About Refugees and Displaced People The Issue P E O P L E F L E E their homes and/or their countries when their lives become endangered. War,
persecution, and political instability, force thousands of people from their homes every year; sadly, this is a familiar story for many of the more than 20 million refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in the world today.
Why People Become Refugees WA R B E T W E E N C O UNT R IES O R WIT HIN A C O UNT RY. War usually puts civilians
at risk. Armies fighting for control may try to weaken the opposition by destroying crops and houses, placing landmines, and even intentionally killing innocent noncombatants. P E R S E C UT IO N A N D O PPR ESSIO N. The ruling power may threaten people with
persecution, prison, or execution, especially those it suspects of disagreeing with them or who oppose them. People become frightened for their own safety and the safety of their families. HAT R E D BE T W E E N GR O UPS. Hatred between different groups or nationalities can cause
people to try to drive others out or even kill them due to their heritage or nationality. Often there is perceived injustice that leads to ongoing retaliation ending in war or genocide.
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NAT UR A L DIS A S T ER S. Cyclones, floods, and drought can destroy crops and homes, leaving
people without food or shelter. The country may not have enough resources to help its own people. As a result, they experience famine and sickness, making their situation worse. P O V E RT Y. Families in poverty are already struggling to get enough food and have little access
to health and education. When war, persecution, or disaster occurs, they are unable to cope and are forced to flee.
Useful Definitions R E F UGE E S : Persons outside their country of origin who are unable or unwilling to return
owing to a well-founded fear of persecution. INT E R NA L LY DIS P LA C ED PEO PLE: Persons displaced within their own country. A S Y L UM S E E K E R S : Persons who have left their countries of origin and have applied for
recognition as refugees in other countries and whose applications are still pending. O T H E R S O F C O NC ER N: Persons who are in refugee-like situations but who have not
formally been recognized as refugees. This covers, among others, victims of war in the former Yugoslavia and various groups in the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries.
The Facts »
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AT T H E S TART O F 2008, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) classified 11.4 million people as refugees. This marks an increase of almost 30 percent in two years; this number is predicted to rise further.
IN 2 0 0 6 , an estimated 18.1 million children were among populations living with the
effects of displacement; within that group were an estimated 5.8 million refugee children and 8.8 million internally displaced children.
E IGHT Y P E R C ENT of refugees are women and children.
IN 2007, there were an estimated 26 million people who had been internally displaced
by conflict.
DUR IN G 2 0 07, a total of 647,200 individual applications for asylum or refugee
status were submitted to governments and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) offices in 154 countries.
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E V IDE N C E INDIC AT ES that camps for refugees and internally displaced persons are
often recruiting grounds for child soldiers because of the convenient concentrations of children in these zones. NE A R LY T WO -T HIR DS of the world’s refugees are in the Middle East and Africa.
Although refugee flows are widespread, a handful of countries are the primary source. Half of all refugees come from three sources: Israel/Palestine, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Completing the list of the 10 leading sources of refugees are Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, the former Yugoslavia, Angola, Croatia, and Eritrea.
How Are Refugees Assisted? T H E UN IT E D NAT IO NS HIGH C O MMISSIO NER FO R R EFUGEES (UNHCR)
leads and coordinates international action for the worldwide protection of refugees and the resolution of refugee issues. T H E UN H C R :
» Safeguards the well-being of refugees and assists with shelter, food, medical needs, education, and work opportunities » Ensures the rights of refugees to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another state; to return home voluntarily; or to settle in another country » Seeks lasting solutions to the plight of refugees, encouraging protection of human rights and the peaceful resolution of disputes IN A L L O F IT S A C TIV IT IES, the UNHCR pays particular attention to the needs of
children and seeks to promote the equal rights of women and girls. It discourages dependency by consulting refugees on decisions that affect their lives. The UNHCR works in partnership with governments, regional organizations, and international and non-governmental organizations such as World Vision.
Returning Home or Not T H E IDE A L S O L UTIO N for those who have been forced to flee their homes and/or
countries would be a resolution of the situation that caused their flight and an opportunity to return home without fear. Unfortunately, this is not often the case. Refugees may be forced to return as refugee camps are closed, as the demands become too great for the host government, or as security issues arise. Refugees may not be convinced that life will be better if they return and may wish to remain in their new location or be resettled elsewhere.
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M O S T R E F UGE E S D ESIR E to return home voluntarily, in safety, and with dignity, but
returnees face a range of problems. They face a long road of recovery as they rebuild their homes and livelihoods and overcome difficulties such as landmines, disputes over land ownership, and the lingering trauma of war and loss. They often also need to be reconciled with those who stayed behind. W H E N IT IS N O T PO SSIB LE for refugees to return home, their country of asylum may be
able to absorb and integrate them. When this occurs, refugees need assistance to earn a living and create a new foundation. This is most successful in areas where there are people with cultures and language similar to the refugees’ own. S O M E T IM E S R E S E TT LEMENT in a third country may be the only way to guarantee
international protection of a refugee. Governments usually grant entry to refugees on a case-by-case basis. Decreasing budgets for aid and negative public opinion about issues of immigration mean the numbers of refugees resettled in developed countries do not keep pace with the demand. (Sources: UNHCR, 2007 “Global Trends Report,” June 2008; UN Children and Armed Conflict, “Providing Protection and Relief for IDP Communities”)
What You Can Do »
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C O N TA C T YO UR LO C A L MEMB ER S of Congress and engage them in
discussions about the role of the United States in addressing refugee situations in places like Afghanistan and Darfur.
C O M M E M O R AT E WO R LD R EFUGEE DAY on June 20 by holding a local
awareness-building event with a guest speaker from an organization that assists newcomers in your area.
C ULT IVAT E AT T IT UDES that support constructive, active, and non-violent
resolution of conflict.
HE L P O T H ER S UNDER STA ND some of the complex processes that lead to
violence and conflict, which in turn cause refugees to flee their homes and their countries of origin.
B E F R IE ND A NEWC O MER in your community. Listen to his or her story and
learn about that person’s way of life. If there is a refugee center in your area, volunteer or find other ways to support its work.
During the preparation of this resource, all citations, facts, figures, Internet URLs, and other cited information were verified for accuracy. World Vision Resources has made every attempt to reference current and valid sources, but we cannot guarantee the content of any source and we are not responsible for any changes that may have occurred since our verification. If you find an error in, or have a question or concern about, any of the information or sources listed within, please contact World Vision Resources. Copyright © 2010 World Vision, Inc., Mail Stop 321, P.O. Box 9716, Federal Way, WA 98063-9716, wvresources@worldvision.org. All rights reserved. PA G E 4 O F 5
About World Vision W O R L D V IS IO N is a Christian humanitarian organization
dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ, World Vision serves alongside the poor and oppressed as a demonstration of God’s unconditional love for all people. We see a world where each child experiences “fullness of life” as described in John 10:10. And we know this can be achieved only by addressing the problems of poverty and injustice in a holistic way. That’s how World Vision is unique: We bring 60 years of experience in three key areas needed to help children and families thrive: emergency relief, long-term development, and advocacy. And we bring all of our skills across many areas of expertise to each community we work in, enabling us to care for children’s physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Partnering with World Vision provides tangible ways to honor God and put faith into action. By working, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families who are struggling to overcome poverty. To find out more about how you can help, visit www.worldvision.org.
About World Vision Resources E NDING GL O B A L PO V ERT Y and injustice begins with education:
understanding the magnitude and causes of poverty, its impact on human dignity, and our connection to those in need around the world. World Vision Resources is the publishing ministry of World Vision. World Vision Resources educates Christians about global poverty, inspires them to respond, and equips them with innovative resources to make a difference in the world.
For more information about our resources, contact: World Vision Resources Mail Stop 321 P.O. Box 9716 Federal Way, WA 98063-9716 Fax: 253-815-3340 wvresources@worldvision.org www.worldvisionresources.com
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