The State of The World's Refugees 2000: Fifty Years of Humanitarian Action
State of the World's Refugees, 1 January 2000
UNHCR began as a small organization, with a three-year mandate to help resettle European refugees who were still homeless in the aftermath of the Second World War. Since that time, the organization has continually expanded to meet the growing needs of refugees and other displaced people.
The State of the World's Refugees 2000 provides a detailed history of half a century of international humanitarian action on behalf of refugees and other displaced people, covering all the major refugee emergencies of the last 50 years. It examines the way in which each succeeding crisis has helped shape an expanding body of refugee law, and it analyses the international community's changing response to the problem of forced migration. Above all, it places humanitarian action in the broader political context and examines the fundamental link between displacement and international peace and security.
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The protection of millions of uprooted or stateless people is UNHCR's core mandate.
Edited by Erika Feller, Volker Türk and Frances Nicholson, published 2003 by Cambridge University Press
The State of the World's Refugees
These five editions of UNHCR's The State of the World's Refugees provide detailed, in-depth analysis of the plight of the world's millions of displaced people. The authors examine the major crises and challenges faced by UNHCR for over fifty years.
Voluntary repatriation, local integration, resettlement, the three key solutions.
From life-saving aid to help with shelter, health, water, education and more.
Teaching About Refugees, History
History includes refugees
Throughout history, political turmoil has victimized many civilian families, forcing them to flee their homes. Refugee outflows and other massive displacements of people are a key aspect of many international crises. For children, in particular, looking at world events from the point of view of a refugee family can give new meaning and a sense of reality to events that may otherwise seem abstract and far away. The theme can be introduced in:
Medieval/early modern history: The religious wars.
Contemporary history: World War I, the Russian Revolution, the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the Second World War and Nazism, colonization and decolonization in Africa, Soviet influence in Central and Eastern Europe, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the Vietnam War, the dictatorships in Latin-America - all these events and many more have victimized millions of people and forced them to flee their homes, families and communities.
| 9-11 year olds |
Refugees in History
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| 12-14 year olds |
The Rwandan Crisis 1994
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| 15-18 year olds |
Population Displacement in the Commonwealth of Independent States
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Studying history can provide an opportunity to examine refugee outflows and displacement.
The millions of stateless people are left in a legal limbo, with limited basic rights.
A Strategy Note, March 2010
UNHCR advocates fair and efficient procedures for asylum-seekers
All in the same boat: The challenges of mixed migration around the world.
The internally displaced seek safety in other parts of their country, where they need help.
UNHCR is mapping the real state of people of concern through a Global Needs Assessment.
Numbers are important in the aid business and UNHCR's statisticians monitor them daily.
Results from UNHCR's research project on the application of key provisions of the Asylum Procedures Directive in selected European Union Member States, March 2010.
"Not Just Numbers" photo exercise
(Ages 12-14)
In this exercise, pupils are invited to use the set of photos provided, and their imagination, to tell a story about migrants, asylum seekers or refugees.
Specific Objectives
- To be able to correctly apply the terms learnt relating to migration and asylum.
- To demonstrate an understanding of the situation of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers by imagining themselves in similar situations.
- To show critical thinking about racial, sexual or ethnic stereotypes and assumptions.
"Not Just Numbers" photo exercise
Displaced Lebanese in Syria: Emergency Relief Supplies Arrive
A humanitarian convoy, loaded with emergency relief supplies from UNHCR's regional stockpile in Amman, Jordan, arrived in Damascus this week. Part of the shipment of mattresses, blankets, kitchen sets, soap and cooking stoves will be distributed to Lebanese refugees and asylum seekers in Syria while the rest will be trucked to Lebanon to help some 100,000 internally displaced living in community shelters and with host families.
In Syria this week, UNHCR distributed 6,544 mattresses, with the bulk going to Homs in the north, where we estimate 20,000 Lebanese are sheltering. UNHCR Syria has started distributing locally procured relief items including 3,300 pillows, bed linen, some 67,000 pieces of underwear and 6,400 diapers to host families and Lebanese in need.
Since the conflict began a month ago, some 160,000 Lebanese have fled across the border into Syria, with 1,500 now arriving daily. Most Lebanese are staying with Syrian host families or in schools, summer camps, community centres, mosques and hotels. While local generosity has been overwhelming, it is in danger of being overstretched.
Posted on 14 August 2006
Displaced Lebanese in Syria: Emergency Relief Supplies Arrive
Tanzania: Hosting Africa's Largest Concentration of Refugees
Tanzania hosts Africa's largest concentration of refugees: almost 1 million people. Ongoing civil and political unrest in neighbouring countries prevents refugees from returning home and at the same time causes new refugees to stream into Tanzania.
During the past few years, the hospitality traditionally shown to new refugees has been strained by growing insecurity (perceived to be caused by the refugees) and pressure on limited natural resources. As a result, government policy towards Burundian and Rwandan refugees has become more closed, with the focus turning towards temporary asylum with a view to sending refugees home as quickly as possible.
UNHCR continues to provide protection to the 500,000 registered refugees living in camps in Tanzania, while also promoting education and health programmes, local integration initiatives, women's empowerment activities, small income generation programmes and environmental awareness and rehabilitation projects.
Tanzania: Hosting Africa's Largest Concentration of Refugees
Match: 30-second TV spot
Fleeing is never voluntary. This 30-second TV spot is meant to emphasize the message that asylum means survival. A house of matches set alight illustrates the idea of forced displacement.
Dialogue on Asylum & Migration
Delegates from about 70 nations recently met in Geneva and grappled with the complex issue of how to identify and better protect refugees who travel alongside irregular migrants on dangerous journeys in search of safety.
Greece: Asylum-Seekers
INTRO: Greece, buffeted by an economic crisis, is struggling to deal with a significant influx of migrants and asylum-seekers.
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