Population
density
3. GDP Per-Capita vs. Natives per
refugee
4. Poverty Rate vs. Unemployment
5. GDP Per-Capita vs. Poverty Rate
6. Native population as refugees (%) vs.
Poverty Rate
3. Countries then assigned points out of 4,
based on if they scored ‘High’ or ‘Low’ on
each parameter

8. RRSI 1 Evaluation Template
Sample Evaluation of Turkey:
Group 1: 2
Group 2: 3
Group 3: 2
Group 4: 3
Group 5: 4
Group 6: 3
Total Score: 17

9. Index Scoring Scale: RRSI 1
Score highlights responsibility of country towards absorbing and
resettling refugees, within own territory.
1. 6-11: Decreased responsibility to resettle refugees/ non-
refoulement policy allowed
2. 12-17: Increased responsibility to resettle refugees, but no
obligation
3. 18-24: Pressing need and responsibility to resettle refugees/
non-refoulement policy not allowed

10. How does RRSI 2 work?
Takes into account:
1. GDP Per-Capita (PPP)
2. Humanitarian Aid Given
3. Native population as refugees (%)
4. Unemployment Rate
5. Poverty Rate
6. GDP Growth Rate
Punnett Square Groups:
1. GDP Per-Capita vs. Unemployment
rate
2. Humanitarian Aid Given vs. Native
population as refugees (%)
3. GDP Per-Capita vs. Humanitarian
Aid Given
4. Poverty Rate vs. Unemployment
Rate
5. GDP Per-Capita vs. Poverty Rate
6. GDP Growth Rate vs. Humanitarian
Aid given

11. RRSI 2 Evaluation Template
Sample Evaluation of Turkey:
Group 1: 2
Group 2: 3
Group 3: 3
Group 4: 3
Group 5: 4
Group 6: 2
Total Score: 17

12. Index Scoring Scale: RRSI 2
Score highlights responsibility of country towards recognizing,
and contributing towards humanitarian efforts.
1. 6-11: Decreased responsibility to recognize refugees, and
provide humanitarian aid
2. 12-17: Increased responsibility to contribute to
humanitarian efforts
3. 18-24: Pressing need and responsibility to contribute
significantly, to humanitarian efforts

13. How does RRSI 3 work?
Takes into account:
1. GDP Per-Capita (PPP)
2. Natives per Refugee
3. Native population as refugees (%)
4. Unemployment Rate
5. Poverty Rate
6. Humanitarian Aid Given
Punnett Square Groups:
1. GDP Per-Capita vs. Unemployment
rate
2. Natives per Refugee vs. Humanitarian
Aid Given
3. GDP Per-Capita vs. Humanitarian Aid
Given
4. Poverty Rate vs. Unemployment
5. GDP Per-Capita vs. Poverty Rate
6. Native population as refugees (%) vs.
Poverty Rate

14. RRSI 3 Evaluation Template
Sample Evaluation of Turkey:
Group 1: 2
Group 2: 1
Group 3: 3
Group 4: 3
Group 5: 4
Group 6: 4
Total Score: 17

15. Index Scoring Scale: RRSI 3
Score highlights responsibility of country towards recognizing,
and contributing towards humanitarian efforts.
1. 6-11: Decreased responsibility to share burden of refugee
crises around the world
2. 12-17: Increased responsibility to share burden of refugee
crises around the world
3. 18-24: Pressing need and responsibility to share burden of
refugee crises around the world

16. The Syrian Refugee Crisis 2015
Application to Real-life Scenario

17. Overview of the Syrian Refugee
Crisis
1. Started in 2011, with the start of the Syrian Civil War
2. Refugees initially fled to neighboring Turkey and Lebanon.
3. As the neighboring options became limited, Syrians started fleeing to
Europe, where conservative countries, such as Hungary, voiced their
opposition
4. In taking the dangerous voyage across the Mediterranean, nearly 4,000
Syrians have died.
5. As of November 2015, more than 4.2million Syrian refugees have fled the
country
6. European nations have since been sparring over who should take the most
refugees. While Germany and Austria have decided to take the most
number of refugees, the UK and Denmark have simply decided to opt out.

18. Countries to be evaluated by RRSI
These countries are directly related to the Syrian Refugee Crisis, and must
be evaluated:
1. Turkey
2. United Arab Emirates
3. Saudi Arabia
4. Jordan
5. Germany
6. Hungary
1. Greece
2. Italy
3. Austria
4. Russia
5. United States

19. Evaluation on RRSI 1
1. Turkey: 17
2. United Arab Emirates: 19
3. Saudi Arabia: 19
4. Jordan: 13
5. Germany: 20
6. Hungary: 21
7. Greece: 15
8. Italy: 13
9. Austria: 23
10. Russia: 24
11. United States: 24

20. RRSI 1 Summary
Least responsible to resettle refugees:
1. None
Increased responsibility to resettle refugees:
1. Greece, Italy, Jordan, Turkey,
Pressing need and responsibility to resettle refugees
1. UAE, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Austria, Hungary, US,
Russia,

21. Evaluation on RRSI 2
1. Turkey: 17
2. United Arab Emirates: 18
3. Saudi Arabia: 15
4. Jordan: 9
5. Germany: 20
6. Hungary: 21
7. Greece: 15
8. Italy: 14
9. Austria: 21
10. Russia: 21
11. United States: 20

22. RRSI 2 Summary
Least responsible to contribute humanitarian aid:
• Jordan
Increased responsibility to contribute humanitarian aid :
• Saudi Arabia, Italy, Greece, Turkey
Pressing need and responsibility to contribute
humanitarian aid :
• Germany, Austria, Hungary, US, Russia, UAE

23. Evaluation on RRSI 3
1. Turkey: 17
2. United Arab Emirates: 19
3. Saudi Arabia: 16
4. Jordan: 11
5. Germany: 20
6. Hungary: 24
7. Greece: 15
8. Italy: 15
9. Austria: 23
10. Russia: 23
11. United States: 20

24. RRSI 3 Summary
Least responsible to share burden of refugee crises around
the world:
• Jordan
Increased responsibility to share burden of refugee crises
around the world:
• Saudi Arabia, Italy, Greece, Turkey
Pressing need and responsibility to share burden of
refugee crises around the world:
• Germany, Austria, Hungary, US, Russia, UAE,

25. Accuracy in relation to Application to
Real-life Scenario
1. In RRSI 1,
a. Countries like Russia, US, UAE and Saudi Arabia have both space and money to resettle
refugees
b. Most of these countries have stable economies, with ability to sustain refugees
c. Countries like Greece and Italy are going through economic trouble, and may not sustain an
influx of refugees
2. In RRSI 2,
a. Once again, countries Germany, Hungary, US and Austria, are rich, and can contribute to
humanitarian aid
b. All have stable, and slowly growing economies, meaning they can sustain this aid
c. Countries like Jordan are poor, and have unstable economies. Thus, they cannot provide
humanitarian aid
3. In RRSI 3,
a. Developed nations such as US, Germany, and Austria have the ability to contribute to refugee
crises in Syria, both financially and by accepting refugees
b. Countries like Jordan may not fare very well by doing so, because their economy was under-
performing on the first place

26. Relation of Indicators chosen, and
Real-life Scenario
For each index part, the indicators were chosen, according to the
specifications of what each index part measured
RRSI 1:
1. Poverty rate and unemployment ascertain if
economy can accommodate refugees.
2. Population density considered to make sure
enough space is available to resettle refugees.
3. Natives per refugee allows for a healthy balance
between natives and refugees
RRSI 2:
1. GDP Per-Capita gives an overview about the
annual earnings of the country
2. GDP growth rate makes sure the country can
sustain that earning, even after contributing to
humanitarian efforts
3. Native population as refugees demonstrates a
country’s ability to meet the needs of its citizens.
RRSI 3:
1. Contains a mix of all indicators, to produce a
balanced composite of RRSI 1 an 2.
2. Humanitarian aid given and natives per
refugee added in one part, to strike balance
between taking in refugees, and contributing
aid

27. Potential World Impact
1. Has the potential to solve ongoing debate in EU
parliament over distribution of refugees
2. Will for the first time give a numerical value to
responsibility, based on figures instead of ethics
3. Can come as big relief to organizations, such as
UNHCR, who can now place the onus on countries for
inaction, or inability to deal with crises such as the
Syrian Refugee Crisis

28. Special Thanks to
1. Mr. A- For all the help that he provided, and
for being the guiding light behind the success
of this project
2. Mr. Michael- For briefing and debriefing
students about the Personal Project process

29. Citations
1. United States. Central Intelligence Agency. CIA
World Factbook. Washington DC: CIA, 2014. CIA
World Factbook. Web. 4 Dec. 2015.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-
factbook/rankorder/2004rank.html.
2. UNHCR Global Trends 2014. Rep. 1st ed. Vol. 1.
Geneva: UNHCR, 2015.
3. "GDP - per Capita (PPP)." Central Intelligence
Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, 2014. Web. 4
Dec. 2015.
4. Holger, Dieter. "29 Countries Accepting Refugees
From Syria And The Mideast." The Inquisitr
News. 6 Sept. 2015. Web. 4 Dec. 2015.
5. "Humanitarian Aid Provided." Country Profiles |.
Global Humanitarian Assitance, 2013. Web. 4 Dec.
2015.
6. The War in Syria Explained in 5 Minutes. The
Guardian, 18 Sept. 2015. Web. 4 Dec. 2015.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5H5w3_QT
G0>.
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http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL.
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