According to the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, a refugee is a person who “”owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself for the protection in that country” (cited by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 45). However, the 1967 protocol and the regional conventions in Africa and Latin America expanded the concept so that it would include those people who had fled from war or any other kind of violence in their countries. The total number of refugees in the world is estimated at 62 million and 34 million of these refugees have been displaced as a result of war (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 67). Most of the refugees run away from their countries usually seeking asylum in bordering countries. In this case a person is referred to as an “asylum seeker” when his/ her protection needs have been acknowledged and the appeal to be taken in is granted. But, also there are also internally displaced persons who are refugees who have been displaced from their homes but remain within borders of the same country. The largest numbers of refugees are found in the African and Middle East countries.
Refugees are regularly placed in refugee camps, which are set up by either the host government or by Non Governmental Organizations to accommodate those seeking refuge. The refugees are allowed to live in these camps and receive emergency food and medical care until they feel it is secure enough for them to go back to their domiciles or until they are re-united with their people living out of the camps. However, in these camps refugees face many challenges due to congestion and sometimes the lack of adequate aid from organizations and volunteers. More often than not, refugees face shortages of food, water and medicine, and are at a risk of contaminating diseases and have to fight against child soldering, terrorist recruitment, tribal clashes and physical/sexual violence.
In the African refugee camps, there is a persistent shortage of supplies which include food, water and medicine. Despite these being the basic needs for survival they are often found in limited supply in the camps. This makes the living conditions of the refugees hard and unbearable. The food shortages are caused by hiked food prices or unavailability of food produces and usually lead to reduced rations for the refugees. It is also a major cause of undernourishment among children refugees. In addition, to food shortages, refugee camps also face a scarcity in medicine and medical aid and water as well. Scarcity of medical services makes it impossible to prevent and cure illnesses that are normally rampant in these fully packed camps. Lack of water is a major cause of dehydration, especially in camps which are located in very hot and arid areas, such as Kakuma camp in Kenya. Besides, it leads to poor sanitation in the camps.
Additionally, refugees are always at a risk of contaminating diseases in the refugee camps, these diseases are especially caused by the poor sanitation. Cleanliness is almost impossible in the camps, due to lack of sufficient supplies of water, which is usually rationed to as little as 2 bottles per person and this is used for more primary needs, such as drinking and cooking. Bathing or washing clothes is rarely an option for most refugees and is often just a ‘once-off’ affair. As a result, the refugees are exposed to various diseases, such as fever and skin infection. Furthermore, the water given to refugees is not purified and by drinking it, refugees are exposed to water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid.
Unfortunately, despite the refugees being taken in and protected by the host countries from the conditions that they run away from their home countries, they are not protected from the insecurities that they are likely to face in the host country. Refugees are often prone to assaults from bordering communities. However, “the biggest threat is the forceful enrollment of refugee children into guerrilla fighters as child soldiers” (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 98). This is done for self defense and to protect their families or villages in the camps and in the eventuality they are deported back to their countries. Therefore, children in the refugee camps are not growing up in conditions that allow their socialization. Due to desperation, the men in the camps also form terrorist groups and recruit people and the distressing thing is that being in a camp does not protect the children or young men from this. Tribal clashes are also a frequent occurrence in refugee camps as insecurities are high and everyone is fighting for their survival. On the other hand, women are faced with the risk of physical and sexual assault from soldiers and officers, the same people assigned to protect them in the camps. This is a cause of trauma for most women and young girls who are helpless and defenseless. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (142) argues that, “there is now much evidence that refugee camps are not good for anyone. People do not opt to live in the refugee camp; people want to get out of them as soon as possible. Thus, there are always more refugees living among their hosts outside of camps”. Due to the circumstances, these refugees have become ‘integrated’ into the host country, as seen in Kenya whereby the Somali refugees from Somalia have become integrated into the Kenyan society and even operate many businesses in the country. “These refugees are better off than those living in camps and are allowed to own land, get jobs and enjoy freedom of movement.”
Works cited
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. International Organization for refugees migration. London: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1997. Print