Refugees

Refugee Refugees are forced to leave their countries because they have been persecuted or have a well-founded fear of persecution. Refugees run away. They often do not know where they will end up. Refugees rarely have the chance to make plans for their departure such as packing their personal belongings or saying farewell to loved ones. Many refugees have experienced severe trauma or have been tortured.

Three characteristics of Refugees Most refugees move without any more tangible property than they can carry with them Most refugees make their first step by foot, bicycle, wagon, or boat Most refugees move without official documents that accompany channeled migration.

Definitions of non-Refugees Economic Refugee This term is not correct. The accurate description of people who leave their country or place of residence because they want to seek a better life is 'economic migrant'. Economic Migrant Migrants make a conscious choice to leave their country of origin and can return there without a problem. If things do not work out as they had hoped or if they get homesick, it is safe for them to return home.

Non-Refugees Illegal Immigrant And asylum seekers? Illegal immigrants are people who enter a country without meeting legal requirements for entry, or residence. On the other hand, refugees often arrive with ‘barest necessities’ and without personal documents. Often governments refuse to issue passports to known political dissidents or imprison them if they apply. Refugees may not be able to obtain the necessary documents when trying to escape and may have no choice but to resort to illegal means of escape. Therefore although the only means of escape for some may be illegal entry and/or the use of false documentation, if the person has a well-founded fear of persecution they should be viewed as a refugee and not labeled an 'illegal immigrant'. And asylum seekers? Refugees should also not be confused with asylum seekers - the two terms have different legal definitions. For the difference between refugees and asylum seekers, as well as the definition of other people in need of different forms of international protection, please see the following section on what other people are of concern to the UNHCR.

Who else does the UNHCR Protect? Asylum Seekers An asylum seeker is a person who has left their country of origin, has applied for recognition as a refugee in another country, and is awaiting a decision on their application Internally Displaced Persons An Internally Displaced Person (IDP) may have been forced to flee their home for the same reasons as a refugee, but has not crossed an internationally recognised border. Many IDPs are in refugee-like situations and face the same problems as refugees. There are more IDPs in the world than refugees. Globally, there are an estimated 20-25 million so-called internally displaced persons (IDPs) and UNHCR helps 6.3 million of these.

Other groups Returnees Other forms of Protection UNHCR assists and monitors the reintegration of refugees who have voluntarily returned to their own countries. Other forms of Protection UNHCR also assists people who have been granted protection on a group basis or on purely humanitarian grounds, but who have not been formally recognised as refugees.

Regions of Dislocation Where do the Refugees go?

Regions of Dislocation In the early 21st century, sub-Saharan Africa has the largest number of refugees in the world The second largest concentration was in Northern Africa, and Southwest Asia South Asia ranks third

Refugee Locations

Sub-Saharan Africa There are over 8 million “official” refugees in Africa; there are millions more that are IDPs Not only does it have the largest source of refugees, but it also has extreme poverty and disease Case Studies: Rwanda Sudan (IDP)

North Africa and Southwest Asia Extends from Morocco to Afghanistan Most of the refugee problem centers around Israel Case Studies: Israel and Palestine (IDP) The Kurds (IDP) Afghanistan

South Asia South Asia is ranked third, due to Pakistan’s absolving Afghani refugees Case Study: Sri Lanka (IDP)

Southeast Asia Southeast China saw a huge wave of emigration following the Vietnam War 1-2 million Vietnamese fled SE Asia Case Studies: Cambodia Myanmar (formerly Burma) (IDP)

Europe In the 1990’s, the collapse of Yugoslavia (Balkanization) created the largest refugee crisis since WW II Over 6 million people were considered refugees by the UNHCR

Other Regions In the Western Hemisphere, only Colombia (IDP) had a significant refugee problem, caused by the country’s struggle against narcotics