* Prolonged refugee encampment is the result of many factors. These factors vary depending on where refugees are located and where they came from. Regardless of significant differences between refugee groups and nationalities, they all share one common experience: conditions in their native country became too threatening and unsafe.

* Because of drought and famine or because of war or because of persecution, millions of people over the years have been forced to run for their lives. They had to leave their own country and seek safety in a new place.

* Many of the problems that led to a dangerous situation back home were due to causes that can be traced back to extreme poverty.

* This is true, regardless of where it might be in the world, even when the situation appears to have been mostly political. For example, oftentimes in very poor countries those who are in power may have achieved their position because so much of the population could be overwhelmed and subdued–if you are starving, there is very little energy left for anything else. In the ensuing atmosphere, the darkest of elements and sensibilities can take hold.

* Refugees are survivors. Some are doctors, some are lawyers, some are teachers. Many others are farmers, some are laborers who worked in factories in their native country. They simply want to move on with their lives–but cannot do so.

* Most of these refugees are under the protection of the United Nations Refugee agency. When a disaster or crisis occurs, the agency and its non governmental partners make every effort to help those in need; as quickly as possible, working to set up camps to protect refugees from further harm.

* In too many cases, people are left in the camps to wait for an undetermined amount of time. The factors that caused them to flee their native country often remain unchanged and unresolved. Finding permanent solutions to drought, famine, ethnic differences or war takes a long time. The UN Refugee agency often is required to respond to the next big crisis. Because of those priorities, or because of political realities, the world moves on–leaving refugees trapped in the camps--for years.

* What is needed is commitment from the international community to stay with it, to work toward solutions that will allow refugees the opportunity to take control of their own lives.

* Short term, refugees need three things: water and food–and hope. There is a serious shortage of all three in many camps. This forces refugees to fend for themselves, which often creates very serious problems...

Click here if you would like to learn more about the issues involved.

HOME