June 14

CLIMATE CHANGE AND DISPLACEMENT IN THE 21ST CENTURY. NANSEN CONFERENCE, 6-7 JUNE 2011

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BACKGROUND PAPER

A changing climate forcing people to move

Climate is a key determinant for today’s demography. Climatic conditions change over time due to natural climate variability, but changes in global mean temperature have been relatively small since the end of the last ice age. Now we are on our way to change our climate beyond this natural variability. Climate change is gaining momentum, and the international community is struggling to reach agreement on how to deal with it. Without concerted and decisive action, we face a high risk of environmental and social disruption that would change living conditions fundamentally throughout the globe.

 

The implications for human welfare and security, and for our strategies for adaptation, disaster risk reduction, humanitarian aid and protection of displaced people, could be far-reaching. There is little doubt that factors such as the deterioration of agricultural land, desertification, reduced access to water and sea-level rise will make parts of the earth less habitable. Such slow-onset change is expected to be the most important driver of human displacement related to climate change in the future. However, the frequency and intensity of sudden-onset hazards such as floods, hurricanes and other extreme weather events are already increasing in accordance with climate model projections.

Such sudden-onset events are having a significant immediate impact and are reason for serious concern...[More] 

 

Presentations and Abstracts

Live webcast

June 14

Displacement Due To Natural Disasters.Norwegian Refugee Council

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Displacement due to natural  hazard-induced disasters : global estimates for 2009 and 2010

 

September 29

Always On The Run The Vicious Cycle Of Displacement In Eastern Congo. Human Rights Watch

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This 88-page report documents abuses against the displaced by all warring parties in all phases of displacement – during the attacks that uproot them; after they have been displaced and are living in the forests, with host families, or in camps; and after they or the authorities decide it is time for them to return home. The report is based on interviews with 146 people displaced from their homes in eastern Congo, as well as government officials, humanitarian workers, and journalists. Download this report (PDF, 704.38 KB)
 
June 17

2010 UNHCR Country Operations Profile - South Africa

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http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/page?page=49e485aa6

 

May 20

Internal Displacement: Global Overview Of Trends And Developments In 2009

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The Global Overview provides a comprehensive review of the 2009 situation of internal displacement, based on the information on over 50 countries brought together at www.internal-displacement.org. It aims to provide information on these different situations from regional and country-specific perspectives, while providing an analysis of the different situations of IDPs globally: those newly displaced, those living in continuing displacement, and those making progress towards durable solutions. The achievements and limitations of the responses to these situations are also examined.

http://www.internal-displacement.org/8025708F004BE3B1/(httpInfoFiles)/8980F134C9CF4373C1257725006167DA/$file/Global_Overview_2009.pdf

Internal displacement in Africa

Fact Sheet
June 18

Refugees, Asylum-Seekers...2008 Global Trends. UNHCR

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2008 Global Trends: Refugees, Asylum-seekers, Returnees, Internally Displaced and Stateless Persons

2008 IN REVIEW – STATISTICS AT A GLANCE

• There were some 42 million forcibly displaced people worldwide at the end of 2008. his includes 15.2 million refugees, 827,000 asylum-seekers (pending cases) and 26 million internally displaced persons (IDPs).

• Nearly 25 million people – 10.5 million refugees and 14.4 million IDPs – were receiving protection or assistance from UNHCR at the end of 2008. These numbers are similar to 2007.
 
• In 2008, UNHCR identified some 6.6 million stateless persons in 58 countries. The Office estimated that the overall number of stateless persons worldwide was far higher, about 12 million people.
 
• Some 604,000 refugees repatriated voluntarily during 2008. Repatriation figures have continued to decrease since 2004. The 2008 figure is the second-lowest in 15 years.
 
• More than 839,000 people submitted an individual application for asylum or refugee status in 2008. UNHCR offices registered nine per cent of those claims. More than 6,300 asylum applications were lodged by unaccompanied and separated children in 8 countries. With one quarter of applications globally, South Africa is the largest recipient of individual applications in the world.
 
• UNHCR presented 121,000 refugees for resettlement consideration by States. More than 67,000 refugees were resettled with UNHCR’s assistance during 2008.
  According to Government statistics, 16 countries reported the admission of 88,800 resettled refugees during 2008 (with or without UNHCR assistance). The United States of America accepted the highest number (60,200 during its Fiscal Year).
 
• Women and girls represent on average 49 per cent of persons of concern to UNHCR. They constitute 47 per cent of refugees and asylum-seekers, and half of all IDPs and returnees (refugees). Forty-four per cent of refugees and asylum-seekers are children below 18 years of age.
 
• Developing countries are host to four fifths of the world’s refugees. Based on the data vailable for 8.8 million refugees, UNHCR estimates that half of the world’s refugees reside in urban areas and one third in camps. However, seven out of ten refugees in sub-Saharan Africa reside in camps.
 
• Pakistan is host to the largest number of refugees worldwide (1.8 million), followed by the Syrian Arab Republic (1.1 million) and the Islamic Republic of Iran (980,000).
 
• Afghan and Iraqi refugees account for almost half of all refugees under UNHCR’s responsibility worldwide. One out of four refugees in the world is from Afghanistan (2.8 million) and Afghans are located in 69 different asylum countries. Iraqis are the econd largest refugee group, with 1.9 million having sought refuge mainly in neighbouring countries.
 
• Pakistan hosted the largest number of refugees in relation to its economic capacity. The country hosted 733 refugees per 1 USD GDP (PPP) per capita. It was followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (496 refugees per 1 USD GDP (PPP) per capita) and the United Republic of Tanzania (262). The first developed country is Germany at 26th place with 16 refugees per 1 USD GDP (PPP) per capita.
June 18

UNHCR Global Report 2008 - South Africa

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http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/page?page=49e485aa6
May 23

How Sudanese Refugees In Uganda Deal With Displacement

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 Answering Exile: how Sudanese refugees deal with displacement
This PDF-document describes an AHRC-funded project exploring the ways in which Sudanese refugees in Uganda continue and adapt their cultural practices and rituals in the face of their forced dislocation from their ancestral territories. The study, which will encompass a representative cross section of the exiled population will involve activities such as observation, oral history, interviews, discussion as well as a photographic and filmed record. The project aims to address the gap in forced migration studies which have tended to concentrate on “legal, technical and political questions” at the expense of the cultural experience of the displaced. From Intute.ac.uk
http://www.diasporas.ac.uk/assets/Kaiser%20sg.pdf
May 03

UN. Guide On Ratification Of The Migrants Rights Convention

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UN Office for High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) announced the launch of a new guide to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. According to the Guide on ratification of the migrants rights convention (full-text, 500 KB), "today, some 200 million people live outside their countries of birth or nationality" and that about "90 million migrants – persons living outside their country of origin for three months or more - are economically active, engaged in the world of work". Outside the countries of their nationalities, the international migrants, both men and women, can be particularly vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. The guide promotes and encourages ratification of the Convention and two ILO Conventions on migration and employment and incorporation of these standards into national legislation. The Guide was prepared by the Steering Committee for the Campaign for Ratification of the Migrants Rights Convention. Implementation of Convention is monitored by the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families.

UN Pulse Permanent Link: Guide on ratification of the migrants rights convention

February 23

Palestinian Refugees: A Palestinian View

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Palestinian refugee issue: a Palestinian perspective This site provides access to the full text of a paper by Abbas Shiblak which was published by Chatham House in February 2009.MENAP BP 09/01. The 12 page briefing gives a personal overview of the Palestinian refugee issue from a Arab perspective. It argues that quest of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes is not only a legal and moral right but has become a major part of Palestinian identity. Recommendations for future action. in the context of the Arab-Israeli conflict. From Intute.ac.uk
http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/view/-/id/703/
December 24

Asylum Seekers From Zimbabwe (28 Pages ;PDF): UK House Of Commons Library Report

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http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/briefings/snha-03391.pdf
December 04

Internal Displacement

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Global Database on the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement
 Website of the Global Database on the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, a Joint project between the Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement and the Institute for the Study of International Migration in the United States. The site provides FAQs and background on internal displacement, historical information on the Guiding Principles and legal annotations to the Guiding Principles. The full text of the Guiding Principles can be viewed online in PDF. The searchable database contains documents referring to the Guiding Principles, documents and statements referring to the individual rights upon which the Guiding Principles are based and secondary sources (books, articles, transcripts). Not all the material is currently available as the database is still under development. A page of links to related international and regional organisations, international and national non-governmental organisations, academic and research sites and human rights organisations is also provided. The site can be viewed in English, French and Spanish. Intute.ac.uk
http://www.idpguidingprinciples.org/
January 29

UNRWA For Palestine Refugees In The Near East

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The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East - UNRWA has released General Fund Appeal 2008-2009 (pdf, 2.01 MB). The publication outlines in a concise format the principal programmes through which UNRWA performs its humanitarian and development work:

  • Education;
  • Health;
  • Relief and Social Services;
  • Microfinance and Microenterprise Department; and
  • Infrastructure and Camp Development Unit.                                                                                                                                                                                   Read more UNRWA news. 
    • Permanent Link: UNRWA General Fund Appeal 2008-2009 UN Pulse
    December 20

    UNHCR Global Report And Global Appeal

    United Nations Displaced persons and Refugees Trackbacks (0)

    Two sister publications, The Global Report 2006 (published in June) and The Global Appeal 2008-2009 (December) offer a comprehensive view of the agency's operations and annual requirements. Although designed primarily for governments and UNHCR's partners, they are an invaluable guide for general readers to UN High Commisssioner for Refugees worldwide operations.

    Permanent Link: UNHCR Global Report/Global Appeal UN Pulse

    November 06

    United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees Report, 2006-2007

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    The report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) covering the period from January 2006 to mid-2007 is now available (A/62/12). The report noted that a significant increase in the numbers of persons of concern to UNHCR brought new challenges in 2006.

    UN Pulse Permanent Link: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

     

    September 27

    Refugees: UNHCR Information Gateway

    United Nations Displaced persons and Refugees Trackbacks (0)
    Reflink The Reflink website is a gateway to information sources dealing with refugee issues made freely available online by the UNHCR. The resources are grouped by major categories - Primary Sources, Subject Based Sources and Other Useful Sources -, which are then further subdivided. Primary Sources includes links to United Nations organisations, academic institutions, European organisations and government departments dealing with refugee issues. Subject Based Sources include links to case law databases and resources focusing on children, human rights, migration, legal systems, women and war crimes. The Other Useful Sources category includes news sources and search engines grouped by region. There is brief information provided about each resource and a link to the site. From Intute.ac.uk
    http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/reflink
    September 06

    Afghanistan: Returning Refugees' Economic And Social Rights

    Afghanistan Displaced persons and Refugees Human Rights Trackbacks (0)

    Economic and Social Rights in Afghanistan II

    The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHCR) in partnership with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) published Economic and Social Rights in Afghanistan II (full text (878 KB)). According to the report, many Afghan refugees upon returning home find themselves unable to find employment, education, adequate health care and affordable and secure housing.
    Related reports. UN Pulse     September 5th, 2007

    Permanent Link: Economic and Social Rights in Afghanistan II

    August 21

    Refugees And Displaced Persons

    United Nations Displaced persons and Refugees Trackbacks (0)
    Handbook on Housing and Property Restitution for Refugees and Displaced Persons (More)
    July 31

    UNHCR Resources: Afghan Refugees

    United Nations Afghanistan Displaced persons and Refugees Trackbacks (0)
    http://www.unhcr.org/afghan.html (More)
    June 21

    Refugee Population Rises To Almost 10 Million

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    UNHCR report says refugee population rises to almost 10 million
    Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

    + Full Report (PDF; 1 MB)


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    June 20

    2007 World Refugee Day

    United Nations Displaced persons and Refugees Trackbacks (0)
    Displacement in the 21st Century. A new paradigm is the theme for the 2007 World Refugee Day. According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, some 40 million people worldwide have already been uprooted by violence and persecution, and it is likely that the future will see more people on the run as a growing number of push factors compound one another to create conditions for further forced displacement. Read the messages of the UN High Commissioner on Refugees and the Secretary-General commemorating the day.
    UN Pulse :

    Permanent Link: World Refugee Day - 20 June

    April 18

    Internally Displaced People Worldwide, 2006 & World Refugees,2005

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    Map

    - Internal Displacement: Global Overview of Trends and Developments in 2006

    World: Refugees 2005

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