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Dispatches No. 263
Up | July 17, 2009
REFUGEE NEWS BRIEFINGS
UPDATES ON JRS PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES
REFUGEE NEWS BRIEFINGS
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: KIVU CRISIS WORSENS WITH 100,000 MORE DISPLACED
On 9 July, the International Crisis Group (ICG) called for the suspension of joint UN-Congolese military action against the Rwandan rebel group, the FDLR. According to the US-based advocacy group, military action has failed to disband the group or prevent its brutal retaliation against civilians suspected of collaborating with its enemies.
The statement, issued by the ICG, followed announcements by humanitarian agencies that 80,000 people had been displaced by violence in June. According to the UN Organisation for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), military operations, attacks and abuse by armed groups and forces against the civilian population continue to pose major problems.
So far this year more than 400,000 people have been displaced in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Insecurity has prevented aid organisations from reaching vulnerable people.
The ICG called for a "comprehensive strategy" with wider international engagement aimed at delivering a new FDLR disarmament mechanism. This would involve military measures, information campaigns and a reformed disarmament and demobilisation programme, including options for return to Rwanda or resettlement in third countries. They also called for negotiations with FDLR leaders who are not wanted for genocide crimes.
The military, part of the problem
Nicolas Dorronsoro, JRS project officer in the eastern DRC city of Goma, echoed the ICG analysis. According to Mr Dorronsoro, the FDLR cannot be eliminated by military action alone. Far from resolving the issue, the latest joint UN-DRC action, known as Umoja Wetu, has instead caused more suffering. The Congolese military, known as FARDC, are much more of a problem than a solution.
"They [the FARDC] treat civilians as pack mules to carry their belongings. They are systematically not paid, and hence loot and extort the civilian population on a daily basis. To put it another way, you cannot ask the fox to take care of the chicken", Mr Dorronsoro said.
Mr Dorronsoro also criticised the UN peacekeeping force, accusing it of failing to protect citizens.
"The blue helmets are deployed, yes, but far too often they stay in their barracks and do not protect the people in need. With these two forces as the main guarantors of civilian safety, you understand why NGOs have been pushing so hard for EU force deployment", he added.
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THAILAND: NUMBER OF REFUGEES RESETTLED REACHES 50,000
On 30 June, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) announced that the number of Burmese refugees resettled from Thailand had reached 50,000, in what is the world's largest resettlement programme.
Resettlement from nine camps along the Thai-Burmese border began five years ago. However, the programme received a serious boost a year into its implementation when the US offered to resettle the bulk of the refugees. So far, the US has taken 36,000 of the first 50,000 resettled refugees. Others have gone to Australia, Canada, Finland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden.
Return home is frequently the preferred option for refugees. However, in this case, most Burmese refugees have lived in Thailand for more than 20 years with little possibility of either returning home or being allowed to remain there permanently.
Further displacement
As the fifty-thousandth Burmese refugee was leaving the country, JRS close partner, the Thai Burma Border Consortium (TBBC), reported that in June some 4,000 ethnic Karen fled fighting between rebels and government-backed forces and forced recruitment. The new arrivals are being assisted by local NGOs working in the border area.
TBBC was told by the new arrivals that they wished to stay as close to their villages as possible so as to be able to go home quickly once the situation has calmed down.
UNHCR estimates that 112,000 Burmese refugees remain in the nine border camps. The agency expects to resettle up to 7,000 more of them this year.
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TIMOR LESTE: RETURN AND REINTEGRATION STRATEGY INSUFFICIENT
Although the reintegration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Timor Leste began in 2008, approximately 3,000 people still live in transitional housing.
"Security issues, land disputes, illegal occupation of housing and homelessness are the principal barriers preventing the return and reintegration of refugees", JRS Timor Leste Director, Isidoro da Costa, told Dispatches on 15 July.
The authorities, assisted by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), built transitional housing in six areas around the country: four sites in the capital Dili and two others in the nearby villages of Tibar and Hera. Each housing unit hosts between four and eight families. Although the government has promised to build permanent housing for the IDPs, it is not clear when this policy will be implemented.
According to NRC, the displaced population in the four Dili sites which numbers approximately 2,000 people, faces a range of difficulties. Approximately half of them were homeless before the outbreak of violence in 2006, nearly 40 percent are afraid to return home, while another 10 percent say their homes are being occupied by others.
Fear and marginalisation
For instance, eight families supported by JRS have been unable to return home as they have been accused of criminal acts. Even though there is no evidence to support the claims, the local police do not provide them with any protection. JRS has tried to mediate between the local community, the families and the police with little success. An apathetic police force and insensitive justice system make it more difficult for organisations to help these families return home.
Some have lost their homes, like Modesta Ero Faik. This 39 year old widow and mother of a 4 year old lived in a house on land owned by someone else. In the past, she had been allowed to build a home and open a small shop on this land. During the violence she fled to a camp. Upon her return, the owner of the land refused to allow her to rebuild. Although she has received compensation, she says it is not enough.
Unfortunately, it is those in the most vulnerable circumstances who find it hardest. Sixty-three year old Cristina da Costa has an 86 year old husband and two of her three children have disabilities. Again, the support they receive from the state is insufficient. Cristina worries about her children. What will happen to them after I am gone? Who will look after them? She asks.
Others have been relatively fortunate. Although Mariano Ximenes' land was occupied when he fled to the camp, after mediation by the Catholic Relief Service and JRS, he was able to get it back. He paid the man who had occupied the land for the improvements he made on it in Mariano's absence. Although this was not a perfect solution, Mariano was satisfied with the outcome.
For further information on the conditions of displaced persons see the website of the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre
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SRI LANKA: SANITATION IN CAMPS INADEQUATE
On 13 July, the international NGO Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported that medical teams in the Vavuniya district of northeast Sri Lanka do not have the capacity to cope with the number of patients arriving at the hospitals.
Even though the number has dropped significantly since the end of the war, the total number of patients at the 450-bed hospital in Vavuniya has stabilised at approximately 1,200. MSF is working with Ministry of Health staff in the Vavuniya and Pompaimadu hospitals, as well as in an MSF hospital located across from the Manik Farm camp.
Activities before May focused mainly on conflict-related injuries. However, MSF has reported that teams are now treating increasing numbers of pregnant women and children who have developed complications from respiratory illnesses, malnutrition, and diarrhoea.
At the MSF hospital located across from Manik Farm camp – also in Vavuniya – staff have hospitalised 600 patients since the conflict ended. Referred there by health ministry officials and other hospitals, the international NGO continued, they arrive and leave in ambulances accompanied by a member of the security forces.
According to statements by World Vision last month, "sanitation facilities in the largest camps where most of the displaced are living are woefully inadequate". Senior UN officials have said the fundamental problem in Manik Farm camp is overcrowding. With an estimated population of 260,000, it is the largest refugee camp in the world.
Problems continue despite improvements
On 7 July, USAID, the US overseas development agency, reported that there have been some improvements made in the situation, including the introduction of a registration system for relatives to visits IDPs, authorisation for certain vulnerable IDPs to leave the camps, planned and concrete health-related improvements in the camps, reduced military presence inside the camps and improved access for UN agencies and NGOs. However, the USAID fact sheet highlights overcrowded camp conditions, lack of freedom of movement, insufficient access to health care services, and lack of information on separated family members as key concerns.
From January to June this year, JRS has helped meet the food, shelter, sanitation, clothing and, in particular, the education needs of more than 83,485 people in the Vavuniya, Jaffna, Trincomalee and Mannar districts of northeast Sri Lanka. JRS has recently taken over responsibility for a preschool in Mannar and is providing educational, sports materials and food items to the students.
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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: REGULARISATION MUST RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS
On 22 June, JRS issued a cautious welcome to statements made by the Interior Minister, Franklin Almeyda Rancier, suggesting the need for a regularisation plan for undocumented migrants in the country.
According to JRS Dominican Republic, the implementation of such a plan would be a positive step towards finding solutions to the country's migration challenges. It has the merit of being the first proposal of its kind.
JRS also urged the state to tackle illegal smuggling and trafficking of migrants, strengthen the moral and technical profile of immigration officials and increase the monitoring of employers who hire irregular migrants. It further asserted that the situation offered an opportunity to demonstrate that migration can be a source of development if human rights are respected. A regularisation plan which seeks to promote human rights is not a threat to national sovereignty; in fact it strengthens it, the JRS statement read.
Plan needs to be comprehensive
However, there are issues particular to irregular migrants which such a plan would have to take into account. Obligations to demonstrate they have been resident or in employment in the country for a certain period of time would act as an obstacle for many migrants. Many have never had a written work contract. These difficulties derive from their particular circumstances, some for which the state is in part responsible, JRS stated.
Moreover, many migrants may be afraid to provide the state with their details for fear that this information would be used to deport them subsequently. JRS urged the authorities to ensure that their data would only be used for the purpose of regularisation, before, during or after the process. Moreover, it is important, JRS added, that the government introduce fairer migration policies to prevent the need for further regularisations in the future. Hundreds of thousands of Haitians live in the country without permits.
In the month of June, JRS took small steps to promote a more inclusive society. The organisation provided three courses on interculturalism to 280 Dominican and Haitian children from schools in Los Guandules, La Zurza and Villas Agrícolas, situated in the outskirts of the capital, Santo Domingo. The children learned about concepts such as human rights, nationality, equality, culture, friendship and solidarity. They learned about these issues using games, role play and dance rather than the traditional methods of lectures and debate.
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ITALY: UN REFUGEE AGENCY CONDEMNS GOVERNMENT POLICY
On 14 July, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) sent a letter to the Italian government requesting information on the treatment of people returned to Libya and asking that international norms be respected.
UNHCR staff in Libya have been carrying out interviews with 82 people who were intercepted by the Italian navy on 1 July about 30 nautical miles from Lampedusa island and transferred to a Libyan ship which brought them to the north African country.
Based on these interviews, it does not appear that the Italian navy made any attempt to establish nationalities or reasons for fleeing their countries.
Once in Libya, UNHCR stated, the group was placed in detention centres in which the UN agency has had an opportunity to conduct interviews.
Of those attempting to reach Italy, 76 originate from Eritrea, including nine women and at least six children. Based on assessments of the situation in Eritrea and interviews with the people themselves, UNHCR believes a significant number from this group are in need of international protection.
According to a UNHCR statement, the migrants accused Italian navy personnel of using force to transfer them to the Libyan vessel, resulting in six of the migrants needing medical attention. The individuals also alleged the navy personnel confiscated their personal effects and denied them any food during the 12-hour operation.
For years, the Italian authorities rescued thousands of people in distress in the Mediterranean Sea, providing assistance and protection to those in need. Since last May, at least 900 migrants trying to reach Italy by sea have been sent to other countries, mainly to Libya.
The UN refugee agency has expressed concern that this policy change may prevent access to protection and lead to people being sent back to countries to be subjected to serious human rights abuses.
JRS Italy expresses deep regret
"It is a serious violation of fundamental human rights to deny food and water and confiscate ID cards from people who had nearly drowned trying to reach Europe", JRS Italy Director, Giovanni La Manna SJ, said on 15 July.
"Unfortunately it is true that among those prevented from reaching Italy, there were women and children asylum seekers", Fr La Manna added.
JRS Italy joined UNHCR in asking the government again to respect its international human rights obligations and to end this practice of denying undocumented migrants access to Italy, without verifying whether they are in need of protection, and of returning them to a country which does not offer any protection.
The European Commission has also said it will examine the new measures to determine whether they comply with EU norms, warning that "automatic expulsion rules for entire categories are not acceptable."
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VATICAN CITY: NO COUNTRY CAN ADDRESS MIGRATION ALONE
On 7 July, the Vatican published the latest encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, by Pope Benedict XVI in which he called for a "profoundly new way of understanding human enterprise".
In the sweeping 144-page document, the Pope sketches a different world economy, in which access to food and water is a universal right, wealthy nations share with poorer ones and profit is not the ultimate goal of commerce. He said that the primary capital to be safeguarded is people, adding that economic systems need to be guided by charity and truth.
The document described migration as a phenomenon "worthy of attention". The sheer numbers involved, he continues, raise social, economic, political and cultural challenges for nations and the international community.
He called for "forward-looking policies of international cooperation if it [migration] is to be handled effectively". Such policies, he added, should be "accompanied by adequate international norms able to coordinate different legislative systems with a view to safeguarding the needs and rights of individual migrants and their families, and at the same time, those of the host countries".
The burden of suffering, the dislocation and the aspirations that accompany the flow of migrants cannot be addressed by any single country working alone. Although migration is a difficult process to manage, the Pope argued that migrants make a significant contribution to the economic development of their host and home countries, the latter through remittances send back to families.
Nevertheless, migrants should not be treated as "any other factor of production", every migrant is a "human person who, as such, possesses fundamental, inalienable rights that must be respected by everyone and in every circumstance".
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UPDATES ON JRS PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES
ETHIOPIA: REFUGEES, A LOT TO OFFER IF ALLOWED
"We need to recognise the dignity of refugees as human beings and to try to support them as much as our capacities allow", JRS Ethiopia Director, Seyoum Asfaw, said on 25 June during an event organised to mark World Refugee Day.
The event, organised by JRS and Development Inter-Church Aid Commission Refugee and Returnee Affairs Department (DICAC/RRAD), was attended by refugees living in the capital Addis Ababa, representatives from the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), the government body the Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs (ARRA), Jesuits and other partner agencies.
Mr Asfaw urged the attendees to work to ensure that refugees are accepted as human beings whose needs are too often left unmet and whose potential is not always recognised. Proof of their potential could be seen, he continued, in the quality of the theatrical and musical performances, and handcrafts produced by refugees and displayed during the course of the day's event.
Public awareness addresses root causes
Mr Derresse Kassu, representing the DICAC/RRAD, spoke of the need to address the root causes of forced displacement and to find durable solutions for refugees, while at the same time raising awareness of the plight of refugees in Ethiopia.
UNHCR representative, Mr Mosses Okelo, reminded the audience that refugees do not choose to leave their home countries, rather they are forced to leave. There are many qualified refugees who could be an asset to their communities if given a chance. They are just ordinary people who deserve to be treated equally, he said.
Mr Yusuf Mohammed, Chairperson of the Urban Refugee Committee, thanked those present on behalf of the 18 different nationalities of urban refugees, adding that becoming a refugee is something that can happen to anybody at any time.
The escalating crisis in Somalia has seriously stretched JRS services in Ethiopia. Last year, JRS Ethiopia provided informal education services, childcare, recreational opportunities and emergency assistance to more than 4,000 individuals.
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KENYA: ARCHBISHOP CALLS ON REFUGEES AND KENYANS TO LIVE IN HARMONY
"Do not to be discouraged by your present circumstances but be encouraged by the knowledge that God loves you and cares for you", Archbishop Boniface Lele said during a mass on 28 June organised in commemoration of World Refugee Day eight days earlier.
During his homily, the Archbishop – also Vice-Chairman for Refugees, Migrants and Seafarers in the Kenyan Episcopal Conference – encouraged refugees and Kenyans to try and live in harmony. He asked Kenyans to continue to be real neighbours to the refugees and reminded them that they too might find themselves in similar circumstances in the future. He further suggested that Kenyans should organise themselves in order to assist refugees financially, especially those who wish to go back home.
The message comes after two months of significant numbers of refugees arriving into the country. Since May, more than 11,000 Somali refugees have been registered in Daadab camp in eastern Kenya. Even though the Kenyan authorities officially closed the border more than two years ago, more than 36,000 Somalis have registered in Daadab camp so far this year. Humanitarian organisations believe the number of arrivals to be much higher as many refugees head to urban centres. Kenya hosts more than 300,000 refugees, of which some 10 percent are believed to be living in cities like Nairobi.
Refugee communities, a wealth of talent
The celebration, organised by JRS, the Nairobi Archdiocese Refugee Assistance Programme, Faraja Trust of Kenya and Africa Refugee Programme Great Lakes, was held in Kayole Divine Word Parish, one of the parishes in Nairobi where JRS provides assistance for new arrivals and asylum seekers.
Refugees of various nationalities led the prayers in their own languages, praying for peace at home and for the well-being of their families, fellow refugees and those in the most vulnerable circumstances. They offered up symbolic gifts, such as crafts, flags representing Africa and their home countries and two doves which were immediately released.
The mass was followed by various events – poetry readings, traditional dance, etc – as a demonstration of the wealth of talent in the refugee community. These events were attended by members of local and international NGOs.
In 2008, JRS accompanied nearly 17,000 refugees and internally displaced persons in Kenya, offering emergency relief, health services, education and training, and assistance to start small businesses.
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EUROPE: CHRISTIAN NGOS LOOK TO INFLUENCE REFORM AGENDA
On 9 July, a network of Christian Brussels-based agencies, including JRS Europe, released a list of 18 recommendations for the 'Stockholm Programme', an initiative that will determine the direction of EU asylum and migration policies for the next five years (2010-2015).
The document seeks to "protect the inviolable dignity of the human person" as well as promote "concepts of the common good, of global solidarity and of the promotion of a society that welcomes strangers".
Among the recommendations, the agencies urged all member states to ensure that:
- EU policies be based on the recognition of the economic, social and cultural benefits of migration for the societies in the host countries, as well as in the countries of origin;
- the governing principle underlying policies acknowledge the inalienable dignity of every human being; and
- detention be used only in cases of last resort.
The agencies urged states to ensure that people trying to gain access to Europe are not sent back to a country where they could face serious human rights abuses. In this regard, they highlighted the need for more transparency and accountability in the management of borders. Once inside the EU, the document continued, individuals should be guaranteed access to a fair and effective asylum procedure, including access to free legal and interpretation services and the possibility of appealing negative decisions, with suspensive effect.
The document covers five areas: respecting the human rights of migrants and refugees; legal migration; protection for those in need; integration; and financial resources.
For a copy of the document see
http://www.jrseurope.org/
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