The United Nations defines “a refugee as every person, who owing to 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 or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country.” (U.N. 1984)
- Numerous large-scale population movements have happened internationally due to strong political, religious, or racial reasons. One of the most significant movements in this century occurred in the Indian sub-continent.
- During the division of British India in 1947 into India and Pakistan, many people had to leave their homes and move to new countries. About 7 million people went from India to Pakistan, and more than 8 million people came from Pakistan to India.
- In 1971, during the Indo-Pakistan war, a large number of people from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) sought refuge in the northeastern states of India. This situation remains a lasting challenge for the region, similar to how some groups, known as “Bihari” Muslims, are still a problem for Pakistan and Bangladesh.
- Throughout history, some of the largest forced international migrations have taken place in Asia.
- For instance, in the 12 years following 1975, over 1.7 million refugees left Vietnam, Kampuchea, and Laos. Soviet intervention in Afghanistan in 1979 caused about 2.7 million refugees to seek temporary settlement in Pakistan, and 1.5 million in Iran. Many of these refugees are still living in camps in these neighboring countries. Political unrest in Sri Lanka also led to large numbers of Tamilians entering India and settling in Tamil Nadu.
- Providing shelter to refugees is a humanitarian act, but it can create significant challenges for the receiving countries.
- The sudden arrival of refugees often strains the resources of the host nation. It leads to shortages of essential goods, environmental imbalances, and health risks in the asylum countries.
- The large-scale and diverse economic, political, and social aspects of refugee influx pose numerous problems, particularly for the receiving nations. Sometimes, these migrations lead to political complications within these countries. Refugees often form groups and advocate for concessions from the government, which can cause tension and conflict.
- Instances like the United Kingdom, Canada, and Sri Lanka highlight political and racial crisis triggered by migration. In some cases, such situations can result in clashes between the local population and migrants, as seen in recent events in Sri Lanka.
- In certain cases, refugees contribute positively to the development of the host country, especially when settled in less densely populated regions. They may engage in land clearance and cultivation, effectively making use of unused or underutilized land. This not only supports their own livelihoods but also aids in the overall economic growth of the area by enhancing agricultural productivity and contributing to local food production.
| Rohingya Crisis On October 9,2016 border posts on the border of Myanmar and Bangladesh were attacked by a group of Islamic militants. The attack, that was reported to have been carried out by Rohingya Solidarity Organisation, was soon followed by a counter terrorism insurgency carried out by the Tatmadaw (Burmese military).Myanmar has been under severe attack from the international community in recent times for what is being considered as ‘genocide’ against the Rohingya Muslims. Considered by the United Nations as the “most persecuted minority group in the world”, the Rohingyas are a stateless group of people concentrated in western Myanmar, and facing brutal assaults from the Burmese state and military.According to a UN report, at present around 5,500 Rohingya refugees have been registered in India. The Rohingyas trace back their ancestry to those who were brought into western Myanmar (referred to as Arakan previously and as Rakhine at present) by the British colonial government when they took over Burma in 1824.In 1982, the Burmese government passed a Citizenship law under which Rohingyas were classified as ‘associate’ citizens. The rules laid out for ‘associate’ citizens deprived Rohingyas of holding any government office and several other citizenship rights. Further clauses of discrimination restricted their movements and even marriages and birth rates within the community were closely monitored and inhibited.The assault on the Rohingyas has been fast gaining attention from Jihadists around the world, making the ground ripe for extremism.An advisory commission chaired by Kofi Annan was tasked with finding solutions to the ethnic conflict in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. The report recommends urgent and sustained action on a number of fronts to prevent violence, maintain peace, foster reconciliation and offer a sense of hope to the State’s hard-pressed population. |
Climate Refugees
Climate Refugees is a specific term that covers only cross-border migrants forced to do so due to environmental factors.
UN Refugee Convention (1951)
- It grants certain rights to people fleeing persecution because of race, religion,nationality, affiliation to a particular social group, or political opinion.
- Cross-border displaced who have migrated due to climate change are not recognised as refugees under the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 protocol, and thus do not qualify for protection under national or international legal frameworks for refugee protection.
Environmental Migrants:
- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) describes environmental migrants as individuals or groups who, mainly because of sudden or gradual changes in the environment that negatively impact their lives or living conditions, are forced or decide to leave their usual homes. They may move either temporarily or permanently within their own country or to another country.
- According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), approximately 26.4 million people have been displaced each year since 2008 due to natural disasters like floods, windstorms, earthquakes, or droughts around the world.
- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) forecasts that within the next 50 years, anywhere from 250 million to 1 billion people might be compelled to leave their homes due to the impacts of climate change.
Impact of climate change on the movement of people
- The increased frequency and possibly heightened intensity of weather-related natural disasters—both sudden and gradual—could raise the risk of humanitarian crises and result in more people being forced to move from their homes.
- The negative impacts of warming, climate fluctuations, and other effects of climate change on livelihoods, health, food security, and water availability are likely to worsen existing vulnerabilities.
- When income declines in rural areas due to climate change-related stresses on livelihoods, some places may experience reduced outmigration. Migration requires resources, so those individuals who wish to move but lack the necessary means become trapped in their current locations.
- Rising sea levels may make coastal areas and low-lying islands uninhabitable.
- Competition for dwindling natural resources might intensify tensions, possibly leading to conflict and subsequently causing displacement.
Challenges with Climate Migrants and Climate Refugees
“Climate migrant” and “climate refugee” are words often swapped, but they actually mean different things. Words like “environmental refugee” or “climate change refugee” aren’t backed by international laws for refugees. Using these terms might confuse things and weaken the rules that protect refugees globally.There are following challenges associated with defining a climate migrant or according climate refugee status:
- Climate migration is mainly internal: When migration is internal, people moving are under the responsibility of their own state, they do not cross borders and are not seeking protection from a third country or at the international level.
- Migration isn’t always due to force, especially with gradual changes. Even when choices are limited, it’s often a decision. Countries should prioritize agreements and management strategies for migration rather than focusing solely on refugee protection.
- Isolating environment/climatic reasons is difficult, from humanitarian, political, social, conflict or economic ones. It can sometimes be an impossible task and may lead to long and unrealistic legal procedures.
- Creating a special refugee status for climate change related reasons might unfortunately have the opposite effects of what is sought as a solution: it can lead to the exclusion of categories of people who are in need of protection, especially the poorest migrants who move because of a mix of factors and would not be able to prove the link to climate and environmental factors.
- Opening the 1951 Refugee Convention might weaken the refugee status which would be tragic given so many people are in need of protection because of persecution and ongoing conflicts.Moreover, creating a new convention to recognise the climate migrants and refugees might be a lengthy political process and countries might not be ready for it.
| International Conventions on Environmental MigrantsNew York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, UNHCR (2016): It seeks to protect the human rights of all refugees and migrants, regardless of their status.The Global Compact on safe, orderly and regular migration,2018: It is the first-ever UN global agreement on a common approach to international migration in all its dimensions. ‘Climate refugees’, migrants who move due to natural disasters and climate change, are now recognised under its Objective.The Peninsula Principles on Climate Displacement Within States (2013): The Principles provide a comprehensive normative framework, based on principles of international law, human rights obligations and good practice, within which the rights of climate displaced persons within States can be addressed.Nansen Initiative Protection Agenda for Cross-Border Displaced Persons (2015): It’s a state-led consultative process to build consensus on a protection agenda addressing the needs of people displaced across borders in the context of disasters and the effects of climate change.Platform on Disaster Displacement (2016): It was launched to implement the recommendations of the Nansen Initiative Protection Agenda.Climate Migrants and Refugees Project: It aims to spread the word about this challenge, its potential impacts, and to seek out solutions and connections that will help the people most threatened by climate change live safe, dignified, and prosperous lives. |
FAQs
Q: What are some common challenges faced by refugees?
A: Common challenges faced by refugees include limited access to basic necessities such as food, water, and shelter, as well as barriers to healthcare, education, and employment. They also often experience discrimination, trauma, and mental health issues due to their displacement.
Q: What are the main obstacles encountered by displaced persons?
A: Displaced persons often struggle with finding safe and stable living conditions, as well as facing legal hurdles in obtaining documentation and recognition of their status. They may also encounter difficulties in integrating into new communities and accessing essential services.
Q: How does climate change contribute to the refugee crisis?
A: Climate change exacerbates existing vulnerabilities and can lead to environmental disasters such as droughts, floods, and storms, forcing people to flee their homes. This displacement can result in increased competition for resources, conflicts over land and water, and heightened tensions in host communities.
Q: What are the unique challenges faced by climate refugees?
A: Climate refugees face unique challenges such as the lack of legal recognition and protection under international law, as well as limited resources and infrastructure to support their relocation and resettlement. They may also encounter skepticism and denial regarding the link between climate change and displacement.
Q: How can the international community address the problems of refugees, displaced persons, and climate refugees?
A: The international community can address these problems by providing humanitarian aid and support to affected populations, strengthening legal frameworks to protect the rights of refugees and displaced persons, and implementing measures to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Collaboration between governments, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders is essential to develop comprehensive solutions and foster resilience in vulnerable communities.
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