This week we have a little bit of humanitarian and aid worker stereotyping and a look at what DR Congo will be like if peacekeepers have to leave ahead of schedule. Exciting? We think so:
When grappling with the complex category of “climate migration,” much can get lost in translation. First, the term itself is difficult to pin down. If a family loses its livelihood as a result of increased drought and desertification and has to relocate to an urban area for work, is this an example of climate displacement, or are they economic migrants whose powerlessness to provide for themselves is simply compounded by environmental factors? If a national of one country is forced to cross international borders as a result of violent conflict over limited natural resources, how are they different from any other refugee protected under the 1951 Refugee Convention?
This International Women’s Day, I took a moment to consider the many varied points of view that I heard from and about women during our recent Sudan mission. Their stories are applicable to the situation of many women living in crisis situations around the world.
When Valentino Achak Deng, the subject of Dave Egger’s best selling novel What is the What speaks, he allows long pauses between sentences during which you can almost hear his audience holding their breath. On Tuesday night, Refugees International’s Washington Circle featured Valentino as part of a panel discussion on “The Year of Sudan: What Lies Ahead” at the Mexican Cultural Institute.
When my colleague Melanie Teff and I visited Upper Nile and Southern Kordofan states a few weeks ago, we spent a lot of time hearing and talking about water. Sudan had been experiencing a drought, and harvests had yielded far less than normal. People were worried. The international community was worried. The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) announced that it was increasing its expected number of beneficiaries for food aid in south Sudan this year from 1.1 million to 4.3 million people, a massive increase.
Danish photographer John Grarup beautifully documents communities in Eastern Africa that have been displaced as a result of climate change. New York Times use of the technically-incorrect term, “climate refugees” duly noted. (They aren't allowed to get refugee status!)
The Financial Times headline sounds the alarm: “Fury at unspent funds for Sudan.” It seems that donor governments are furious at the World Bank for spending only $181 million out of the $524 million in donated funds from the fund it manages to support the recovery and development of local communities in south Sudan.
This week, the governments of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) signed a Tripartite Agreement, setting the stage to help more than 50,000 Congolese refugees return home after living in camps in Rwanda.
Refugees International launched its “Year of Sudan” at historic Walpole House, on Chiswick Mall overlooking the Thames, last Tuesday, February 9. The house, which is famous for its depiction in William Thackery’s Vanity Fair, was filled to the brim with over 90 guests to hear Africa Editor for the Economist, Richard Cockett, interviewed by acclaimed Sudanese-born anchor of BBC’s World News Today, Zeinab Badawi.
When standing on the shore line at Rufisque L’est, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Dakar, Senegal, it’s hard not to buy into apocalyptic climate change scenarios. The beach is gone. Wharves built by the French colonists, once linked to the shore, have been completely swept away, with just a few wooden pillars rising from the water as evidence of their existence. In one stretch, three city blocks, which included homes, warehouses, and a mosque, were pulled into the ocean.
We're trying something a little new and wanted to share with you some thoughts on our issues from people other than ourselves. Every so often we'll be bringing you links to some of the things we're working on or reading about here at Refugees International. Occasionally, we may even share things that have made us laugh.
In January, there were two discussions in the United Nations Security Council that are important to Refugees International’s work. The discussion on Somalia was particularlydisappointing, but we were pleased that the UN Security Council is finally looking at how to respond to the escalating violence in south Sudan.
There is no doubt that thousands of Haitians are suffering from an enormous disaster that warrants a strong international humanitarian response. Refugees International supports the relief efforts underway, as it’s clear that immediate humanitarian assistance is critical. In the coming weeks and months we hope the crisis will stabilize, allowing for longer-term thinking about reconstruction and development. As Haiti moves away from this tragic event toward a brighter future, countries and aid groups must remain engaged and committed. Anything less may result in a protracted or chronic humanitarian crisis for the people of Haiti.
Last week, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, announced
that the U.S. is … “very concerned that UNMIS take on board and fully
implement the portion of its mandate – the critical portion of its
mandate – that relates to the protection of civilians.” Ambassador
Rice did not, however, elaborate on what the United Nations Mission in
Sudan, otherwise known as UNMIS, could do to make protection a
reality.
President Barack Obama delivered his State of the Union address on Wednesday night at a time of disappointment and concern for the American people, largely centered on the slow pace of economic recovery and partisan gridlock in Congress. Thus, the bulk of the President's speech was devoted to domestic matters.
As you may have heard last Friday, I will be assuming the role of President of Refugees International on April 1. I am very excited to join the hard-working staff and board of RI and return to my true passion: public service.
The
international community’s new preferred narrative about Iraq is that the violence has been greatly
reduced; the U.S.
is drawing down its military; the humanitarian situation has stabilized; and now
it is up to the Iraqi Government, assisted by UN development actors, to rebuild
the country.
When it was revealed last month that the young Nigerian who attempted to blow up a Detroit-bound plane had trained in Yemen, the American media was immediately debating whether Yemen constituted a third front on the war on terror. (And also explaining where Yemen was, as comedian Jon Stewart humorously pointed out).
One year ago, the travails of Rohingya from Burma shocked people around the world. Boat after boat of refugees, fleeing abuse and oppression in Burma, were intercepted at sea by the Thai army, who then proceeded to detain them without trial. After days in outdoor detention, the Rohingya refugees were loaded back on to their boats, and the Thai army proceeded to tow them out to sea where they were abandoned with little food or water and no motors to power their boats.
