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Dispatches No. 234
Up | March 31, 2008
REFUGEE NEWS BRIEFINGS
UPDATES ON JRS PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES
REFUGEE NEWS BRIEFINGS
CÔTE D'IVOIRE: OPPOSITION GROUP APPEALS FOR CONTINUED HUMANITARIAN AID
On 18 March, representatives of Côte d'Ivoire's 'Forces Nouvelles' (FN) opposition group initiated a meeting with UN agencies and NGOs. At the gathering, they urged organisations, including JRS, to continue providing assistance to populations situated in the country's northern formerly rebel-held zone. The appeal comes as the country pushes toward a post-conflict phase and slowly exits a six-year socio-political crisis.
The FN led a failed coup attempt in 2002, which split the country into a rebel-held north and government run-south, destroying infrastructure and displacing an estimated 700,000 people. The uprising mainly resulted from discrimination which denied citizenship and government participation rights to those perceived as foreigners.
An ambitious peace accord signed between government and opposition leaders in March 2007 has been delayed. The pact outlines measures towards disarmament and free and fair elections in June of this year. Despite some progress, analysts believe this date to be optimistic. Neither side has fully disarmed nor has the national identification process, essential for elections, been completed.
State administration has begun to re-deploy throughout the country, though many public services such as healthcare centres and schools are not fully functioning.
Numerous UN agencies and NGOs, including JRS, have continued offering assistance in 2008 in order to provide stability as the country prepares for elections.
"We appreciate the support which the humanitarian community has provided during the crisis. Your continued assistance is needed, perhaps even more now in reconstructing the country, than during the conflict", one FN spokesperson commented.
The same speaker voiced concern over the lack of communication between National authorities and political bodies closer to the ground. The spokesperson implied that stalled communication and development efforts are negatively affecting residents.
"The FN's acknowledgement that the crisis is ending is a positive sign. Their statement in favour of local populations and the humanitarian community is also promising. JRS hopes to see the FN extend such collaboration to the Ivoirian State as well. Only cooperation between the protagonists can resolve the crisis and bring about peaceful elections and long-term development," JRS West Africa Communications Officer, Ashley Gagné, told Dispatches on 27 March.
JRS established a presence in Côte d'Ivoire in 2003. It has scaled down its projects since the country began stabilising, but still offers education and healthcare services in Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire's former rebel capital in the country's north.
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SOUTH AFRICA: HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANISATIONS CONDEMN XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS
On 26 March, human rights organisations in South Africa condemned a spate of xenophobic attacks that have reportedly left four people dead and hundreds homeless.
In the latest incident on 24 March, two foreign nationals were reportedly killed when a mob torched their dwellings in a township outside the capital, Pretoria.
This attack also left an additional 1,000 people homeless.
According to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), most attacks stem from social tensions within townships. The agency stated that it had recorded at least half a dozen attacks against foreign nationals in the past few weeks, including the fatal shooting of two migrants in another township outside Pretoria on 18 March.
Following the killing, thousands of people went on a rampage, assaulting foreigners in four other informal settlements.
According to the government's 'Labour Force Survey 2007', approximately 25% of the labour force is officially unemployed. A further 3.5 million are classified as "discouraged work-seekers" or "unemployed." Over the past few years, there have been several demonstrations, often violent, highlighting the inadequate supply of social services across the country. Intolerance towards foreigners has also been a long standing problem.
UNHCR said it had received several complaints of an allegedly inadequate response from the police. None of the perpetrators have been arrested in any of these incidents.
According to reports in local media, the police had yet to establish whether the attacks had deliberately targeted foreigners.
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NEPAL: MORE THAN 100 BHUTANESE REFUGEES RESETTLED
On 26 March, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) announced that more than 100 Bhutanese refugees have left Nepal to be resettled in the United States and other Western nations. The agency expects the number to reach 200 by the end of March and 10,000 by the end of the year.
Most of the refugees have left since January for the United States, with small numbers being sent to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway.
The United States has offered to accept as many as 60,000 Bhutanese refugees in the next few years, while other countries have offered to take smaller numbers.
The offer by Western nations has divided the Bhutanese refugees. Some oppose the idea, saying they should remain in Nepal and hope that someday they will be able to return to Bhutan. UNHCR says 25,000 others have applied to be resettled abroad. These differences have led to several clashes inside refugee camps in recent months.
While Bhutan, a former absolute monarchy, held its first democratic elections on
24 March, it refuses to allow the refugees to return, arguing that most left voluntarily and renounced their citizenship.
An estimated 105,000 Bhutanese refugees have been living in seven camps in the Morang and Jhapa districts of eastern Nepal - about 800km from Kathmandu - since they were expelled from Bhutan in 1990.
In 1985, the Bhutanese government established new eligibility requirements for citizenship that effectively disenfranchised many ethnic Nepalese, known as Lhotshampas, depriving them of their citizenship and civil rights. In December 1990, Bhutan announced that Lhotshampas who could not prove they were residents of the country before 1958 had to leave. There have been several rounds of talks between senior Nepali and Bhutanese officials, but there has been no significant progress.
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IRELAND: NEW PRISON ALSO FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS
At a time when human rights groups are expressing concern that new immigration laws contain greater power to detain asylum seekers upon arrival in the state, the government plans to establish a separate detention centre for foreign nationals in a new prison.
The new facility in the 1,400-bed prison complex at Thornton Hall - which will replace Mountjoy Prison - will be used to detain foreign nationals, such as undocumented migrants and asylum seekers, separately from other prisoners.
While the capacity of the unit is not yet known, the average number of immigration-related detentions in recent years has been in the region of 1,200 a year, or some 45 people on a daily basis.
Under the government's Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill, an asylum seeker can be arrested and detained at the frontier of the State where it is "not practicable" to issue an entry permit. Such people can be held in "a prison or other place of lawful detention".
The State's human rights watchdog, the Human Rights Commission, says the detention of asylum seekers should be avoided, and recommended an amendment specifying that this would be a measure of last resort. It also advised that prisons are not suitable places for the detention of asylum seekers who have not been convicted of a criminal offence.
JRS Ireland Director, Eugene Quinn, stated that certain categories of detainees such as pregnant women, older people and traumatised persons should be excluded from the prison system. Mr Quinn said non-custodial alternatives to detention would provide significant savings in terms of both human and financial costs.
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INTERNATIONAL: PRICE INCREASES LEAD TO CUTS IN FOOD AID
Rising food and fuel prices and a falling dollar may cause serious reductions in food aid to refugees throughout the world.
On 25 March, the US government announced that it will cut the amount of food aid it gives to developing countries, shifting most of its focus to emergency needs. JRS Southern Africa Regional Advocacy Officer, Michael Gallagher, fears that this policy shift may affect the UN World Food Programme's (WFP) capacity to get food to camps in protracted refugee situations.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) attributed this latest cut to the increasing price of wheat, and other food has gone up by 41% setting its budget back by US$121 million. This means it will have to reduce the amount of food aid sent overseas.
The US is the world's biggest food aid donor, contributing an average of six million tonnes of cereal annually since 1970. It funds half of the food delivered by the WFP, which is responsible for 40 to 50% of global food aid.
This is already having an effect in at least one country, Thailand, as increases in the price of rice of 50% in the last two months have led to shortfalls in rations to the 140,000 refugees on the Thai-Burma border. Meanwhile the US dollar continues to fall against the Thai baht currency.
According to the Thailand-Burma Border Consortium, responsible for food distribution to Burmese refugees on the Thai border, the organisation needs to make up a budgetary shortfall of $5.8 million to keep up the already inadequate level of food rations. If the gap is not filled, refugees could be issued with just 26 pounds of rice a month and no other food items - less than half of their daily protein and calorie needs. Nursery school feeding and health projects would have to be slashed or terminated.
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UPDATES ON JRS PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES
TANZANIA: RESPONSIBILITY FOR RADIO KWIZERA TRANSFERRED TO THE PROVINCE
At a meeting on 7 and 8 March in Mwanza, western Tanzania, discussions took place between JRS and the Jesuit province of Eastern Africa on the procedures of the transfer of responsibility for Radio Kwizera. The formal decision had already been taken at the end of 2007.
After almost 13 years of programming, JRS Regional Director Joe Hampson SJ, JRS Tanzania Director Romy Catagin SVD, Radio Kwizera Director Damas Missanga SJ and the East Africa Province consultant Bob White SJ met to discuss the details of the transfer. All agreed that the objective of the station, to encourage dialogue and promote peace and reconciliation in the community, would not change.
During the transition period, JRS will ensure that the station remains committed in working with and for the poor. This includes continuous JRS commitment to peace and reconciliation, developing leadership training and adult literacy programmes, and communication that leads to individual empowerment and participatory community development.
In April, a project proposal for the station will be presented to the province consultation team. Furthermore, the official opening of the new Radio Kwizera building is scheduled for 1 July. On 31 December this year, the Province will assume responsibility for the station as one of its priorities, so that it forms part of the Jesuit identity in East Africa and the Radio Kwizera mission becomes integrated into the work of the Jesuit schools and parishes in the province.
Radio Kwizera programming is divided into four types: non-formal education, formal education, news and entertainment. Broadcasting in English, French, Kiswahili and Kirundi, the station reaches thousands of refugees and local communities on the margins of society in Ngara, Kibondo, Kasulu, Kigoma, Biharamulo in western Tanzania and over the border in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Due to constraints in funding and challenges running a large radio station, there has been little time to review the founding vision and create a model for the future province-owned station. This will require a programme of training young Jesuits for their future work. A fund will be established, with the help of partners, to ensure the financial independence of the Jesuit apostolate.
Radio Kwizera literally means 'Radio of Hope' and was established in 1995 following a large influx of Rwandan, followed by Burundian refugees in western Tanzania and was the first radio station ever managed by JRS.
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CÔTE D'IVOIRE: YOUNG PEOPLE ATTEND HIV/AIDS PREVENTION TRAINING
"Building trust and support among groups of young people has clearly helped change attitudes and behaviours towards HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases", JRS education project worker, Arnaud Monsoheka, said of the JRS AIDS campaign.
Arnaud is one of five young adults recruited by the JRS AIDS Centre to facilitate workshops raising awareness of sexually transmitted diseases in five parishes of Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire's former rebel capital in the country's north.
On 17 March, participants began a five-day training session in order to update their knowledge of HIV/AIDS and group leadership methodologies. Sessions were facilitated by JRS staff in collaboration with Caritas Côte d'Ivoire. For some project staff, this was their third session.
JRS identified the need to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS in Côte d'Ivoire after a 2002 coup d'état led to widespread sexual violence and prostitution.
Consequently, there was an increase in the rate of HIV infection, which according to an estimate in 2005 by the World Health Organisation reached 7.1%, the highest in West Africa. However, the Ivoirian State estimates the HIV-infection rate at 4.7%.
Drawn from their parish communities, education project workers identify and work with groups of 15 to 20 persons. The length of each cycle, however, depends upon the specific needs and responses of each group. According to staff working in the centre, the campaign has encouraged many people to seek a HIV test and follow-up services from JRS.
Discussion groups address issues chosen by the workshop participants, such as causes of HIV/AIDS, opportunities to get HIV tests, and prevention strategies, such as fidelity, abstinence, and condom use in certain cases. Some education project workers offer individual counselling sessions as well.
"Altering attitudes and behaviours is a process to which some people are more receptive than others. The effectiveness of the project is clear when one reads the personal testimonies of the beneficiaries", stated JRS facilitator, Thomas Morkey Kablan.
JRS also manages the same campaign with Islamic communities, recruiting education project workers from local mosques.
"Even if the values and messages of Moslem and Christian groups are the same, people feel more comfortable discussing sensitive issues within their own faith communities," explained Mousoh Cyrille of Caritas.
"The leadership role played by these young education project workers could have a sustainable impact in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Côte d'Ivoire", JRS Communications officer, Ashley Gagné, told Dispatches.
The JRS AIDS Centre was established in 2003. Aside from ongoing public awareness projects, the centre provides HIV tests, counselling, medical treatment, and assistance to establish small businesses to individuals living with HIV/AIDS.
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MALTA: JRS LAWYER RECEIVES 'INTERNATIONAL WOMAN OF ACHIEVEMENT' AWARD
On 11 March, the US Embassy presented JRS Malta lawyer, Dr Katrine Camilleri, with its second annual 'International Woman of Achievement" award during a reception held to mark International Women's Day.
US Ambassador Molly Bordonaro presented the award to Dr Camilleri for her exceptional and courageous work as an advocate for human rights, and for her unflagging commitment to ensuring that irregular migrants in Malta receive adequate social and legal services.
Speaking to an audience of women leaders in business, medicine, politics, the judiciary, academia, journalism, and civil society, Ambassador Bordonaro praised Dr Camilleri's efforts in leading the JRS legal team. Dr Camilleri's office provides legal assistance to asylum seekers and monitors the living conditions and treatment of irregular immigrants.
Through her efforts, JRS has expanded its capacity to effectively address the needs of the increasing number of asylum seekers reaching Malta's shores by boat.
In 2007, Dr Camilleri received the prestigious UN Nansen Refugee Award for her civic courage and the inspiring example she has set in improving the lives of hundreds of people in need of humanitarian assistance. The Nansen Award committee said it chose Dr Camilleri for her exceptional dedication to the refugee cause and her outstanding contribution to the protection of and assistance to refugees and displaced persons.
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UK: JRS PUBLISHES INFORMATION LEAFLET 'REFUSED... AND THEN WHAT?'
On 17 March, JRS urged British citizens to increase their awareness of issues concerning asylum seekers and refugees in the UK. Outlined in their new leaflet, 'Refused...and then what?', the UK office offers ten points of action that can be taken to appease the suffering of asylum seekers and members of society who find themselves in vulnerable situations.
The ten points of action, or '10 things that you can do', works as a practical list, easy for any member of the public to follow. From direct assistance, such as visiting asylum seekers in detention and collecting toiletries, to indirect assistance, such as joining mailing lists and making donations, British citizens are asked to take a greater role concerning the welfare of asylum seekers and refugees.
The leaflet sets out why citizens should to raise public awareness to highlight the problems faced by forcibly displaced persons. JRS calls on the public to voice their opinions against xenophobia and anti-immigration/ refugee propaganda and share the information in this leaflet with family, friends, colleagues and others.
Personal testimonies from asylum seekers in the leaflet highlight the realities in countries origin and of the asylum process in the UK.
"When I came [to the UK] ... I was 17 years old. I left [home] because I had been raped and tortured. If I wanted to stay alive, I had to leave. I have already been taken to a detention centre twice... I came because I wanted a better life for my child. Today, we are sleeping on the floor at a friend's house. JRS has always been there for me. They give me some money to live, feed my child and travel grants to see my solicitor", said Gloria from Uganda.
The leaflet is very much in tune with the work the UK office is doing, reflecting the hands-on approach they are taking and their efforts to encourage other parties to do the same. JRS UK work is concisely outlined in the document, making it a useful and attractive source of information for people wishing to assist the Jesuit NGO.
On weekdays, the JRS UK office is a hub of activity with a communal space provided for asylum seekers wishing to socialise with friends and family, internet and phones available for contacting the wider world, and medical and legal assistance provided whenever possible.
To get copies of 'Refused... and then what?', contact the UK office at uk@jrs.net or ph: +44 (0) 20 7357 0974.
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EUROPE: WINNERS OF JRS JOURNALIST COMPETITION ANNOUNCED
On 15 April, JRS Europe will present the winners of its Europe-wide competition on refugees for student journalists.
The winner, adjudicated by a panel of professional journalists, is Anastasia Stolovitskaya from Denmark, for her article, 'The Politics of Fighting Windmills'.
The runners up are, Stav Shaffir, studying in the UK, for his article, 'Shall We Dance'; and Thomas Bay Estrup, studying in Denmark, for his article, 'A Young African's Odyssey to Europe'.
The topic for this year's competition was 'Access to Asylum.' JRS Europe received 37 entries from students studying in Italy, Germany, Malta, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland and the UK. Contestants wrote articles of no more than 1,200 words. The competition was open to all higher education students in a member state of the council of Europe.
The ceremony will begin at 14.30 in Room A8F 388 in the European parliament.
It will be hosted by Ms Hiltrud Breyer MEP, with special guests Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP (UK), Ms Britta Thomsen MEP (Denmark), and another journalist, yet to be confirmed.
The competition was supported by the European Council for Refugees and Exiles, the UK NGO Media Wise and the International Federation of Journalists.
For further information, including copies of the winning articles and requests for interviews with the winner, contact press.europe@jrs.net.
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