The human flow crisis:
Refugees impacts on host communities in Sub-Saharan Africa 1990-2020 Thesis proposal by Hiba Karam
Image Source 2017 Human Flow UG
Content of the presentation
1.
Research Question
2.
Background
3.
Problem Statement and Purpose of the Research
4.
Objectives of the Study
5.
Literature Review
6.
Research Methodology
7.
Tentative conclusion
8.
References
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1 Research Question
What are the impacts of refugees’ flow communities in Sub-Saharan Africa? 1990- 2020
on
host
The beginning of intensified conflicts in the region with protracted nature.
Image Source https://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/crisis-in-the-central-african-republic/
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2 Background BACKGROUND OF THE SITUATION
68%
Come from 5 countries
85%
Developing Nations
26%
Sub-Saharan Africa
5,700,000
79,500,000
26,600,000
In 1980
1% Worldwide
Of concern to UNHCR
Source: https://www.unhcr.org/figures-at-a-glance.html
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4 Objectives of the Study
General Objectives Investigate and assess the impacts of refugees' flow on host communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990-2020.
Specific Objectives 1. To assess the role of the local administrative and supporting agencies (such as UNHCR) in governing the impact refugees have on the host communities in Sub-Saharan Africa. 2. To assess the social impacts of refugees on the host communities in Sub-Saharan Africa. 3. To assess the economic impacts of refugees on the host communities in Sub-Saharan Africa. 4. To assess the environmental impacts of refugees on the host communities in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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3 The study
Problem Statement ●
Low-income Sub-Saharan Africa countries host more than 26 percent of the world's refugees.
●
Limited academic research on the impact of refugees on the host population.
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The channels through which refugee populations influence local communities and how different sub-groups within the host community are affected is still far from clear (Archer. 2017).
Purpose of the Research ●
To help international agencies and governments understand the impacts of refugees on the host communities.
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To develop evidence-based policy and program interventions that promote mutually beneficial and peaceful interaction between the refugees and their hosts.
Personal reason: Next year masters thesis.
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5 Literature review
A. Context
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UNHCR articles and websites
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NGOs websites
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European Parliament websites
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Film
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5 Definitions
“Migration is the movement of people from one place to another within a country, or from one country to another for different reasons” —Amaya. 2018
"a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. Most likely, they cannot return home or are afraid to do so" —UNHCR
Image Source https://citinewsroom.com/2019/05/victims-of-terrorist-attacks-in-burkina-faso-seek-refuge-in-ghana/
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5 Literature review B. Migration in Sub-Saharan Africa
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UNHCR articles and websites
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ACCORD, civil society organisation webpage
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Academic papers
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5 Reasons for migration
Wars
Conflicts
Ethnic strife
Image Source https://issafrica.org/iss-today/taking-stock-of-conflict-around-the-continent
Sharp socio-economic inequalities (Madzimure. 2019)
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5 Conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa
The crises of national governance Failure to mediate conflict colonisation and Decolonisation processes. (Achankeng. 2013)
The arbitrary resectioning of the interior. (Watol and Assefa. 2018)
Image Source https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Africa_SubSahara_TPOC_181231.pdf
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C. Case studies 1.
Ethiopia (Bambasi)
2.
Ethiopia (Sherkole)
3.
Kenya (Kakuma)
4.
Malawi (Luwani)
5.
Rwanda (Gihembe, Kigeme, and Kiziba)
6.
Tanzania (western part)
7.
Uganda (Kampala)
8.
Zimbabwe (Tongogara)
Literature review
Those countries host refugees whose countries still have an ongoing conflict with uncertainties about when the conflict might end. 12
5 Literature review The role of local administrative and supporting agencies Local administrative ● ● ●
Without legislation, refugees are vulnerable to abuse and rights violated by both the authorities and their hosts. The country legislation shapes the social cohesion and the relationship between immigration and host communities. The hosting of refugees by a small developing country can be used by a country to improve its international image.
Supporting agencies ● The access to the aid provided by international agencies can cause conflicts or be the reason for welcoming refugees.
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5 Literature review Social impact of Refugees on the Host Communities â—?
There is often sympathy and identification with the refugees' situation if they are from the same culture, religion, and the linguistic group as the local population. Cultural erosion.
â—?
Refugees can introduce both negative habits: promotion of prostitution in the area, the incidence of crime, alcoholism, theft, drug addiction, and rape promoting, and positive habits: acquire knowledge and skills.
â—?
The refugees' previous political affiliation can characterize their internal social relations among each other and with the host. It sparks hostilities and makes the host subordinate.
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5 Literature review Economic impact of Refugees on the Host Communities ●
The local market size and the pool of labor increase due to the massive influx of refugees.
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The monthly household income within households near the camp is higher.
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Small businesses thrive within and around settlement areas and camps.
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The humanitarian assistance is responsible for creating employment opportunities for the host country population.
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5 Literature review Environmental impact of Refugees on the Host Communities ●
Setting up camps and/or settlements, environmental degradation occurs as trees are felled and ecosystems disrupted.
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The addition of a sizable group of refugees to an existing population creates a sudden and massive demand for scarce natural resources such as land, fuel, water, food, and shelter materials.
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Competition and environmental conflict.
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Other longer-term problems related to erosion, decreased soil fertility, and landslides.
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6 Methods
Research Methodology
1.
Literature review
2.
Case studies
3.
Field observations
4.
Unstructured interviews, scholar Ekuru Aukot, and Charlie Yaxley UNHCR spokesperson in Africa
Data analysis Using narrative-comparison analysis and based on the study's objective
Limitations 1.
Availability of Data
2.
Sources
3.
Funds
4.
Pandemic 17
7 Tentative Conclusion ●
The impacts arguably can have diverse implications for the host community, depending on individuals characteristics and local conditions.
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The refugees compete with the local host for scarce resources and imposes a burden on local infrastructure.
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The policies should be in support of refugees' social and economic integration.
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The international aid should address the needs of the refugees as well as those of the host populations.
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The host’s governments should spread the culture of tolerance.
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The policies determining uses of the available resources should address the sustainability of resources for both refugees and their hosts. To initiate mass planting of trees. 18
‘’A refugee is a person with problems and not a problem’’
THANKS! Q
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8 References Achankeng, F. (2013, February). Conflict and conflict resolution in Africa. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://www.accord.org.za/ajcr-issues/conflict-and-conflict-resolution-in-africa/ Alix-Garcia, J., & Saah, D. (2009). The effect of refugee inflows on host communities: Evidence from Tanzania. World Bank Economic Review, 24(1), 148–170. Retrieved June 23, 2020, from https://doi.org/10.1093/wber/lhp014 Amaya, Yonas Tesema. (2018 ). Socio-Economic and Environmental Effects of Refugee Camps on Host Communities in Ethiopia. Journal of Culture, Society and Development. Retrieved June 23, 2020, from www.iiste.org Archer, D. (2017). (Rep.). International Institute for Environment and Development. Retrieved June 23, 2020, from www.jstor.org/stable/resrep16703 Aukot, E. (2003). “It is better to be a refugee than a Turkana in Kakuma”: Revisiting the relationship between hosts and refugees in Kenya. Refuge, 21(3), 73–83. Retrieved June 23, 2020, from https://refuge.journals.yorku.ca/index.php/refuge/article/view/23482/21678 Dzimbiri, L. B. (1993). Political and Economic Impacts of Refugees: Some Observations on Mozambican Refugees in Malawi. Refuge: Canada’s Journal on Refugees, 13(6), 4–6. Retrieved June 23, 2020, from https://scholar.google.de/scholar?q=Political+and+Economic+Impacts+of+Refugees:+Some+Observations+on+Mozambican+Refugees+in+Malawi.&hl= en&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart Fajth, V., Bilgili, Ö., Loschmann, C., & Siegel, M. (2019). How do refugees affect social life in host communities? The case of Congolese refugees in Rwanda. Comparative Migration Studies, 7(1), 1–22. Retrieved June 23, 2020, from https://comparativemigrationstudies.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40878-019-0139-1 Madzimure, T. (2019). Socio-Economic Impact of Refugees on Host Communities. The Case of Tongogara Refugee Camp in Chipinge District, Zimbabwe. GRIN Verlag. Retrieved June 23, 2020, from https://www.grin.com/document/509327
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8 References Mutebi, Brian. (2011). THE REFUGEE CRISIS: A CHALLENGE FOR UGANDA AND THE WORLD. 2(4), 498–512. Retrieved June 23, 2020, from https://www.kas.de/documents/252038/253252/7_dokument_dok_pdf_53190_2.pdf/e43e7e1f-88ed-56fb-f83b-104138b3f300?version=1.0&t=153964714211 7 Save the Children. (2020). What is a Refugee.Retrieved June 23, 2020, from https://www.savethechildren.org/us/what-we-do/emergency-response/refugee-children-crisis/what-is-refugee
United Nations. (1998). Social and economic impact of large refugee populations on host developing countries. Retrieved June 23, 2020, from https://www.unhcr.org/excom/standcom/3ae68d0e10/social-economic-impact-large-refugee-populations-host-developing-countries.html United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2020). What is a Refugee? Definition and Meaning: USA for UNHCR. Retrieved June 23, 2020, from https://www.unrefugees.org/refugee-facts/what-is-a-refugee/ UNHCR. (2020). Figures at a Glance. Retrieved June 23, 2020, from https://www.unhcr.org/figures-at-a-glance.html United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (2020). Africa. Retrieved June 23, 2020, from https://www.unhcr.org/africa.html#:~:text=Sub%2DSaharan%20Africa%20hosts%20more,)%2C%20Nigeria%20and%20South%20Sudan. Watol, B. S., & Assefa, D. T. (2018). The Socio-Economic Impact of Refugees on the Neighboring Countries: The Case of Sherkole Refugee Camp, Western Ethiopia. Global Journals, 18(4), 1–12. Retrieved June 23, 2020, from https://globaljournals.org/GJHSS_Volume18/4-The-Socio-Economic-Impact.pdf Weiwei, A. (Director). (2017). Human flow. Retrieved June 24, 2020, from https://123movie.city/movies/human-flow/ ZAMFIR, I. (2020). Refugee policies in Africa: Open borders but limited integration - Think Tank. Retrieved June 25, 2020, from https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI%282017%29608698
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