Items related to "Human Security Gateway: Refugees and Internally Displaced People". Fri, 16 May 2008 0:30:33 +0000 Fri, 16 May 2008 0:30:33 +0000 robert_hartfiel@sfu.ca (Robert Hartfiel) Thu, 15 May 2008 12:27:44 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24382 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24382 Military operations against armed opposition groups in Pakistan have displaced hundreds of thousands of people in recent months, according to the limited information available. While many of the internally displaced people (IDPs) have apparently been able to return to their areas of origin after an end to the fighting, others remain displaced with little access to hu-manitarian assistance. In the North West Frontier Province’s Swat Valley, conflict between an armed opposition group and the army led to Asia’s biggest new displacement in 2007, with between 400,000 and 900,000 people forced to flee their homes towards the end of the year. Many people re-turned as soon as possible, but some of them found their homes and property damaged. SOURCE: Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre Wed, 14 May 2008 17:08:59 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24373 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24373 L'asile, en tant qu’institution offrant une protection aux individus persécutés dans leur États d’origine, est par nature un sujet à dimension internationale. Il semble donc normal que cette institution fasse l’objet d’un processus d’harmonisation à l’échelle européenne, dont la mise en oeuvre débute dans les années 80 et s’accélère depuis le Traité d’Amsterdam. Si cet objectif de communautarisation est omniprésent sur l’agenda de l’Union européenne, c’est que ses États font face à un défi de taille : celui de la gestion des frontières extérieures d’une Europe à 15 puis à 25, et ce à travers l’objectif d’une Europe « ouverte et sûre ». Si l’objectif est ambitieux, il n’en est pas moins risqué pour la protection des demandeurs d’asile, dont l’accès au territoire se fait toujours plus restrictif sous couvert de la lutte contre les menaces actuelles : l’immigration illégale et le terrorisme. SOURCE: Programme paix et sécurité internationales, Université Laval Programme paix et sécurité internationales, Université Laval Wed, 14 May 2008 13:53:53 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24363 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24363 L’Appel global a pour objectif de mobiliser l’attention des donateurs des secteurs public et privé, ainsi que des organisations et des particuliers, quant au sort de millions de réfugiés et d’autres personnes relevant de la compétence de l’UNHCR. Il est mis à la disposition de tous ceux qui s’intéressent à la mission et au mandat du Haut Commissariat : les membres du Comité exécutif (ExCom) et les observateurs auprès du Comité permanent, les Gouvernements et leurs missions à Genève, le Secrétariat des Nations Unies, les institutions onusiennes et les organismes intergouvernementaux, les ONG, les organisations régionales et les particuliers concernés. SOURCE: Nations Unies // Haut commissaire des Nations Unies pour les réfugiés Nations Unies // Haut commissaire des Nations Unies pour les réfugiés Wed, 14 May 2008 12:10:29 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24348 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24348 Le gouvernement ouzbek continue les persécutions contre les personnes qu’il soupçonne d’avoir un lien avec les troubles de mai 2005 à Andijan, affirme Human Rights Watch dans un nouveau rapport publié aujourd’hui. Le rapport de 45 pages, « Saving its Secrets: Government Repression in Andijan » (« Des secrets bien gardés : La répression gouvernementale à Andijan »), documente les pressions intenses exercées par le gouvernement à l’encontre des personnes ayant participé aux manifestations d’Andijan, des familles de réfugiés qui ont fui l’Ouzbékistan à la suite des violences d’Andijan, et des réfugiés qui sont revenus en Ouzbékistan. Les interrogatoires, la surveillance constante, l’ostracisme et les menaces ont continué à engendrer de nouveaux réfugiés d’Andijan. Certains de ces réfugiés fuient pour la deuxième fois depuis le 13 mai 2005, date à laquelle les forces de sécurité gouvernementales ont massacré des centaines de personnes en tentant de réprimer les manifestations antigouvernementales faisant suite à une attaque armée contre la ville. SOURCE: Human Rights Watch - Défendre les droits humains à travers le monde Human Rights Watch - Défendre les droits humains à travers le monde Wed, 14 May 2008 10:25:02 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24332 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24332 Ce document porte sur le conflit des Grands Lacs en Afrique, qui a donné naissance au génocide rwandais en 1994 avant d'aboutir à l'affrontement de sept pays sur le même sol de la république démocratique du congo. Ces nombreux affrontements de plus de quarante ans qui ont opposé les hutu et les tutsi ont coûté beaucoup à l'Afrique, particulièrement sur le plan économique. Il a fallu attendre les années 2004 pour qu'un espoir de paix se fasse jour ; une paix à laquelle la communauté internationale veut apporter un timide soutien. Le portail propose également une rubrique "Repères", ainsi qu'une carte géographique du continent africain. Table des matières : Introduction I- Un conflit ancien 1.Hutu et Tutsi : 40 ans d'affrontements 2.Le génocide rwandais de 1994 3.Le premier conflit du Zaïre 1996-1997 II- La régionalisation du conflit 1998-2003 1.Sept pays en guerre sur le sol de la Rép. dém. du Congo (RDC) 2.Un conflit meurtrier 3.Le pillage des ressources naturelles III- La RDC entre paix et guerre depuis 2003 1.La transition démocratique 2.Persistance des violences SOURCE: La Documentation française, Paris, France La Documentation française, Paris, France Wed, 14 May 2008 09:49:54 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24327 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24327 De 1915 à 1918, plus d’un million d’'Arménien(ne)s furent les victimes de massacres et de déportations systématiques. La Suisse n'’a pas à ce jour reconnu cet événement historique comme un génocide. De nombreuses interventions parlementaires ont déjà demandé la reconnaissance suisse du génocide. Le dernier en date a été le postulat Zisyadis que le Conseil national a rejeté de justesse en mars 2001. Les développements politiques et juridiques actuels sur la scène nationale et internationale ont mis à nouveau la question du génocide des Arméniens à l’ordre du jour de l’'agenda politique. Lors de la session de printemps 2002, Jean-Claude Vaudroz, Conseiller national, a déposé un postulat visant la reconnaissance du génocide arménien par la Suisse. Le postulat exige que le Conseil national reconnaisse le génocide des Arméniens et qu’'il demande au Conseil fédéral d’'en prendre acte et de la transmettre par voie diplomatique habituelle. Avec la présente documentation, le génocide arménien est présenté et donne lieu à une discussion politique et juridique dans le contexte national et international. SOURCE: Société pour les peuples menacés Société pour les peuples menacés Fri, 09 May 2008 11:04:13 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24270 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24270 International refugee protection and criminal law enforcement are not mutually exclusive. The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (the “1951 Convention”) and its 1967 Protocol do not shield refugees or asylum-seekers who have engaged in criminal conduct from prosecution for their acts, nor does international refugee law preclude their extradition in all circumstances.1 However, where the person whose extradition is sought (the “wanted person”) is a refugee or asylum-seeker, his or her special protection needs must be taken into consideration. SOURCE: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Thu, 08 May 2008 16:22:03 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24255 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24255 Alors même que la ville méridionale chinoise de Shenzen servait de cadre à une reprise du “dialogue” entre des représentants du gouvernement de la République Populaire de Chine et des émissaires de sa Sainteté le Dalaï Lama, icône du peuple tibétain, que le Président chinois Hu Jintao mettait en ordre ses dossiers bilatéraux avant de s’envoler (mardi 6 mai) pour un déplacement « historique » dans l’archipel nippon, un puissant cyclone se dirigeait depuis la baie du Bengale vers le sud-ouest de la Birmanie. Ses rafales de vent destructrices (jusqu’à 240 km/h) frappèrent samedi et dimanche de larges pans du territoire, semant du delta de l’Irrawaddy à la capitale commerciale Yangon, chaos, drame et désolation. Alors que le bilan des disparus demeure provisoire, les victimes du cyclone Nargis se compteraient déjà par dizaines de milliers : au bas mot 15 000 morts et 30 000 disparus ; bien davantage, selon le propos de divers observateurs (cf. ministre thaïlandais des Affaires étrangères), redoutant que cet état des lieux ne s’alourdisse considérablement dès lors que l’accès à diverses zones jusqu’alors impénétrables deviendra possible. Une tragédie nationale comme le pays n’en a pas connu. La pire qu’ait souffert l’Asie depuis le tsunami de décembre 2004 (180 000 morts). SOURCE: Institut de Relations Internationales et Stratégiques Institut de Relations Internationales et Stratégiques Wed, 07 May 2008 15:37:38 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24227 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24227 D’innombrables familles de personnes disparues dans un conflit armé ou après des violences internes sont confrontées à l’incertitude quant au sort de leurs proches. Il reste beaucoup à faire pour répondre à ce problème douloureux et pour aider les familles à surmonter l’épreuve. SOURCE: Comité International de la Croix-Rouge Comité International de la Croix-Rouge Wed, 07 May 2008 11:33:59 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24199 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24199 Dans le monde, 100 à 140 millions de femmes ont subi une mutilation sexuelle. Habitant principalement en Afrique sub-saharienne, 5 % vivent dans les pays européens d’immigration africaine ainsi qu’en Amérique du Nord. Dans les pays d’origine, la situation varie, certains pays pratiquant massivement l’excision, comme la Guinée, où 96 % des femmes sont excisées, et d’autres, presque pas, comme le Niger, où seulement 2 % des femmes le sont. L’excision est par ailleurs en recul dans ces pays. La France compterait en 2004 autour de 50 000 femmes adultes excisées. Une enquête est en préparation pour mieux connaître les conséquences de ces mutilations afin d’améliorer la prise en charge sanitaire de ce problème. SOURCE: Institut national d'études démographiques Institut national d'études démographiques Wed, 07 May 2008 11:29:19 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24198 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24198 Les statistiques d’entrées et de sorties de migrants sont peu comparables entre les divers pays de l’Union européenne. La définition du migrant international n’est souvent pas la même, certains pays comptant par exemple les demandeurs d’asile ou les étudiants, d’autres, non. La durée de séjour minimale varie également, allant de quelques jours seulement en Allemagne et en Espagne à un an au Royaume-Uni et en Suède. Enfin, les sources d’information ne sont pas les mêmes, les pays ayant des registres de population se fondant principalement sur eux alors que ceux n’en ayant pas se tournent vers d’autres sources (enquête au frontière au Royaume-Uni, fichiers administratifs de visites médicales ou de titres de séjour en France). Pour améliorer la comparabilité des statistiques, l’Union européenne a adopté un règlement enjoignant les pays à compter tous les mouvements d’une durée de séjour d’au moins un an, quel que soit le motif. SOURCE: Institut national d'études démographiques Institut national d'études démographiques Mon, 05 May 2008 14:05:28 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24127 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24127 The total number of documented Afghans aged between 15 and 29 years living in Iran is 341,157 or 33.4 percent of the total population of Afghans in Iran. Broadly speaking, these Afghans may be categorised as “second-generation”, that is, those Afghans born in Iran, or who have spent more than half of their life in Iran. Second-generation Afghans comprise a particular demographic whose experiences and aspirations while not homogenous within that demographic, is different from their parents’ generation, and from their counterparts in Afghanistan. A more liberal social and cultural environment that offers education and economic opportunity has inspired different values and aspirations in the second-generation, some converging with their Iranian counterparts. Discriminatory government policies which differentiate non-nationals also shape these opportunities and experiences, however. SOURCE: Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit Mon, 05 May 2008 10:35:38 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24113 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24113 An increase in alcohol and other substance use is among themany health and social issues associated with conflict and displacement. Problems with substance use are prevalent in a variety of conflict affected situations, including camps for refugees and internally displaced people. Psychoactive substances, particularly alcohol and psychostimulants, are also often used by combatants. The reasons given for substance use among conflict-affected and displaced populations include self-medication for pain and mental health problems, the stress of adapting to life in a new environment and exposure to unfamiliar patterns of alcohol and other substance use. A wide range of legal and illegal substances may be used, including alcohol, cannabis, hypnosedatives, inhalants, opioids, and psychostimulants. (See Box 1 for background information about psychoactive substances, and Box 2 for background information about patterns of substance use). For the purposes of this guide, cigarettes and other tobacco products have been excluded as they are unlikely to cause acute problems among conflict-affected or displaced populations. SOURCE: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees // World Health Organization United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees // World Health Organization Mon, 05 May 2008 10:31:10 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24112 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24112 With the certainty of global warming, the term “climate refugees” is gaining popularity in public discourse. There seems to be some fear in the developed countries that they, if not flooded literally, will most certainly be flooded by ”climate refugees”. From a forced migration perspective, the term is flawed for several reasons. The term “climate refugees” implies a mono-causality that one rarely finds in human reality. No one factor, event or process, inevitably results in forced migration or conflict. It is very likely that climate change impacts will contribute to an increase in forced migration. Because one cannot completely isolate climate change as a cause however, it is difficult, if not impossible, to stipulate any numbers. Importantly, the impacts depend not only on natural exposure, but also on the vulnerability and resilience of the areas and people, including capacities to adapt. At best, we have “guesstimates” about the possible form and scope of forced migration related to climate change. SOURCE: Norwegian Refugee Council Norwegian Refugee Council Mon, 05 May 2008 10:27:01 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24111 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24111 Until the 1990s, UNHCR rarely made any reference to the issue of international migration in its policy documents and public statements. Indeed, the organization made a determined effort to separate the issue of refugee protection from that of international migration, so as to underline the special status and protection needs of people falling within its mandate. From the early 1990 onwards, however, UNHCR's traditional reluctance to acknowledge or discuss the issue of international migration was challenged by a number of related developments, including: a significant growth in the number of people seeking asylum in other states; a decline in the proportion of asylum seekers being granted refugee status; a widespread belief that many of the new asylum applications were ‘manifestly unfounded’ in nature; SOURCE: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Fri, 02 May 2008 12:48:17 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24097 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24097 The Subcommittees will come to order. Last March, our two subcommittees held a hearing on the subject of Iraqi refugees and internally displaced persons where a panel of Bush Administration officials responsible for different aspects of the crisis assured us that the Administration was moving aggressively to assist the refugees and IDPs and would meet the President’s announced target of 12,000 Iraqi refugees resettled in the United States during the current fiscal year. I challenged their ability and the Administration’s sincerity and they again re-assured me. Well, as of March 31, only 2,627 Iraqis have been resettled. With five months left in the fiscal year, that leaves only 9,373, but at the current rate the Administration won’t even meet half of the President’s goal. Not even half. That’s pathetic in terms of performance and embarrassing to us as a nation. And it’s only the tip of the iceberg. For the millions of Iraqis who are stranded in Jordan, Syria, Egypt and Lebanon, conditions are worsening dramatically. By Ambassador Foley’s own admission at a press briefing last month, the 150,000 Iraqis in Syria who are fed each day by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees will swell to 300,000 by summertime as more and more families run out of resources. The situation in Jordan while of lesser magnitude is equally dire. Current appeals for assistance through the United Nations and other international organizations total $900 million for this calendar year and while the United States has provided $208 million towards this goal, a shortfall of $400 million is still expected. SOURCE: United States House of Representatives // Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight // Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia United States House of Representatives // Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight // Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia Fri, 02 May 2008 12:47:04 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24096 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24096 International Medical Corps was founded in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses to train mid-level health care workers in Afghanistan. We are now a global humanitarian non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering of those affected by war, natural disaster and disease and to delivering vital health care services that incorporate capacity building of our counterparts. IMC helps people return to self-reliance by enabling the development of essential skills for health, livelihoods, rehabilitation and service delivery. IMC implements major emergency relief and longer term transitional and development programs that deliver comprehensive health and nutrition services, rehabilitate infrastructure, train local personnel and enhance community participation and development in more than 20 countries including Iraq, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. Today we are focusing on our work in Iraq. I had the privilege of establishing our mission there in 2003 and have visited more than a dozen times since then. I share responsibility for program oversight and operations with our in-country expatriate director who has been with IMC in Iraq for the past five years, working with national and local Iraqi government officials; various US entities, including the US embassy and US Agency for International Development (USAID); the United Nations; international and Iraqi nongovernmental organizations (NGOs); and local religious and tribal leaders. International Medical Corps has employed thousands of local staff over the years, the vast majority coming from the communities where we work. Currently, we have more than 400 staff members in Iraq, including 11 expatriates and over 40 visiting technical experts, who live and work in the “red zone.” Because of the insecurity and tensions in the country, we depend on building close ties to the communities in the 18 governorates where we work. We vet and hire staff locally and consult and collaborate with Iraqi institutions, officials, local leaders and groups to garner support for the relief, development and training efforts that we implement. SOURCE: United States House of Representatives // Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight // Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia United States House of Representatives // Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight // Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia Fri, 02 May 2008 12:45:58 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24095 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24095 Mercy Corps has been working in Iraq since 2003, with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development and other funding sources. Mercy Corps’ programs in Iraq meet urgent humanitarian needs, strengthen communities and promote the rights of vulnerable populations like women, youth, and persons with disabilities. To date, we have invested over $150 million in programs that have reached over 4.5 million beneficiaries. We also have active programs in Jordan and Syria that serve Iraqi refugees and other vulnerable populations. In Jordan, the situation of Iraqi refugees is well known, in part due to the very well developed operations of international NGOs there with full staffs and active programs. Overall, official UN estimates place the total number of refugees at 500,000. However, based on data collected in a recent FAFO study, and by those NGOs that are providing services to the refugee population, our best guess is that the total number is actually somewhere between 150,000 and 350,000. Iraqi refugees in Jordan are not a homogenous group. There are a significant number – mostly Christians – who came to Jordan before 2003 to escape religious persecution even before the US invasion. Another significant percentage came during the 2004 – 2005 time period: these refugees are mostly middle class Iraqis with college educations, assets in bank accounts, and property outside of Iraq. They have likely been net contributors to Jordan’s economy since they have invested there. Many of them are Sunnis who saw the political changes taking place in Iraq as unfavorable and, as such, took refuge early. SOURCE: United States House of Representatives // Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight // Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia United States House of Representatives // Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight // Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia Fri, 02 May 2008 12:44:31 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24094 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24094 I am Anastasia Brown, director of refugee programs for Migration and Refugee Services (MRS) of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (MRS/USCCB). MRS/USCCB is the largest refugee resettlement agency in the United States. Working with over 100 dioceses across the nation, we provide resettlement assistance to approximately 15,000 to 20,000 refugees each year, helping them with job placement, housing, and other forms of assistance to ensure their early self-sufficiency. My testimony today will focus upon Iraqi refugees, the majority of whom are located in Jordan and Syria. In my testimony, I would like to outline four areas that need to be addressed in the immediate future in order to avoid further deterioration of the refugee situation and to alleviate further human suffering: The Administration and Congress must increase efforts to deliver basic humanitarian assistance to Iraqi refugees. Not only will this require the provision of more funds, but it also will require more diplomatic initiatives to ensure that the global community also contributes much needed assistance; The Administration must step up efforts to make available resettlement opportunities for vulnerable Iraqi refugees, both in the United States and in other countries; Special attention must be paid to extremely vulnerable populations, including unaccompanied refugee minors, women heads-of-households, and other groups; Specific needs, such as health services (including mental health), education, and basic food and shelter, must be addressed. Protection within host countries is also deteriorating, as refugee families without formal legal status remain at risk. SOURCE: United States House of Representatives // Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight // Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia United States House of Representatives // Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight // Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia Fri, 02 May 2008 11:57:09 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24083 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24083 The present article proposes three main theses: the normality of movements and the prior existence of transnational networks in and around Afghanistan; the resilience and inventiveness of the Afghan population, especially illustrated by the remittance system; the relevance of migratory movements and of transnational networks for the reconstruction of the country and the stability of the region. In contrast to the migratory strategies developed by the refugees, the three solutions to the problem of the refugees promoted by the UNHCR (voluntary repatriation in the country of origin; integration in the host country; resettlement in a third country) are based on the idea that solutions are found when movements stop. But mobility may be seen as a key livelihood strategy. A more comprehensive solution is needed, which takes into account the full range of strategies and responses developed by the Afghan population, including the back-and-forth movements between Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and beyond. SOURCE: Refugee Studies Quarterly Refugee Studies Quarterly Fri, 02 May 2008 11:46:35 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24082 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24082 This article examines the UNHCR operation in Pakistan during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan as a case study for the tension between UNHCR's strictly humanitarian mandate and the diverging interests of states. After situating the Afghan refugee crisis in the broader historical context of the Cold War, it analyses a number of documents from the UNHCR archives with a focus on the humanitarian principles that guide UNHCR's work on the one hand, and the influence of states and their political, economic, or military objectives on the UNHCR's operation on the other. It concludes that UNHCR was aware of the negative impact of states’ policies and actions on the humanitarian nature of its operation. However, due to the power difference between UNHCR and its members states as well as states hosting its operations, UNHCR had to accept these negative effects in order to assure minimum assistance and protection for the Afghan refugees in need. SOURCE: Refugee Studies Quarterly Refugee Studies Quarterly Fri, 02 May 2008 11:40:50 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24081 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24081 This article looks back to the 1920s, and tries to tease out the politics of refugee protection as it evolved in the practice of States and international organizations in a period of growing ideological divide. The question addressed is whether the politics of protection at any particular moment are humanitarian or whether they serve primarily other purposes, in which the refugee is merely instrumental. It is unrealistic to imagine that the problem of refugees can ever be entirely non-political. What the history of the 1920–55 period confirms is the continued vitality of self-interest as a motivating factor in the responses of States to refugee flows. The international refugee regime that emerged in the late 1940s and early 1950s defined refugees through the politics of denunciation in a persecution-oriented definition that continues to limit and confuse, not only at the international operations level, but also in national asylum procedures. In this context, the article concludes that the art for UNHCR is not to allow solutions or assistance to have priority over protection. For if it cannot provide protection, it will be judged a failure and accountable, and not merely excused because it tried hard in difficult political circumstances. SOURCE: Refugee Survey Quarterly Refugee Survey Quarterly Thu, 01 May 2008 10:12:48 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24035 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24035 UNHCR is the guardian of the international refugee protection regime. In fulfilling this role, UNHCR is also the single most important actor in its constant development. This paper seeks to examine the way UNHCR designs and adapts the international refugee protection regime, and the extent to which this can be usefully informed by theories about how to influence state behavior, so as to ensure respect for the standards the regime promotes, in other words, international refugee protection standards. The paper is based on the assumption that throughout its history UNHCR has gained vast experience in what influences state behavior towards respect for and implementation of international refugee protection standards, and what, conversely, does not succeed in this goal. UNHCR, it must be said at the outset, sets its protection priorities taking at least intuitively into account how states will react to its advice, recommendations and standard setting processes. As any legal officer involved in the drafting of Executive Committee conclusions, for instance, will testify, an important feature of UNHCR's regime design is whether UNHCR's recommendations or standard setting efforts stand a chance of being adopted and being implemented in practice. SOURCE: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Thu, 01 May 2008 10:01:16 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24031 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24031 The Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), a WHO Collaborating Center based in the School of Public Health of the Université Catholique de Louvain in Brussels, has been researching the human impact of natural disasters and complex emergencies for over thirty years. In 2003 CRED began developing the Complex Emergencies Database (CE-DAT) through funding provided by the U.S. Department of State/Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM). The CE-DAT database aims to collect mortality, nutrition, and health indicators in a standardized way in conflict and postconflict situations. In order to obtain information for CE-DAT that was specific to the experiences of refugees, CRED initiated collaboration with UNHCR, who had just launched the Standards and Indicators Initiative (S&I) as part of a Results-Based Management Strategy. The S&I Report (SIR) collects, on a yearly basis, a set of quantifiable indicators on various topics including mortality, nutrition, and health, used to assess and compare the well-being of UNHCR’s populations of concern. As part of the collaboration, the relevant indicators were provided to CRED for inclusion in the CE-DAT database. After the first submission of the SIR by the camps, CRED worked closely with the Population and Geographic Data Section (PGDS) from UNHCR to analyze the results of the data submitted. Upon analysis it became clear that some of the data submitted by the camps were unreliable and in some cases unrealistic. SOURCE: Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:32:32 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24004 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24004 When did you last listen to a displaced person and grasp the impact of displacement? Did you ever think what it means to lose close family members in conflict, lose all your belongings and to be uprooted from your place of origin? This book invites you to explore the personal reality of a protracted displacement situation. Thirteen individual accounts from Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia give us an insight into the reality of conflict and displacement. These direct voices have the power to cut through prejudice and political agendas, they speak for themselves. The focus is on universal human experiences and responses, not specific political issues. By reading what the displaced people themselves want to tell us, we may learn what is important to them and what issues they are particularly concerned about. The process of collecting these stories, whereby trained interviewers allowed the displaced individuals to direct the course of the narrative, allowed unexpected facts and ideas to emerge. It allows us to glean the reality behind generalised notions of displacement. The stories stand alone with little analysis added – their power lies in their offering of images, a voice, sensations, feelings, hopes and dreams. The stories gathered in these pages complement more factual and analytical data from sources other than the IDPs themselves. SOURCE: Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:07:38 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24000 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=24000 This 17th Quarterly Report from SIGIR marks almost exactly five years since the Congress passed Public Law 108-11, appropriating $2.48 billion to the Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund (IRRF)—the first significant tranche in what now amounts to over $46 billion in U.S. aid for Iraq. Seven months later, in November 2003, the Congress appropriated another $18.44 billion to the IRRF. Over the past half-decade, this nearly $21 billion fund served as the primary vehicle for U.S. direct investment in Iraq’s infrastructure. Other funds have supplemented the IRRF, including the Iraq Security Forces Fund (ISFF, $15.44 billion), the Commander’s Emergency Response Program (CERP, $2.66 billion), and the Economic Support Fund (ESF, $3.21 billion). SOURCE: Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:04:35 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23994 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23994 La France a un problème avec ses musulmans, mais ce n’est pas celui qu’elle croit. L’embrasement des banlieues d’octobre-novembre 2005 ainsi que la vague d’arrestations dans les milieux jihadistes ont ramené l’Islam au centre des préoccupations françaises et ont donné du souffle à ceux qui brandissent la menace d’un monde musulman s’organisant à partir de l’islamisme politique. Pourtant, c’est tout le contraire: paradoxalement, c’est l’essoufflement de l’islamisme politique plus que sa radicalisation qui explique les violences à prédominance musulmane et c’est la dépolitisation des jeunes musulmans bien plus que leur prétendue re-communautarisation sur des bases radicales qui devrait inquiéter. Afin de minimiser les risques de l’émeute et du militantisme jihadiste, il faudrait à la fois s’attaquer aux problèmes socio-économiques dont souffrent les cités, réduire les violences qui s’exercent contre elles, et favoriser la participation politique de ceux qui y résident. SOURCE: International Crisis Group International Crisis Group Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:40:52 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23991 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23991 IPSOS market research agency carried out a survey on Iraqi returnees in Syria for a period of three weeks from 2 to 18 March 2008. 994 interviews were conducted by a group of 15 interviewers. Number of UNHCR-registered (86%) and unregistered respondents (14%). Number of returnees that the respondents have provided information about (266 people) SOURCE: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:38:43 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23990 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23990 UNHCR estimates that more than 4 million Iraqis are currently displaced from their homes, including some 2.2 million inside Iraq and up to 2 million refugees. In addition, Iraq continues to accommodate some 41,000 refugees who are in need of protection and assistance. UNHCR has a limited presence in Iraq with international staff restricted to Baghdad and Erbil. The operation relies on a network of national officers, implementing partners and Government counterparts. The Office has developed innovative mechanisms through which it extends its protection and assistance responsibilities. Nonetheless, securing access to those most in need continues to be a major challenge. SOURCE: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:47:41 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23951 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23951 This article examines the UNHCR operation in Pakistan during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan as a case study for the tension between UNHCR's strictly humanitarian mandate and the diverging interests of states. After situating the Afghan refugee crisis in the broader historical context of the Cold War, it analyses a number of documents from the UNHCR archives with a focus on the humanitarian principles that guide UNHCR's work on the one hand, and the influence of states and their political, economic, or military objectives on the UNHCR's operation on the other. It concludes that UNHCR was aware of the negative impact of states’ policies and actions on the humanitarian nature of its operation. However, due to the power difference between UNHCR and its members states as well as states hosting its operations, UNHCR had to accept these negative effects in order to assure minimum assistance and protection for the Afghan refugees in need. SOURCE: Refugee Survey Quarterly // University of Oxford Refugee Survey Quarterly // University of Oxford Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:30:01 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23945 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23945 In the 1980s BBC docudrama ‘The March’, hundred of thousands of Africans marched northwards toward the Mediterranean to escape starvation, prompting widespread panic in Europe about an impending ‘flood’ of ‘illegal migrants’. The current global food crisis is very unlikely to result in mass migration, and population movements that do occur will almost certainly take place within countries and not across borders, and for a short-period of time only. Still the crisis is likely to have a significant impact on those already displaced as refugees or internally displaced persons; and finding solutions for them will be part of the long-term solution to the food crisis. SOURCE: The Brookings Institution The Brookings Institution Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:25:44 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23900 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23900 Front Films / Free Burma Rangers. 6 min 8 sec. Dec 3, 2005 SOURCE: Free Burma Rangers Free Burma Rangers Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:41:14 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23879 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23879 After 9/11 and following terrorist attacks a new problem has presented itself with great force: How can Western states - like Norway - guarantee fair procedures and humane treatment of all asylum seekers and simultaneously prevent human rights violators or terrorists from wrongfully being granted refugee status? The fight against international terrorism has had an impact on the rights of aliens and the protection of refugees. This is illustrated by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) active involvement in discussions at different levels with states that are legally bound by the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (“the 1951 Refugee Convention”). The increase of democratic regimes and the establishment of international criminal courts have also prompted a stronger public demand for prosecution of gross human rights violations and violations of humanitarian law. One may talk of a “snowball effect” on refugee law and practice: When some recipient countries increase their focus on potential war criminals or terrorists among asylum seekers, other recipient countries have to follow suit lest they be considered “safe havens” where criminals may seek refuge without fear of prosecution. SOURCE: Chr. Michelsen Institute Chr. Michelsen Institute Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:19:18 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23871 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23871 With the peace process plagued by delays and confusion, and with conditions in return areas often worse than in the IDP camps, the future for IDPs in northern Uganda remains uncertain. In August 2006 the government of Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) signed a Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CHA), which led to significant improvements in the secu-rity situation in northern Uganda. After many delays, progress in the peace negotiations be-tween the Government of Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance Army in early 2008 gave rise to cautious optimism that an end to the conflict in northern Uganda might finally be on the hori-zon after 22 years of war. However, the process stalled again when on 10 April 2008 Joseph Kony, the leader of the LRA, at the last moment failed to sign a Final Peace Agreement. The CHA has not been renewed and has now expired. SOURCE: Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:21:43 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23843 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23843 En 2002, le CICR a commencé à rechercher les moyens de mieux aider les personnes portées disparues dans le cadre d’une situation de conflit armé ou de violence interne, ainsi que leurs familles. À la suite d’une conférence internationale d’experts gouvernementaux et non gouvernementaux qui s’est tenue en 2003, l’Agenda pour l’action humanitaire a été adopté. Celui-ci fixe des objectifs précis que les États et le Mouvement international de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge doivent atteindre entre 2004 et 2007. Le CICR s’est engagé, à l’égard des personnes portées disparues, à examiner toutes les méthodes liées à la prévention des disparitions, à l'élucidation du sort des disparus et au soutien à accorder à leurs familles, et ensuite à convenir de pratiques communes dans ce domaine et de faire progresser cette question pour qu’elle devienne une priorité internationale. Depuis, le CICR a continué à développer ses activités relatives aux personnes portées disparues et à leurs familles. Cette publication résume l’action menée à ce jour et met en évidence plusieurs exemples des différentes activités entreprises par l’institution dans le cadre de ses opérations et de son plan d’action. SOURCE: Comité International de la Croix-Rouge Comité International de la Croix-Rouge Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:06:25 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23835 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23835 Since the publication of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement in 1998 and following their comprehensive dissemination, a small but growing number of national governments have begun to express their commitment to addressing internal displacement, protecting the rights of the internally displaced, and implementing the Guiding Principles through national legislation and policy. This website contains a compilation and summary of national laws, policies, decrees and other official documents relating to internal displacement. Obtained from publicly available websites, as well as through the generous assistance of governmental and non-governmental representatives in-country, the website currently covers over fifty documents from twenty countries. This list is not exhaustive and will be updated as new laws and policies become publicly available and as new instruments are adopted. SOURCE: Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:04:33 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23834 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23834 A natural disaster is defined by the UN as: “the consequences of events triggered by natural hazards that overwhelm local response capacity and seriously affect the social and economic development of a region.”[1] There is a burning debate in the humanitarian field about just how ‘natural’ are natural disasters – which raises interesting opportunities to relate to those working on human-induced climate change. For example, landslides are reportedly becoming more common in Nepal. This may be the result of environmental factors (climate change) – as warmer temperatures are leading to melting of glaciers—but it may also be the result of deforestation which is an activity carried out by humans. SOURCE: The Brookings Institution The Brookings Institution Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:09:00 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23827 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23827 This issue of FMR aims to help bring the crisis of forced displacement of Burmese people back into the international spotlight. With the ‘Saffron Revolution’ of September 2007, Burma was catapulted into the centre of international attention. It was briefly headline news as people monitored the regime’s response and watched for hints of progress towards democracy and the restoration of rights. With little action on either front (and no visible resurgence of violence or protest), interest has since waned. The September protests, led by Buddhist monks, were sparked by a sudden increase in oil prices which had a serious impact on the already impoverished population. After a few days, the government violently ended what it called the “disruption of stability”. SOURCE: Forced Migration Review Forced Migration Review Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:56:43 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23808 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23808 It is a grave humanitarian crisis: 1.5 million Iraqi refugees living in deplorable and declining conditions in Syria and Jordan. They are clustered not in camps but in overcrowded urban neighborhoods, crammed into dark, squalid apartments. Many have been traumatized by extreme violence. Their savings are dwindling; many cannot afford to pay for rent, heat and food; few have proper medical care. After meeting with refugees, leaders in both Syria and Jordan and United Nations experts, we came to the inescapable conclusion that this crisis could endure for years and that much more help is needed now. There is absolutely no denying that the United States has a special responsibility to help. The sectarian violence these Iraqi refugees have fled is a byproduct of the invasion and its chaotic aftermath — yet America has paradoxically done far less than its traditionally generous response. But while the United States must lead, the scale of this humanitarian emergency and its uncertain duration require international contributions, including the active participation of European and Gulf Arab states. SOURCE: The New York Times The New York Times Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:11:25 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23802 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23802 This paper presents the problems facing Iraqi refugees in Jordan, highlighting the plight of women and children. The authors discuss their first hand picture of difficulties faced by displaced, abandoned, Iraqis. The focus of the document is on the lack of reproductive health care and other needs. The authors discuss refugee troubles created by their legal status, particularly the lack of work and education opportunities. In addition to this, other factors such as trafficking and sexual exploitation have increased since the beginning of the war. It is stressed that violence against women is rampant in the region and that humanitarian actors must understand cultural barriers that Iraqis face in reporting rape when designing health programmes. SOURCE: Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:00:32 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23788 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23788 The lives of tens of millions of people around the world are threatened by conflict, ethnic violence, drought and natural disaster. A large number of organizations - governmental, non-governmental, and United Nations - are devoted to providing humanitarian assistance to helping victims of humanitarian disasters survive. Humanitarian aid to persons impacted by conflict or natural disaster is a growth industry. In 1990, international humanitarian assistance amounted to about $2 billion; by 2000 the total was up to nearly $5 billion. The huge humanitarian crises in Afghanistan and several regions of Africa likely mean additional large increases in humanitarian in 2002 and again in 2003. The United States is the largest donor of humanitarian assistance with its share in recent years amounting to about 35 percent of the world total The 15 member countries of the European Union plus the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) are the second largest donors, and Japan ranks third. SOURCE: International Council of Voluntary Agencies International Council of Voluntary Agencies Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:46:38 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23771 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23771 Literature investigating forced migration focuses traditionally on factors such as hunger, poverty, war and violation of human rights. More recently, the question has arisen whether environmental degradation such as soil degradation, lack of water, environmental hazards, and other may contribute to forced migration. The concept has been vaguely described as “environmental refugees,” “environmental migrants,” “climate refugees” etc. There are documented cases where rapid-onset natural hazards such as the 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean or the 2005 impact of Hurricane Katrina on the New Orleans area of the United States. It is estimated that up to 1.5 million people fled the New Orleans area, and today only an estimated 500,000 have returned, with the net outward emigration remaining at about 1 million people due to the 2005 hurricane and the ensuing flooding. For less dramatic events, however, it could generally be said that few people actually “flee” from the environment. Rather, deteriorating environmental conditions can so compromise livelihoods that people may be forced to migrate to sustain themselves. For example, a farmer who flees due to the degradation of his land, does that because there are no more livelihood alternatives available in his habitat, which means that s/he flees from poverty. A person who leaves her/his country/region due to ethnic conflicts that are mainly caused by ecological problems actually flees from war and violence (Biermann, 2001). A woman who abandons her job and makes her children sacrifice a certain level of education to accompany her husband who had to leave the country after a hurricane damaged his working area migrates for social reasons. SOURCE: United Nations University United Nations University Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:40:17 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23744 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23744 La littérature économique récente sur l’impact de la migration sur le pays d’origine n’a pas réussi à analyser l’effet de la migration sur le chômage et le taux de salaire surtout dans les zones urbaines. A l’aide d’un MEGC d´etaillé appliqué à l’économie marocaine, nous sommes capables de montrer que, si nous tenons compte simultanément de l’émigration marocaine vers l’Union Européenne, l’immigration subsaharienne vers le Maroc et la migration rural-urbain, l’impact sur le taux de salaire et le chˆomage est ambigu. SOURCE: Centre d’Economie de la Sorbonne Centre d’Economie de la Sorbonne Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:14:55 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23717 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23717 The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is concerned that there are significant numbers of Burmese living in Thailand who qualify for and deserve international protection and assistance even though they do not have access to proper registration processes. Without a transparent, humane and lawful asylum policy for Burmese people entering Thailand, it is impossible to estimate the percentage of bona fide refugees that are mixed into the group of migrants who have left Burma solely for other reasons. The lack of systematic data to document the reasons people flee Burma provides the Thai authorities with the excuse to treat the Burmese living outside the refugee camps as mere economic migrants, subject to deportation. It also weakens the leverage that agencies working with the Burmese living in Thailand have to advocate on their behalf. With this in mind, FIC researcher, Karen Jacobsen, helped IRC design a survey that documented the experiences of Burmese people living in border areas of Thailand, and explored whether their experience in Burma might mean that they merited international protection as refugees. The data reveals significant differences in the demographic and socioeconomic makeup of the three sites, as well as differences in the reasons the respondents left Burma. Our findings suggest that a great number of currently unprotected Burmese in Thailand, possibly as many as fifty percent, merit further investigation as to their refugee status; and that only a small number of Burmese who warrant refugee status and attendant services actually receive any aid or protection either from the Thai government or from international aid agencies. SOURCE: Tufts University // Feinstein International Center Tufts University // Feinstein International Center Thu, 17 Apr 2008 09:21:48 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23677 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23677 Forcible displacement is a consequence, and sometimes even an intended outcome, of most armed conflicts. In many peace processes, the return of refugees and other persons displaced by the conflict is considered to be key to a lasting peace. Linkages are increasingly being made between refugee repatriation and broader peace-building processes. While much has been said about the role of UNHCR in repatriation operations, there is little academic literature analysing the impact of provisions on forcible displacement in peace agreements. Until relatively recently, the emphasis was on providing assistance to returning refugees. There has now been a growing awareness of the rights of such refugees, and this has been reflected in more peace agreements which often contain explicit references to the refugee's rights. Since the late 1980s, most major peace agreements have included such references and more recent agreements contain increasingly detailed provisions on forcible displacement. The need for these provisions has been recognised by several UN bodies. The then Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities has reaffirmed the rights of refugees and internally displaced persons to return to their homes in safety and security and recommended that "the recognition of such rights should be included within peace agreements ending armed conflicts". The Executive Committee of UNHCR has also recently noted “the desirability of incorporating appropriate legal protections for returning refugees in peace agreements, whenever possible, as a measure to build confidence and in support of their promotion in practice." SOURCE: International Council on Human Rights Policy International Council on Human Rights Policy Thu, 17 Apr 2008 08:56:45 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23669 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23669 The Global Overview provides a comprehensive review of the internal displacement situation in 2007, based on the information gathered in the IDMC database. In 2007, the total number of confl ict-induced internally displaced persons (IDPs) worldwide rose by a illion to the staggering total of 26 million, the highest figure since the early 1990s. Many new displacements were caused by long-standing conflicts such as in Darfur, Iraq, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sri Lanka and Colombia. These 26 million IDPs were among the most vulnerable people in the world, and their enjoyment of basic human rights was systematically blocked. Even in areas recovering from conflict, such as northern Uganda, Côte d’Ivoire or Aceh in Indonesia, durable solutions to internal displacement still seemed far off. Despite considerable progress made in recent years in raising the awareness of internal displacement and IDPs’ protection and assistance needs, significant information gaps remained on the size, composition and needs of displaced populations. In many countries where such information gaps existed, governments were unwilling either to assist and protect their IDPs themselves, or to let international humanitarian agencies get on with the job. In other words, these IDPs were denied all sources of relief and protection. SOURCE: Norwegian Refugee Council // Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre Norwegian Refugee Council // Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:04:01 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23636 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23636 Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly - Refugee Advocacy and Support Program (hCa - RASP) released a recent report entitled "Unwelcome Guests: The Detention of Refugees in Turkey’s Foreigners Guesthouses." The report is based on interviews held between October 2006 and September 2007 with 40 refugees from 17 different countries who had been detained in ten “foreigners’ guesthouses” in Turkey. SOURCE: Helsinki Citizen's Assembly Helsinki Citizen's Assembly Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:03:12 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23635 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23635 In recent years, the movement of people from one country and continent to another has grown significantly in scale and scope. The world’s population is increasingly mobile, with women, men and children leaving their own country and taking up residence elsewhere for a variety of different reasons. While the majority of people move to establish new livelihoods, improve their standard of living, join members of their family or take up educational opportunities, those of concern to UNHCR are forced to flee by human rights violations and armed conflict. Given the uneven outcomes of the globalization process, coupled with the growing impact of climate change on the sustainability of life in many parts of the planet, it seems likely that the issue of human mobility will become increasingly complex and assume a leading role on the global policy agenda. SOURCE: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:01:35 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23634 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23634 Acute and chronic malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies have been found in refugee camp populations (1). In southeastern Nepal, despite consistent access by refugees to general rations,* certain micronutrient deficiencies have posed a substantial health burden to the approximately 100,000 Bhutanese residing in seven refugee camps (2). Limited food diversity, frequent illness, and poor feeding practices have been cited as underlying causes of poor nutritional status in this population. Annual surveys to assess levels of acute malnutrition (i.e., wasting) and chronic malnutrition (i.e., stunting) have been conducted in these camps by the Association of Medical Doctors of Asia (AMDA) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); however, the capacity to reliably evaluate micronutrient deficiencies has not existed locally in the camps (3). In January 2007, AMDA and CDC, at the request of UNHCR and the World Food Programme (WFP), conducted a nutritional survey of children aged 6--59 months, assessing 1) the prevalence of acute malnutrition, chronic malnutrition, underweight, anemia, and angular stomatitis (i.e., riboflavin deficiency); 2) the cumulative incidence of diarrhea and acute respiratory illness (ARI); and 3) the feeding practices of the children's mothers. This report describes the results of that survey, which indicated that, although acute malnutrition was found in only 4.2% of the children, chronic malnutrition was found in 26.9% and anemia in 43.3%. These findings underscore the importance of monitoring both malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies and addressing the underlying causes of nutritional deficits. SOURCE: Center for Disease Control // Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Center for Disease Control // Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:45:47 -0700 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23631 http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/showRecord.php?RecordId=23631 Africa: Refugee Movements in Chad, Cameroon, C.A.R (as of Feb 2008) and Refugees in Central and East Africa (as of 31 Dec 2007) SOURCE: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs