Warehoused Educational Supplement Official
Educational Supplement DVD Chapter Guide
Educational Supplement and DVD Chapter Guide *Chapter titles in bold are the educational chapters that this supplement focuses on. Each chapter in bold has supplemental written material that expands on what is covered in the movie. Chapters:
1. 00:00 - 01:40 - Opening Credits (History of the Refugee Crisis) 2. 01:40 - 03:57 - Liban on the phone 3. 03:57 - 05:03 - Liban Comes to Dadaab 4. 05:03 - 06:06- What Are Refugee Camps? 5. 06:06- 07:02 - Intro on Dadaab 6. 07:47 - 09:04 - Governments and Refugees 7. 00:09:04 - 00:09:42 - What it means to be Warehoused 8. 09:42 - 11:40 - Liban’s Home 9. 11:40 - 12:16 - Liban’s Dad Leaves 10. 12:16 - 13:53 - Opportunities to leave the camp 11. 13:53 - 19:02 Liban’s story continued 12. 19:02 - 35:53 - Resettlement is a dream 13. 20:051 - 20:51 - Liban is separated 14. 23:56 - 25:28 - Female Journalist 15. 25:28 - 30:12 -Education for girls 16. 30:12 - 32:40 - Willmar Minnesota 17. 32:40 - 36:52 - Refugee Agencies 18. 36: 52 - 38:36 Refugees are 100% dependent 19. 38:36 - 43:58 Security 20. 43:58 - 45:17 The Resettlement Process 21. 45:17 - 48:50 Hagadera Studio 22: 48:50 - 50:26 Liban gives back 23: 50:26 - 53:29 Sanitation & Hygiene 24: 53:29 - 56:49 Liban makes movies 25. 56:49 - 1:02:42 Leaving for Australia 26: 1:02:42 - 1:06:56 The future refugee problem 27. 1:06:56 - 1:11:18 Liban reunites with his family 28. 1:11:18 - 1:13:00 Credits 1
Chapter 4: (05:03:18 - 06:06:12) What are Refugee Camps? The historic movements of people during the first world war would pale in comparison some 27 years later when World War II broke out. By the time it ended, there would be more than 40 million refugees in Europe alone. The scale of the disaster was such that international law and international organizations tasked to deal with refugees were urgently created and quickly evolved to become the foundation that is still relied upon today.
Source: (https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/interactive/2013/jul/25/what-happenedhistory-refugees#Israelites) 1938: Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees was created to facilitate a more coordinated approach to the resettlement of refugees 1943: United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) The United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) was created at a 44nation conference at the White House on November 9, 1943. Its mission was to provide economic assistance to European nations after World War II and to repatriate and assist the refugees who would come under Allied control. The US government funded close to half of UNRRA's budget. Source: (https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005685) 1946: International Refugee Organization created 1948: Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1949: Geneva conventions - a series of four treaties (subsequently followed by three additional protocols) that set out in international law what is humanitarian conduct during armed conflict, including the treatment of civilians. 1950: Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was established 2
A History of the Refugee Crisis (continued) 1951: Convention relating to the Status of Refugees became the cornerstone of international law on refugees. According to Article 1 of that Convention, a refugee is someone who has fled his or her country “owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.” 2017: We are now witnessing the highest levels of displacement on record. An unprecedented 65.3 million people around the world have been forced from home. Among them are nearly 21.3 million refugees, over half of whom are under the age of 18. There are also 10 million stateless people who have been denied a nationality and access to basic rights such as education, healthcare, employment and freedom of movement. Source: (http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/figures-at-a-glance.html)
Resources: - What Happened to History’s Refugees? https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/interactive/2013/jul/25/what-happened-historyrefugees#Israelites - UNHCR Figures At a Glance http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/figures-at-a-glance.html - A Visual Guide to 75 Years of Major Refugee Crises Around the World https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/world/historical-migrant-crisis/ 3
Worldwide: Dadaab refugee camp is the largest in the world holding an estimated 500,000 refugees but there are refugee crises all over the world. Ten Countries Host Half of the World’s Refugees: 1. Jordan (2.7 million+) 2. Turkey (2.5 million+) 3. Pakistan (1.6 million) 4. Lebanon (1.5 million+) 5. Iran (979,400) 6. Ethiopia (736,100) 7. Kenya (553,900) 8. Uganda (477,200) 9. Democratic Republic of Congo (383,100) 10. Chad (369,500) Source: (http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/ten-countries-host-world-refugeesreport-161004042014076.html) Dadaab Facts: • In 1991, Dadaab held 90,000 refugees - mainly Somalis fleeing civil war. • At its peak, Dadaab held more than 500,000 refugees -- despite being built to hold only 30,000.
• As of January 2017, Dadaab officially hosted 256,868 refugees in five camps (Dagahaley, Hagadera, Ifo, Ifo II and Kambioos), making it the largest such complex in the world. But, unofficially the number of refugees is estimated to be much higher – between 400,000 - 500,000.
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The Refugee Crisis Worldwide (continued) •
The Dadaab camps Dagahaley, Hagadera and Ifo were constructed in 1992. The more recent Ifo II and Kambioos camps were opened in 2011 after 130,000 new refugees from Somalia arrived, due to severe drought.
• In July 2011, due to a drought in Eastern Africa, over 1,000 people per day were arriving in need of assistance. • The Dadaab camps Dagahaley, Hagadera and Ifo were constructed in 1992. The more recent Ifo II and Kambioos camps were opened in 2011 after 130,000 new refugees from Somalia arrived, due to severe drought. • As of January 2017, Dadaab officially hosted 256,868 refugees in five camps (Dagahaley, Hagadera, Ifo, Ifo II and Kambioos), making it the largest such complex in the world. But, unofficially the number of refugees is estimated to be much higher – between 400,000 - 500,000. • As of 2015, over 95% of refugees in the camp were Somali nationals. • Each year, thousands of children are born in the Dadaab camps. A number of adults have spent their entire lives as refugees in the complex. • Resources: - 5 Long-term Refugee Trends http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/06/18/for-world-refugee-day-5-long -term-refugeetrends/ - Dadaab: 5 facts about the world’s biggest refugee camp in Kenya http://care.ca/story/dadaab-5-facts-about-world%E2%80%99s-biggest-refugee-camp-kenya - Ten countries host half of world’s refugees http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/ten-countries-host-world-refugeesreport-161004042014076.html - The 7 Largest Refugee Camps In The World http://www.refugeecouncilusa.org/the-7-largest-refugee-camps-in-the-world/
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Chapter 7: (09:42:21 - 09:42:12) - What it means to be Warehoused Warehoused Refugee Population: Populations of 10,000 or more restricted to camps or segregated settlements or otherwise deprived of rights to freedom of movement or livelihoods in situations lasting five years or more. Kenya’s Encampment Policy: • Kenya has an encampment policy that states refugees must stay in the refugee camp.
• Some refugees have lived in Dadaab for 20 years or more and have never left the camp. • 45% of refugees worldwide have been living in protracted refugee situation: living in refugee camp for 5 years or more. The average duration of stay for those living in protracted refugee situation is close to 25 years. From “Protracted Refugee Situations: The Search for Practical Solutions”: Source: (http://www.unhcr.org/4444afcb0.pdf) •
Chronic and stagnating refugee situations are a growing challenge for the international community. Their total number has increased dramatically over the past decade, and host states and regions of origin feel their effects more keenly. More significantly, protracted refugee situations now account for the vast majority of the world’s refugee population
•
The protracted presence of Somali refugees in East Africa and the Horn, for instance, is the result of the failed intervention in Somalia in the early 1990s and the inability of the international community to help rebuild a failed state. As a result, hundreds of thousands of Somali refugees have been in exile in the region for more than a decade. In the face of increasingly restrictive host-state policies, humanitarian agencies are left responsible for the care and maintenance of the refugees.
Resources: - Protracted refugee situations: the search for practical solutions http://www.unhcr.org/4444afcb0.pdf - Warehousing Refugees: A Denial of Rights, a Waste of Humanity http://refugees.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Warehousing-Refugees-CampaignMaterials.pdf 6
Challenges Refugees Face Refugees face many challenges from the moment they must flee their home and country, living in a refugee camp in a new country, striving to maintain some normalcy in their lives, and for some the struggle of the resettlement process.
Many challenges are related to persecution: (http://www.roads-to-refuge.com.au/whois/whois_persecution.html) Persecution is the severe abuse and denial of the human rights of individuals or groups. Fear of persecution is the basis of refugee claims. Persecution occurs when human rights violations or threats are sustained or systematic and governments either fail to protect their citizens or, in some cases, actively participate in the violations. It may happen because a person holds a particular political opinion or religious belief, or belongs to a particular ethnic or social group. Examples of persecution include: • Assassination • Torture • Violence including sexual violence • Arbitrary arrest • False imprisonment 7
Challenges Refugees Face (Continued)
Men and boys are often killed, imprisoned or forced to fight in conflicts. They are forced to flee or go into hiding, often to help protect their families. Their roles as protectors and providers for their families in such case are challenged by their experiences of persecution and abuse. Women and girls also face particular forms of abuse because of their gender. They are often targeted for sexual abuse, rape, forcible impregnation, sexual slavery, and forced prostitution. Children in particular are vulnerable to exploitation, physical abuse, denial of education, sexual violence and exploitation and recruitment as child soldiers. They may be separated from members of their family. In some cases children witness the death of family members. They may not know where their relatives are. They are physically and psychologically less able than adults to provide for their own needs or to protect themselves from harm.
Resources:
- UNHCR Reports Crisis in Refugee Education -
http://www.unhcr.org/afr/news/press/2016/9/57d7d6f34/unhcr-reports-crisis-refugeeeducation.html Missing Out: Refugee Education in Crisis http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/57beb5144 8
Chapter 17: (32:40 - 36:52) - Refugee Agencies UNHCR - The UN Refugee Agency We strive to ensure that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to eventually return home, integrate or resettle. During times of displacement, we provide critical emergency assistance in the form of clean water, sanitation and healthcare, as well as shelter, blankets, household goods and sometimes food. We also arrange transport and assistance packages for people who return home, and income-generating projects for those who resettle. UNHCR is the main agency that oversees aid for refugees. It partners with other agencies and nonprofit organizations to provide for all the needs of refugees. Each agency has a different institutional capacity, expertise, and specialization that allows them to be most efficient in certain areas of aid. Some of these agencies are:
World Food Programme (WFP)
• Assisting 80 million people in around 80 countries each year, the World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. IOM - OIM
• Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and nongovernmental partners.
• With 166 member states, a further 8 states holding observer status and offices in over 100 countries, IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.
• IOM works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration, to promote international cooperation on migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people. 9
Aid in Dadaab (continued)
CARE
• CARE is a global leader within a worldwide movement dedicated to ending poverty. We are known everywhere for our unshakeable commitment to the dignity of people.
UNICEF
• UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects.
Doctors Without Borders
• We are Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). We help people worldwide where the need is greatest, delivering emergency medical aid to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from health care.
Save the Children
• Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the U.S. and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.
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Aid in Dadaab (continued)
Oxfam
• Oxfam is a global movement of people working together to end the injustice of poverty. With 70 years of experience in more than 90 countries, Oxfam takes on the big issues that keep people poor: inequality, discrimination, and unequal access to resources including food, water, and land. We help people save lives in disasters, build stronger futures for themselves, and hold the powerful accountable.
FilmAid International
• Using film, radio and journalism created by refugees, FilmAid engages communities with dignity and respect, providing information about their rights, safety, health and well-being. Alongside public information campaigns, FilmAid trains young people in all aspects of storytelling and communications, empowering the next generation to advocate for its own rights and community needs.
• Individual programs may vary from one region to another, but every FilmAid activity falls into one of three broad categories: Media Content, Community Outreach, and Skills Development.
Protecting through Education (RET)
• RET works in areas of conflict, crisis and instability around the world, from the Middle East to Afghanistan and Asia, throughout Africa and all the way to Latin America & the Caribbean. As a humanitarian organization the primary service we provide is protection, but what sets us apart is the population we focus on, young people, and the primary tool we use, education.
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Aid in Dadaab (continued)
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
• The ICRC responds quickly and efficiently to help people affected by armed conflict. We also respond to disasters in conflict zones, because the effects of a disaster are compounded if a country is already at war. Emergencies are unpredictable, so our rapid deployment capability is hugely important.
Resources: - UNHCR http://www.unhcr.org/en-us - World Food Programme http://www1.wfp.org/ - CARE http://www.care.org/ - International Organization for Migration (OIM - IOM) https://www.iom.int/ - UNICEF https://www.unicef.org/ - FilmAid International http://www.filmaid.org/ - Save the Children http://www.savethechildren.org - Doctors Without Borders http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/ - Oxfam https://www.oxfamamerica.org/? utm_medium=referral&utm_source=oxfam.org&utm_campaign=oi-lightbox - Protecting Through Education (RET) http://theret.org/ - International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) https://www.icrc.org/en/home 12
Chapter 19: (38:36 - 43:58) - Security Read the following articles about the kidnapping incident in Dadaab: “Aid Workers Abducted at Kenya's Dadaab Camp” http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa 2012/06/2012629112537457510.html “Gunmen Kidnap Two Spanish Aid Workers from Kenyan Camp” https://www.theguardian.com/world/ 2011/oct/13/aid-workers-kidnappedkenyan-camp “Two Aid Workers Kidnapped from Kenyan Refugee Camp” http://www.reuters.com/article/us-kenya-kidnap-idUSTRE79C2T420111013? feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews When the kidnapping incident happened it slowed down many agency activities within the camp and caused the resettlement process to be put on pause. Insecurity is once again a constant problem for refugees like Liban.
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Chapter 12. (35:53 - 40:02) - The Resettlement Process
Kenyan Encampment policy: From World Policy Blog: ( http://www.worldpolicy.org/blog/2016/03/29/development-refugee-law-kenya )
Rise of The Encampment Policy: 1991-2007
- As civil wars erupted in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Somalia, the number of refugees coming to Kenya increased tenfold, from 20,000 to about 200,000. This massive influx had debilitating consequences that still haunt Kenya’s asylum system. The government of Kenya abandoned direct involvement with refugees and left this role to the UNHCR. It also set up the Dadaab and Kakuma camps, primarily for refugees from Somalia and Uganda, respectively. From the location of these camps–close to the borders of the countries from which the refugees were arriving–one can deduce that the government of Kenya thought the asylum situation was temporary. However, 24 years down the line, the camps as well as the refugees are still there.
- There was also a significant shift in Kenyans’ attitudes toward refugees. Rather than being seen as people that needed assistance, refugees were now viewed as burdens to the economy. Kenya was going through the Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) under the aegis of the Bretton Woods institutions. These were tough economic times as unemployment soared and inflation was high. A majority of Kenyans viewed refugees with suspicion, as they saw them as competitors for the few jobs available in the market.
- Refugees were also blamed for the rise in criminal activity. In the 1990s, there was a steep rise in small arms and light weapons circulating in the country, which was blamed on the increase of refugees and asylum-seekers accessing the country. This assumption, unsubstantiated by evidence, also contributed to the shift in Kenyans’ attitudes toward refugees and was the harbinger for the rise of xenophobia in the country. 14
The Process of Resettlement (continued)
How do refugees come to America? Less than 80,000 refugees participated in the U.S. Resettlement Program (USRP) last year. It is a lengthy, difficult process. Below are the steps a refugee must take to resettle in the United States:
1. Becoming a Refugee Fleeing • Refugees flee their homes, businesses, farms, and communities in order to escape war and persecution. Often refugees flees to save their or their families’ lives. They rarely know how long it will be before it is safe to return home and they often have no time to plan the departure or pack appropriately. Family records, professional documents, diplomas, photographs, and other precious items are often left behind. Seeking Legal Refugee Status • In order to receive official refugee status in a country of asylum, an individual has to have left his or her home country due to a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, social group affiliation, or political opinion. The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is usually responsible for awarding legal refugee status.
• In addition, UNHCR often offers refugees protection, assistance, and alternative legal and travel documents. Seeking Resettlement • UNHCR refers only about 1 percent of all refugees for resettlement in a third country. Only when all efforts to either help refugees return home or settle permanently in the country of asylum have failed does third country resettlement become the option of last resort. The following countries have resettlement programs: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. Other countries accept individual refugees on an ad hoc basis. Family ties, trade skills, professional abilities, language facility, and various other factors are considered by UNHCR when matching a refugee with a resettlement country. Overview of resettlement process: From U.S. Committee For Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) http://refugees.org/explore-the-issues/our-work-with-refugees/refugeeresettlementprocess/ 15
The Process of Resettlement (continued)
2.
Seeking Admission to the U.S. Resettlement Program (USRP)
Referral to the USRP • Only refugees who have been referred by UNHCR or by the U.S. embassy in the country of asylum are eligible for the USRP. Usually, a family is referred together as a single group. The Department of State’s Bureau for Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) oversees this program. The State Department develops application criteria, refugee admission ceilings, and presents eligible cases to a division of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), for adjudication. The State Department’s Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) describes the process of application for admission to the United States as a refugee in 9 FAM Part IV Appendix O. Adjudication • Refugees who meet the criteria for application to the USRP are interviewed by a USCIS officer who travels to the country of asylum. The U.S. Department of State contracts resettlement and/ or nongovernmental organizations to assist refugees who may need help preparing their resettlement application forms. The application typically consists of USCIS Form I-590, family tree, and biographical information. The USCIS officer decides whether the applicant is a refugee as defined under U.S. law. An individual’s designation as a refugee by UNHCR does not guarantee admission to the USRP. Approval • Refugees whose applications for U.S. resettlement receive USCIS approval are matched with an American resettlement organization that will facilitate their resettlement to the United States. Most of these nonprofit organizations rely on professional and volunteer staff to assist refugees in the resettlement process. If rejected, the applicant has thirty days to file a motion to reconsider the denial with the nearest USCIS district office. Generally, a motion is considered only if it contains new information not available at the original interview.
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The Process of Resettlement (continued)
3.
Refugee Resettlement in the United States
Being Matched with an American Resettlement Organization - Detailed information on all refugees approved for resettlement in the United States is sent to the Refugee Data Center (RDC) in New York. RDC matches refugees with one of eleven voluntary agencies that provide reception and placement services for refugees coming to the United States. Pre-travel Activities - In order to ensure that a refugee understands that everyone living in America is expected to be selfsufficient and that no refugee should be an undue burden to American society, he or she must complete several additional steps before traveling to the United States. These activities are undertaken concurrently and can take from 2 months to 2 years to complete: Assurance process: The American resettlement organization must “assure” the Department of State that it is prepared to receive each matched refugee. This “assurance” is a written guarantee that various basic services will be provided to the refugee and any accompanying family members in the initial resettlement phase. At this time, the resettlement organization determines where in the United States the refugee will be resettled based on the availability of housing, employment, needed services, readiness of host community, and a variety of other factors. However, if a refugee has a relative in the United States, every effort is made to resettle the refugee near that relative. Refugees do not have to have U.S. sponsors to be resettled in the United States. Medical clearance: Prior to coming to the United States, all refugees are medically screened by a healthcare professional working for the U.S. government. The screening identifies medical conditions that require follow-up or constitute a public health concern. A few serious conditions may render a refugee ineligible for entry into the United States; however, a waiver may be available. After being “medically cleared,” a refugee must enter the United States within one year. Security clearance: All refugees must undergo a security clearance procedure prior to coming to the United States. The level of clearance needed depends on the refugee’s country of origin. In most cases, the refugee’s name is checked against the FBI’s database of known terrorists and undesirables, as well as the State Department’s database of people who have been denied visas to enter the United States in the past. Cultural orientation: All refugees receive some form of cultural orientation prior to coming to the United States. Most programs emphasize the importance of self-sufficiency in American society, as well as what to expect in the initial resettlement phase. Classes range in length from three hours to several days. 17
Travel to the United States - The International Organization for Migration (IOM) arranges air travel for most U.S.-bound refugees. Before a refugee leaves the country of asylum, he or she signs a promissory note and agrees to repay the U.S. government for travel costs. Upon receiving necessary travel details from IOM, the American resettlement organization makes arrangements for the refugee’s arrival. United States Arrival and Reception - After meeting, welcoming, and assisting the refugee at the airport, the resettlement organization begins the process of helping the refugee become settled in his or her new community. First Steps in U.S. Resettlement - Most newly arrived refugees desperately want a permanent home. Resettlement organizations work hard to find housing for each refugee that is safe, sanitary, of a sufficient size, affordable, and accessible to public transportation. The American resettlement organization that assured a refugee’s case is responsible for assisting the refugee in the initial resettlement phase. Each resettlement organization provides a variety of services to promote early self-sufficiency and cultural adjustment. The following activities take place within the first thirty days of arrival: Application for a Social Security number: Refugees need social security numbers in order to seek employment or enroll their children in school. All refugees register with the Social Security Administration as soon as possible. School registration: All refugee children are enrolled in school upon arrival in the United States. Medical evaluation: Even though refugees are medically screened prior to entering the United States, each is examined again by medical professionals in their new communities. At this time, refugees are familiarized with their local health care system. They also receive needed inoculations and other necessary treatments. English language training: Refugees often do not speak any English when they arrive. Learning English is an essential step to becoming self-sufficient. Voluntary agencies often provide English Language Training (ELT) courses or help refugees find available classes in their new community. 18
The Process of Resettlement (continued)
4. Becoming a Contributing Member of the Community Finding Employment - Refugees enter the United States with authorization to work. The U.S. government expects a working-age refugee to find a job within six months of arrival. Resettlement organizations often have employment specialists who help refugees with their job search. Many states have a designated agency that receives state funds to help refugees find work. This function is usually coordinated by the State Refugee Coordinator. Gaining Permanent Residency
- Refugees can apply for Permanent Resident Alien (PRA) status (commonly known as a “green card”) after they have been in the United States for one year. Becoming a Citizen
- Refugees can apply for U.S. citizenship after residing in the United States for five years. Many resettlement organizations have citizenship programs that assist, guide, and encourage refugees through the naturalization process. Building a New Life - Refugees spend many years overcoming past trauma, locating family members, adjusting to American culture, building careers, raising families, finding their first dream home, and creating a new life for themselves in the United States. Overview of Resettlement Process: from U.S. Committee For Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) Source: (http://refugees.org/explore-the-issues/our-work-with-refugees/ refugeeresettlementprocess/)
Resources: More details on particular aspects of this process can be obtained from these agencies: - Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) - International Organization for Migration (IOM) - Social Security Administration - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) 19
Chapter 26: (1:01:18 - 1:05:08) - The future of refugee problem Voluntary repatriation may be one solution for refugees who have made the brave decision to return home. Together with the country of origin and international community, UNHCR strives to facilitate their choice through ‘go-and-see’ visits, education, legal aid, and family reunification. Our efforts have helped hundreds of thousands of people to return home to countries like Angola and Somalia. For those who cannot return, either because of continued conflict, wars or persecution, resettlement in another country is one alternative. To aid this process, we provide cultural orientation, language and vocational training, as well as access to education and employment. However, of the 14.4 million refugees of concern to UNHCR around the world, less than one per cent is submitted for resettlement. From UNHCR - Solutions: Source: (http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/solutions.html) Another alternative for those who are unable to return home is integration within the host community. This is often a complex process which places considerable demands on both the individual and the receiving society. However, it also has benefits, allowing refugees to contribute socially and economically. Over the past decade, 1.1 million refugees around the world have become citizens in their country of asylum.
Resources:
- UNHCR - Solutions http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/solutions.html
- The refugee crisis needs concrete solutions—here are three -
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2016/09/20/the-refugee-crisis-needsconcrete-solutions-here-are-three/ Seven proposed solutions for the EU refugee crisis http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/11843234/Seven-proposed-solutionsfor-the-EU-refugee-crisis.html 8 Ways to Solve the World Refugee Crisis https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2015/10/eight-solutions-world-refugee-crisis/ 20
Educational Supplement and DVD Chapter Guide *Chapter titles in bold are the educational chapters that this supplement focuses on. Each chapter in bold has supplemental written material that expands on what is covered in the movie. Chapters:
1. 00:00 - 01:40 - Opening Credits (History of the Refugee Crisis) 2. 01:40 - 03:57 - Liban on the phone 3. 03:57 - 05:03 - Liban Comes to Dadaab 4. 05:03 - 06:06- What Are Refugee Camps? 5. 06:06- 07:02 - Intro on Dadaab 6. 07:47 - 09:04 - Governments and Refugees 7. 00:09:04 - 00:09:42 - What it means to be Warehoused 8. 09:42 - 11:40 - Liban’s Home 9. 11:40 - 12:16 - Liban’s Dad Leaves 10. 12:16 - 13:53 - Opportunities to leave the camp 11. 13:53 - 19:02 Liban’s story continued 12. 19:02 - 35:53 - Resettlement is a dream 13. 20:051 - 20:51 - Liban is separated 14. 23:56 - 25:28 - Female Journalist 15. 25:28 - 30:12 -Education for girls 16. 30:12 - 32:40 - Willmar Minnesota 17. 32:40 - 36:52 - Refugee Agencies 18. 36: 52 - 38:36 Refugees are 100% dependent 19. 38:36 - 43:58 Security 20. 43:58 - 45:17 The Resettlement Process 21. 45:17 - 48:50 Hagadera Studio 22: 48:50 - 50:26 Liban gives back 23: 50:26 - 53:29 Sanitation & Hygiene 24: 53:29 - 56:49 Liban makes movies 25. 56:49 - 1:02:42 Leaving for Australia 26: 1:02:42 - 1:06:56 The future refugee problem 27. 1:06:56 - 1:11:18 Liban reunites with his family 28. 1:11:18 - 1:13:00 Credits 1
Chapter 4: (05:03:18 - 06:06:12) What are Refugee Camps? The historic movements of people during the first world war would pale in comparison some 27 years later when World War II broke out. By the time it ended, there would be more than 40 million refugees in Europe alone. The scale of the disaster was such that international law and international organizations tasked to deal with refugees were urgently created and quickly evolved to become the foundation that is still relied upon today.
Source: (https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/interactive/2013/jul/25/what-happenedhistory-refugees#Israelites) 1938: Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees was created to facilitate a more coordinated approach to the resettlement of refugees 1943: United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) The United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) was created at a 44nation conference at the White House on November 9, 1943. Its mission was to provide economic assistance to European nations after World War II and to repatriate and assist the refugees who would come under Allied control. The US government funded close to half of UNRRA's budget. Source: (https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005685) 1946: International Refugee Organization created 1948: Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1949: Geneva conventions - a series of four treaties (subsequently followed by three additional protocols) that set out in international law what is humanitarian conduct during armed conflict, including the treatment of civilians. 1950: Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was established 2
A History of the Refugee Crisis (continued) 1951: Convention relating to the Status of Refugees became the cornerstone of international law on refugees. According to Article 1 of that Convention, a refugee is someone who has fled his or her country “owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.” 2017: We are now witnessing the highest levels of displacement on record. An unprecedented 65.3 million people around the world have been forced from home. Among them are nearly 21.3 million refugees, over half of whom are under the age of 18. There are also 10 million stateless people who have been denied a nationality and access to basic rights such as education, healthcare, employment and freedom of movement. Source: (http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/figures-at-a-glance.html)
Resources: - What Happened to History’s Refugees? https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/interactive/2013/jul/25/what-happened-historyrefugees#Israelites - UNHCR Figures At a Glance http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/figures-at-a-glance.html - A Visual Guide to 75 Years of Major Refugee Crises Around the World https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/world/historical-migrant-crisis/ 3
Worldwide: Dadaab refugee camp is the largest in the world holding an estimated 500,000 refugees but there are refugee crises all over the world. Ten Countries Host Half of the World’s Refugees: 1. Jordan (2.7 million+) 2. Turkey (2.5 million+) 3. Pakistan (1.6 million) 4. Lebanon (1.5 million+) 5. Iran (979,400) 6. Ethiopia (736,100) 7. Kenya (553,900) 8. Uganda (477,200) 9. Democratic Republic of Congo (383,100) 10. Chad (369,500) Source: (http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/ten-countries-host-world-refugeesreport-161004042014076.html) Dadaab Facts: • In 1991, Dadaab held 90,000 refugees - mainly Somalis fleeing civil war. • At its peak, Dadaab held more than 500,000 refugees -- despite being built to hold only 30,000.
• As of January 2017, Dadaab officially hosted 256,868 refugees in five camps (Dagahaley, Hagadera, Ifo, Ifo II and Kambioos), making it the largest such complex in the world. But, unofficially the number of refugees is estimated to be much higher – between 400,000 - 500,000.
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The Refugee Crisis Worldwide (continued) •
The Dadaab camps Dagahaley, Hagadera and Ifo were constructed in 1992. The more recent Ifo II and Kambioos camps were opened in 2011 after 130,000 new refugees from Somalia arrived, due to severe drought.
• In July 2011, due to a drought in Eastern Africa, over 1,000 people per day were arriving in need of assistance. • The Dadaab camps Dagahaley, Hagadera and Ifo were constructed in 1992. The more recent Ifo II and Kambioos camps were opened in 2011 after 130,000 new refugees from Somalia arrived, due to severe drought. • As of January 2017, Dadaab officially hosted 256,868 refugees in five camps (Dagahaley, Hagadera, Ifo, Ifo II and Kambioos), making it the largest such complex in the world. But, unofficially the number of refugees is estimated to be much higher – between 400,000 - 500,000. • As of 2015, over 95% of refugees in the camp were Somali nationals. • Each year, thousands of children are born in the Dadaab camps. A number of adults have spent their entire lives as refugees in the complex. • Resources: - 5 Long-term Refugee Trends http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/06/18/for-world-refugee-day-5-long -term-refugeetrends/ - Dadaab: 5 facts about the world’s biggest refugee camp in Kenya http://care.ca/story/dadaab-5-facts-about-world%E2%80%99s-biggest-refugee-camp-kenya - Ten countries host half of world’s refugees http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/ten-countries-host-world-refugeesreport-161004042014076.html - The 7 Largest Refugee Camps In The World http://www.refugeecouncilusa.org/the-7-largest-refugee-camps-in-the-world/
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Chapter 7: (09:42:21 - 09:42:12) - What it means to be Warehoused Warehoused Refugee Population: Populations of 10,000 or more restricted to camps or segregated settlements or otherwise deprived of rights to freedom of movement or livelihoods in situations lasting five years or more. Kenya’s Encampment Policy: • Kenya has an encampment policy that states refugees must stay in the refugee camp.
• Some refugees have lived in Dadaab for 20 years or more and have never left the camp. • 45% of refugees worldwide have been living in protracted refugee situation: living in refugee camp for 5 years or more. The average duration of stay for those living in protracted refugee situation is close to 25 years. From “Protracted Refugee Situations: The Search for Practical Solutions”: Source: (http://www.unhcr.org/4444afcb0.pdf) •
Chronic and stagnating refugee situations are a growing challenge for the international community. Their total number has increased dramatically over the past decade, and host states and regions of origin feel their effects more keenly. More significantly, protracted refugee situations now account for the vast majority of the world’s refugee population
•
The protracted presence of Somali refugees in East Africa and the Horn, for instance, is the result of the failed intervention in Somalia in the early 1990s and the inability of the international community to help rebuild a failed state. As a result, hundreds of thousands of Somali refugees have been in exile in the region for more than a decade. In the face of increasingly restrictive host-state policies, humanitarian agencies are left responsible for the care and maintenance of the refugees.
Resources: - Protracted refugee situations: the search for practical solutions http://www.unhcr.org/4444afcb0.pdf - Warehousing Refugees: A Denial of Rights, a Waste of Humanity http://refugees.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Warehousing-Refugees-CampaignMaterials.pdf 6
Challenges Refugees Face Refugees face many challenges from the moment they must flee their home and country, living in a refugee camp in a new country, striving to maintain some normalcy in their lives, and for some the struggle of the resettlement process.
Many challenges are related to persecution: (http://www.roads-to-refuge.com.au/whois/whois_persecution.html) Persecution is the severe abuse and denial of the human rights of individuals or groups. Fear of persecution is the basis of refugee claims. Persecution occurs when human rights violations or threats are sustained or systematic and governments either fail to protect their citizens or, in some cases, actively participate in the violations. It may happen because a person holds a particular political opinion or religious belief, or belongs to a particular ethnic or social group. Examples of persecution include: • Assassination • Torture • Violence including sexual violence • Arbitrary arrest • False imprisonment 7
Challenges Refugees Face (Continued)
Men and boys are often killed, imprisoned or forced to fight in conflicts. They are forced to flee or go into hiding, often to help protect their families. Their roles as protectors and providers for their families in such case are challenged by their experiences of persecution and abuse. Women and girls also face particular forms of abuse because of their gender. They are often targeted for sexual abuse, rape, forcible impregnation, sexual slavery, and forced prostitution. Children in particular are vulnerable to exploitation, physical abuse, denial of education, sexual violence and exploitation and recruitment as child soldiers. They may be separated from members of their family. In some cases children witness the death of family members. They may not know where their relatives are. They are physically and psychologically less able than adults to provide for their own needs or to protect themselves from harm.
Resources:
- UNHCR Reports Crisis in Refugee Education -
http://www.unhcr.org/afr/news/press/2016/9/57d7d6f34/unhcr-reports-crisis-refugeeeducation.html Missing Out: Refugee Education in Crisis http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/57beb5144 8
Chapter 17: (32:40 - 36:52) - Refugee Agencies UNHCR - The UN Refugee Agency We strive to ensure that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to eventually return home, integrate or resettle. During times of displacement, we provide critical emergency assistance in the form of clean water, sanitation and healthcare, as well as shelter, blankets, household goods and sometimes food. We also arrange transport and assistance packages for people who return home, and income-generating projects for those who resettle. UNHCR is the main agency that oversees aid for refugees. It partners with other agencies and nonprofit organizations to provide for all the needs of refugees. Each agency has a different institutional capacity, expertise, and specialization that allows them to be most efficient in certain areas of aid. Some of these agencies are:
World Food Programme (WFP)
• Assisting 80 million people in around 80 countries each year, the World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. IOM - OIM
• Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and nongovernmental partners.
• With 166 member states, a further 8 states holding observer status and offices in over 100 countries, IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.
• IOM works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration, to promote international cooperation on migration issues, to assist in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, including refugees and internally displaced people. 9
Aid in Dadaab (continued)
CARE
• CARE is a global leader within a worldwide movement dedicated to ending poverty. We are known everywhere for our unshakeable commitment to the dignity of people.
UNICEF
• UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects.
Doctors Without Borders
• We are Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). We help people worldwide where the need is greatest, delivering emergency medical aid to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from health care.
Save the Children
• Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the U.S. and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.
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Aid in Dadaab (continued)
Oxfam
• Oxfam is a global movement of people working together to end the injustice of poverty. With 70 years of experience in more than 90 countries, Oxfam takes on the big issues that keep people poor: inequality, discrimination, and unequal access to resources including food, water, and land. We help people save lives in disasters, build stronger futures for themselves, and hold the powerful accountable.
FilmAid International
• Using film, radio and journalism created by refugees, FilmAid engages communities with dignity and respect, providing information about their rights, safety, health and well-being. Alongside public information campaigns, FilmAid trains young people in all aspects of storytelling and communications, empowering the next generation to advocate for its own rights and community needs.
• Individual programs may vary from one region to another, but every FilmAid activity falls into one of three broad categories: Media Content, Community Outreach, and Skills Development.
Protecting through Education (RET)
• RET works in areas of conflict, crisis and instability around the world, from the Middle East to Afghanistan and Asia, throughout Africa and all the way to Latin America & the Caribbean. As a humanitarian organization the primary service we provide is protection, but what sets us apart is the population we focus on, young people, and the primary tool we use, education.
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Aid in Dadaab (continued)
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
• The ICRC responds quickly and efficiently to help people affected by armed conflict. We also respond to disasters in conflict zones, because the effects of a disaster are compounded if a country is already at war. Emergencies are unpredictable, so our rapid deployment capability is hugely important.
Resources: - UNHCR http://www.unhcr.org/en-us - World Food Programme http://www1.wfp.org/ - CARE http://www.care.org/ - International Organization for Migration (OIM - IOM) https://www.iom.int/ - UNICEF https://www.unicef.org/ - FilmAid International http://www.filmaid.org/ - Save the Children http://www.savethechildren.org - Doctors Without Borders http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/ - Oxfam https://www.oxfamamerica.org/? utm_medium=referral&utm_source=oxfam.org&utm_campaign=oi-lightbox - Protecting Through Education (RET) http://theret.org/ - International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) https://www.icrc.org/en/home 12
Chapter 19: (38:36 - 43:58) - Security Read the following articles about the kidnapping incident in Dadaab: “Aid Workers Abducted at Kenya's Dadaab Camp” http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa 2012/06/2012629112537457510.html “Gunmen Kidnap Two Spanish Aid Workers from Kenyan Camp” https://www.theguardian.com/world/ 2011/oct/13/aid-workers-kidnappedkenyan-camp “Two Aid Workers Kidnapped from Kenyan Refugee Camp” http://www.reuters.com/article/us-kenya-kidnap-idUSTRE79C2T420111013? feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews When the kidnapping incident happened it slowed down many agency activities within the camp and caused the resettlement process to be put on pause. Insecurity is once again a constant problem for refugees like Liban.
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Chapter 12. (35:53 - 40:02) - The Resettlement Process
Kenyan Encampment policy: From World Policy Blog: ( http://www.worldpolicy.org/blog/2016/03/29/development-refugee-law-kenya )
Rise of The Encampment Policy: 1991-2007
- As civil wars erupted in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Somalia, the number of refugees coming to Kenya increased tenfold, from 20,000 to about 200,000. This massive influx had debilitating consequences that still haunt Kenya’s asylum system. The government of Kenya abandoned direct involvement with refugees and left this role to the UNHCR. It also set up the Dadaab and Kakuma camps, primarily for refugees from Somalia and Uganda, respectively. From the location of these camps–close to the borders of the countries from which the refugees were arriving–one can deduce that the government of Kenya thought the asylum situation was temporary. However, 24 years down the line, the camps as well as the refugees are still there.
- There was also a significant shift in Kenyans’ attitudes toward refugees. Rather than being seen as people that needed assistance, refugees were now viewed as burdens to the economy. Kenya was going through the Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) under the aegis of the Bretton Woods institutions. These were tough economic times as unemployment soared and inflation was high. A majority of Kenyans viewed refugees with suspicion, as they saw them as competitors for the few jobs available in the market.
- Refugees were also blamed for the rise in criminal activity. In the 1990s, there was a steep rise in small arms and light weapons circulating in the country, which was blamed on the increase of refugees and asylum-seekers accessing the country. This assumption, unsubstantiated by evidence, also contributed to the shift in Kenyans’ attitudes toward refugees and was the harbinger for the rise of xenophobia in the country. 14
The Process of Resettlement (continued)
How do refugees come to America? Less than 80,000 refugees participated in the U.S. Resettlement Program (USRP) last year. It is a lengthy, difficult process. Below are the steps a refugee must take to resettle in the United States:
1. Becoming a Refugee Fleeing • Refugees flee their homes, businesses, farms, and communities in order to escape war and persecution. Often refugees flees to save their or their families’ lives. They rarely know how long it will be before it is safe to return home and they often have no time to plan the departure or pack appropriately. Family records, professional documents, diplomas, photographs, and other precious items are often left behind. Seeking Legal Refugee Status • In order to receive official refugee status in a country of asylum, an individual has to have left his or her home country due to a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, social group affiliation, or political opinion. The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is usually responsible for awarding legal refugee status.
• In addition, UNHCR often offers refugees protection, assistance, and alternative legal and travel documents. Seeking Resettlement • UNHCR refers only about 1 percent of all refugees for resettlement in a third country. Only when all efforts to either help refugees return home or settle permanently in the country of asylum have failed does third country resettlement become the option of last resort. The following countries have resettlement programs: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. Other countries accept individual refugees on an ad hoc basis. Family ties, trade skills, professional abilities, language facility, and various other factors are considered by UNHCR when matching a refugee with a resettlement country. Overview of resettlement process: From U.S. Committee For Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) http://refugees.org/explore-the-issues/our-work-with-refugees/refugeeresettlementprocess/ 15
The Process of Resettlement (continued)
2.
Seeking Admission to the U.S. Resettlement Program (USRP)
Referral to the USRP • Only refugees who have been referred by UNHCR or by the U.S. embassy in the country of asylum are eligible for the USRP. Usually, a family is referred together as a single group. The Department of State’s Bureau for Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) oversees this program. The State Department develops application criteria, refugee admission ceilings, and presents eligible cases to a division of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), for adjudication. The State Department’s Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) describes the process of application for admission to the United States as a refugee in 9 FAM Part IV Appendix O. Adjudication • Refugees who meet the criteria for application to the USRP are interviewed by a USCIS officer who travels to the country of asylum. The U.S. Department of State contracts resettlement and/ or nongovernmental organizations to assist refugees who may need help preparing their resettlement application forms. The application typically consists of USCIS Form I-590, family tree, and biographical information. The USCIS officer decides whether the applicant is a refugee as defined under U.S. law. An individual’s designation as a refugee by UNHCR does not guarantee admission to the USRP. Approval • Refugees whose applications for U.S. resettlement receive USCIS approval are matched with an American resettlement organization that will facilitate their resettlement to the United States. Most of these nonprofit organizations rely on professional and volunteer staff to assist refugees in the resettlement process. If rejected, the applicant has thirty days to file a motion to reconsider the denial with the nearest USCIS district office. Generally, a motion is considered only if it contains new information not available at the original interview.
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The Process of Resettlement (continued)
3.
Refugee Resettlement in the United States
Being Matched with an American Resettlement Organization - Detailed information on all refugees approved for resettlement in the United States is sent to the Refugee Data Center (RDC) in New York. RDC matches refugees with one of eleven voluntary agencies that provide reception and placement services for refugees coming to the United States. Pre-travel Activities - In order to ensure that a refugee understands that everyone living in America is expected to be selfsufficient and that no refugee should be an undue burden to American society, he or she must complete several additional steps before traveling to the United States. These activities are undertaken concurrently and can take from 2 months to 2 years to complete: Assurance process: The American resettlement organization must “assure” the Department of State that it is prepared to receive each matched refugee. This “assurance” is a written guarantee that various basic services will be provided to the refugee and any accompanying family members in the initial resettlement phase. At this time, the resettlement organization determines where in the United States the refugee will be resettled based on the availability of housing, employment, needed services, readiness of host community, and a variety of other factors. However, if a refugee has a relative in the United States, every effort is made to resettle the refugee near that relative. Refugees do not have to have U.S. sponsors to be resettled in the United States. Medical clearance: Prior to coming to the United States, all refugees are medically screened by a healthcare professional working for the U.S. government. The screening identifies medical conditions that require follow-up or constitute a public health concern. A few serious conditions may render a refugee ineligible for entry into the United States; however, a waiver may be available. After being “medically cleared,” a refugee must enter the United States within one year. Security clearance: All refugees must undergo a security clearance procedure prior to coming to the United States. The level of clearance needed depends on the refugee’s country of origin. In most cases, the refugee’s name is checked against the FBI’s database of known terrorists and undesirables, as well as the State Department’s database of people who have been denied visas to enter the United States in the past. Cultural orientation: All refugees receive some form of cultural orientation prior to coming to the United States. Most programs emphasize the importance of self-sufficiency in American society, as well as what to expect in the initial resettlement phase. Classes range in length from three hours to several days. 17
Travel to the United States - The International Organization for Migration (IOM) arranges air travel for most U.S.-bound refugees. Before a refugee leaves the country of asylum, he or she signs a promissory note and agrees to repay the U.S. government for travel costs. Upon receiving necessary travel details from IOM, the American resettlement organization makes arrangements for the refugee’s arrival. United States Arrival and Reception - After meeting, welcoming, and assisting the refugee at the airport, the resettlement organization begins the process of helping the refugee become settled in his or her new community. First Steps in U.S. Resettlement - Most newly arrived refugees desperately want a permanent home. Resettlement organizations work hard to find housing for each refugee that is safe, sanitary, of a sufficient size, affordable, and accessible to public transportation. The American resettlement organization that assured a refugee’s case is responsible for assisting the refugee in the initial resettlement phase. Each resettlement organization provides a variety of services to promote early self-sufficiency and cultural adjustment. The following activities take place within the first thirty days of arrival: Application for a Social Security number: Refugees need social security numbers in order to seek employment or enroll their children in school. All refugees register with the Social Security Administration as soon as possible. School registration: All refugee children are enrolled in school upon arrival in the United States. Medical evaluation: Even though refugees are medically screened prior to entering the United States, each is examined again by medical professionals in their new communities. At this time, refugees are familiarized with their local health care system. They also receive needed inoculations and other necessary treatments. English language training: Refugees often do not speak any English when they arrive. Learning English is an essential step to becoming self-sufficient. Voluntary agencies often provide English Language Training (ELT) courses or help refugees find available classes in their new community. 18
The Process of Resettlement (continued)
4. Becoming a Contributing Member of the Community Finding Employment - Refugees enter the United States with authorization to work. The U.S. government expects a working-age refugee to find a job within six months of arrival. Resettlement organizations often have employment specialists who help refugees with their job search. Many states have a designated agency that receives state funds to help refugees find work. This function is usually coordinated by the State Refugee Coordinator. Gaining Permanent Residency
- Refugees can apply for Permanent Resident Alien (PRA) status (commonly known as a “green card”) after they have been in the United States for one year. Becoming a Citizen
- Refugees can apply for U.S. citizenship after residing in the United States for five years. Many resettlement organizations have citizenship programs that assist, guide, and encourage refugees through the naturalization process. Building a New Life - Refugees spend many years overcoming past trauma, locating family members, adjusting to American culture, building careers, raising families, finding their first dream home, and creating a new life for themselves in the United States. Overview of Resettlement Process: from U.S. Committee For Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) Source: (http://refugees.org/explore-the-issues/our-work-with-refugees/ refugeeresettlementprocess/)
Resources: More details on particular aspects of this process can be obtained from these agencies: - Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) - International Organization for Migration (IOM) - Social Security Administration - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) 19
Chapter 26: (1:01:18 - 1:05:08) - The future of refugee problem Voluntary repatriation may be one solution for refugees who have made the brave decision to return home. Together with the country of origin and international community, UNHCR strives to facilitate their choice through ‘go-and-see’ visits, education, legal aid, and family reunification. Our efforts have helped hundreds of thousands of people to return home to countries like Angola and Somalia. For those who cannot return, either because of continued conflict, wars or persecution, resettlement in another country is one alternative. To aid this process, we provide cultural orientation, language and vocational training, as well as access to education and employment. However, of the 14.4 million refugees of concern to UNHCR around the world, less than one per cent is submitted for resettlement. From UNHCR - Solutions: Source: (http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/solutions.html) Another alternative for those who are unable to return home is integration within the host community. This is often a complex process which places considerable demands on both the individual and the receiving society. However, it also has benefits, allowing refugees to contribute socially and economically. Over the past decade, 1.1 million refugees around the world have become citizens in their country of asylum.
Resources:
- UNHCR - Solutions http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/solutions.html
- The refugee crisis needs concrete solutions—here are three -
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2016/09/20/the-refugee-crisis-needsconcrete-solutions-here-are-three/ Seven proposed solutions for the EU refugee crisis http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/11843234/Seven-proposed-solutionsfor-the-EU-refugee-crisis.html 8 Ways to Solve the World Refugee Crisis https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2015/10/eight-solutions-world-refugee-crisis/ 20
