FOCUS ON THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO DISPLACEMENT. How can the international community help displaced people rebuild their lives?

Transcription

1 FOCUS ON THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO DISPLACEMENT How can the international community help displaced people rebuild their lives

2 DISPLACEMENT Can you imagine being forced to leave your home with nothing more than you are able to carry An unprecedented 65.6 million people are currently displaced worldwide. There are many factors that cause people to become displaced, including conflict, human rights violations, food crisis, and natural disasters. Who Are Refugees Refugees are people who have fled their homes, crossed an international border, and cannot return because they fear their lives are in danger. People become refugees when one or more of their basic human rights are violated or threatened. Refugees are forced to live outside of their own country and are unable to receive that country s protection. There are currently 22.5 million refugees worldwide. Who Are Internally Displaced People (IDPs) IDPs have been forced to flee their homes for the same reasons as refugees but have not crossed an international border. IDPs live in their countries of origin but are often afraid or unwilling to return home for fear of persecution. There are currently 40.3 million IDPs worldwide. Who Are Asylum-Seekers Asylum-seekers are people who have fled their homes and claim they are refugees but whose status has not yet been definitively determined. National asylum systems are responsible for evaluating and qualifying asylum-seekers for international protection. Those who do not qualify for refugee status can be sent back to their home countries. There are 2.8 million people seeking refugee status worldwide. Source: UNHCR, 2016 As a result of a threat to the lives of you and your family, you have to leave your home and belongings. You walk an extraordinary distance to reach safety with little food and water. You have been separated from some or all of your family and you worry that you might never see them again. You may not speak the language in your new host community and you don t know if you will be welcomed, treated as an outsider, or face discrimination. How would it feel to be displaced Who do you think is responsible for meeting the needs of displaced people in the following areas Emergency Assistance: One of the greatest needs displaced people have after they have been forced to flee their homes is shelter. Other immediate essentials include access to clean water and sanitation; relief items such as blankets, sleeping mats, jerry cans, and household goods; and sometimes food. Clean Water and Sanitation: More than half of refugee camps in the world are unable to provide the recommended minimum daily water requirement of 20 liters per person and 30 percent of camps do not have adequate latrines and waste disposal. Access to clean water and sanitation is critical in preventing the spread of diseases, especially in camps where people live closely together. Health: The top five killers of children under five among displaced populations in developing countries are malaria, malnutrition, measles, diarrhea, and respiratory tract infections. Providing immunizations, nutritional Displaced people face many challenges during what could be a long period of transition. It is important that the international community works with national governments, when they can, to provide assistance to meet the immediate and intermediate needs of displaced people until a durable solution is met. support, disease control, and access to proper health care can help to prevent and treat the health needs of displaced populations. Food and Nutrition: Ensuring access to nutrient-rich food and improving the nutritional status of displaced people is essential. Infectious diseases, caused partly by malnutrition, are killing millions of people each year. Poor diets also contribute to delayed childhood development, causing irreversible damage due to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Access to proper food and nutrition is vital to the health and survival of displaced populations. Education: Providing access to quality education for displaced people is a basic right that brings dignity, hope, and stability to a population in transition. Families can be displaced for many years or over generations. Ensuring that access to education at all levels primary, secondary, and tertiary is important in order for skill development and capacity building of displaced people to continue. Who are Stateless People Stateless people are those who are not considered a national by any state. It may be due to discrimination against minority groups in national laws, failure to include all citizens when a state becomes newly independent, or conflict of laws between states. There are an estimated 10 million stateless people worldwide. Who Are Migrants Migrants are people who voluntarily leave their homes to settle permanently in another region or country. Migrants may be motivated by economic needs or the search for better opportunities. There are an estimated 244 million migrants worldwide. CHECK IT OUT: Read about current emergencies facing displaced people: data2.unhcr.org Check out the 2016 UNHCR Global Trends Report:

3 DISPLACEMENT What is the global impact DISPLACED IN AMERICA Have you ever been displaced In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina, the most destructive storm in U.S. history, struck the Gulf Coast states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Up to 80 percent of the city of New Orleans was under water and over 100,000 people were left stranded in the flooded city. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, more than 1,800 people lost their lives, over one million people were displaced from their homes, and more than $81 billion was lost in damages. In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy became the second costliest hurricane in U.S. history. The storm struck the Caribbean and affected 24 states in the U.S., including the entire eastern coastline from Florida to Maine, with severe damage in New Jersey and New York. More than 650,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, costing an estimated $50 billion in losses. Source: Brookings Institution, 2008 WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS IT TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF DISPLACED PEOPLE The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees the equal rights of all human beings. The 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the Guiding Principals on Internal Displacement are intended to protect the rights of displaced people. Yet every day, the rights of displaced people are violated. Because IDPs have DISPLACEMENT: A GLOBAL PICTURE not crossed an international border, they depend on the authority and protection of their governments, which may have been the cause of their displacement. How can the international community hold governments accountable to ensure that the rights of refugees and IDPs are safeguarded Why do you think we have an unprecedented record of displaced people worldwide today DID YOU KNOW 20 people are newly displaced every minute of the day. 55 percent of all refugees worldwide come from just three countries: Syrian Arab Republic, Afghanistan, and South Sudan. More than half of the Syrian population lives in displacement. The fastest-growing refugee population is spurred by the confl ict in South Sudan. According to the UN, climate change could cause 25 million to 1 billion people to become displaced by the year Internally displaced persons shall enjoy, in full equality, the same rights and freedoms under international and domestic law as do other persons in their country. United Nations Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement CHECK IT OUT: Read the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees: Compare it with the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement:

4 How does conflict affect displacement DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO HISTORY DRC DRC Country Information LOCATION: Central Africa CAPITAL: Kinshasa POPULATION: 81 million SIZE: one-quarter of the size of the United States LANGUAGES: French (official), Lingala, Kingwana, Kinkongo, Tshiluba RELIGIONS: Christian 70 percent, Kimbanguist 10 percent, Muslim 10 percent, other 10 percent LIFE EXPECTANCY: 57 years CHILD MORTALITY RATE (UNDER 5): 98 deaths/1,000 live births ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER: 52 percent LITERACY RATE: 64 percent POPULATION BELOW POVERTY LINE: 63 percent KEY EXPORTS: diamonds, copper, gold, cobalt, wood products, crude oil, coffee Sources: CIA World Factbook, 2016 & UNICEF, 2015 The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of the world s earliest cradles of civilization. There is evidence that people were living in the DRC as early as 2000 BCE. In addition to a rich cultural history, the DRC possesses extraordinary mineral wealth, including diamonds, gold, cobalt, and copper. Although it could be one of the world s wealthiest nations, the DRC has become one of its poorest. Much of the country has been destroyed by an exploitative colonial past, followed by decades of political corruption and two devastating civil wars. The DRC's second civil war involved several neighboring countries and is known as Africa s first world war, resulting in the loss of over five million lives between 1994 and 2003 and displacing more than 3.4 million people from their homes. In 2003, a peace agreement was signed and in July 2006, the country held its first democratic elections in 40 years, electing President Joseph Kabila. Conflict re-emerged in eastern DRC, however, displacing many more people. Despite a signed peace agreement between the government and a rebel group CHILD SOLDIERS How have children in the DRC been affected by conflict and displacement The UN believes that 15-30% of all newlyrecruited combatants in the DRC army are child soldiers. A child soldier is defined as a person under 18 years of age who participates in armed conflict and includes those serving as combatants, cooks, messengers, and porters. Because of the roles they have played during conflicts, these children are often distrusted and feared by community members when they return home. Many child soldiers lose contact with their family and relatives and are forced to fend for themselves in an unfamiliar place. How do you think former child soldiers can be reintegrated into the community in 2009, violence and conflict persists in the DRC today. Joseph Kabila was reelected as president in November Since then, the DRC has struggled in developing sustainable progress and tensions continue to exist concerning the potential for violence to erupt again. DID YOU KNOW There are over 300 languages spoken in the DRC. The DRC is home to almost half of Africa s rainforests, encompassing the second largest rainforest in the world. Bonobos, one of two species of chimpanzees, are only found in the wild in the DRC and only a few thousand remain. There are only 1,400 miles of paved roads in the DRC, compared with 2.6 million miles of paved roads in the U.S. CHECK IT OUT: Learn key facts about the DRC: Read in-depth information about child soldiers:

5 CASE STUDY FROM THE DRC Is life improving for displaced communities in the DRC The DRC is home to over 230,000 refugees who have fled neighboring countries including Angola, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Central African Republic (CAR). More than 2.8 million Congolese are still internally displaced and people continue to flee their homes as a result of the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC. Despite ongoing instability in the east, stability and peace have been restored throughout most of the rest of the country. International organizations such as Concern Worldwide are providing vital resources and services to help IDPs rebuild their lives. The case study below from Concern s team in the DRC demonstrates the incredible resilience of displaced people and the power of community partnership. Meet Ilunga DID YOU KNOW There are many active volcanoes in the DRC and the last big eruption took place in 2002, forcing over 500,000 people to flee their homes. The DRC contains 80 percent of the world s reserves of coltan,a mineral used to make electronics, including video game players, cell phones, and computers. Many claim that the export of coltan has fueled the country s ongoing conflict. The United Nations Peacekeeping Mission has been in the DRC for over ten years. With almost 20,000 peacekeepers, it was at one point the biggest peacekeeping operation in the world. Ilunga was born in the village of Kapembe in war-torn Katanga. Before the conflict began, Ilunga was able to meet her family s needs. Although life became very difficult after my husband died, at least we had food and owned chickens, goats, and ducks, she says. In February 2005, Ilunga heard that a rebel group was on its way to her village. She fled with her children and made the journey to a nearby town on foot, taking with her only as much as she could carry. When she was finally able to return to her village in July 2006, she discovered that her house was severely damaged and everything she owned had been stolen or destroyed. Fortunately, Ilunga was able to participate in Concern s resettlement program, which provided 75,000 IDPs with kits containing blankets, clothes, cooking pots, buckets, soap, plastic sheeting, and mosquito nets. Additionally, each family received seeds and tools to grow crops and earn an income. Despite everything Ilunga endured, she expresses hope for the future: Things will improve because the rebels have gone, she says. Now I m back and I m going to stay here forever. We are going to rule not by the peace of guns and bayonets but by a peace of the heart and the will. Patrice Lumumba, First Prime Minister of DRC, Independence Day Speech, June 30, 1960 CHECK IT OUT: Read a Field Diary from Goma, DRC: Learn more about the Mount Nyiragongo volcano:

6 WHAT ARE SOME SOLUTIONS TO DISPLACEMENT It can take many years to find durable (longlasting) solutions to the challenges facing displaced communities. For any solution to be considered durable, displaced communities must have access to these essential resources and services: health care, education, employment, food, water, shelter, and safety. The goal of all durable solutions is to enable individuals to become selfreliant. Identifying appropriate, durable solutions requires the participation and cooperation of everyone involved, including displaced communities, the United Nations, community leaders, national and local government officials, and international organizations. These are three durable solutions for displacement recognized by the United Nations: Returning Home When circumstances enable IDPs or refugees to return to their homes voluntarily, it is important that they are able to return safely and with dignity. Local Integration Location integration happens when IDPs or refugees are invited to remain permanently where they initially settled after fleeing their homes. When circumstances permit, they can voluntarily integrate into their temporary homes. Resettlement Resettlement (relocation) is a process that allows IDPs to settle voluntarily in another part of the country or refugees to settle in a new country when they are unable to return to their homes or remain in the place where they initially settled after fleeing their homes. CHECK IT OUT! Watch our student-narrated Displacement video: cac.concernusa.org/ resources DEBATE IT! Identifying appropriate, durable solutions for displacement is the subject of great debate. Which do you think is the best solution: returning home, local integration, or resettlement Why THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME Returning home is the best solution because it enables IDPs and refugees to rebuild their lives in their homes, where they feel the most comfortable and where they have lived for generations. Returning home protects displaced communities from potential violence and discrimination that they could encounter if they are resettled or locally integrated into their temporary homes. INTEGRATION IS KEY Local integration is the best solution because it enables IDPs and refugees to stay where they have been living since displacement and become integrated into the local community. Local integration provides continuity and stability, enabling displaced communities to begin working and resume their daily activities. NEW HOME OFFERS NEW HOPE Resettlement is the best solution because it is the only way for displaced people to feel secure, enabling individuals to begin a new chapter in their lives and move beyond the pain and suffering they have endured. Since most conflicts today last for extended and indeterminate periods of time, efforts and resources must focus on increasing opportunities for successful resettlement.

7 How can the international community HELP DISPLACED PEOPLE REBUILD THEIR LIVES What do communities need to rebuild their lives Can you identify the most important needs Read the perspectives below and identify three things each individual needs to rebuild her or his life: We all have one thing in common: Our lives have been affected by armed conflict. That is why, even though we come from different places and our problems are not always the same, we speak with one voice. We have not given up all hope yet. We still want to go to school and play with our friends. We want to help build peace in our societies and make this world a better place. We still have big dreams. Young Voices from Conflict Zones The war had a very negative effect on our lives. I lost my father during the fi ghting and we were displaced. My father was the supporter of our family and after losing him we felt we had lost everything. I could not go to school after that and my education is still incomplete. YOUNG WOMAN, 14, AFGHANISTAN The armed confl ict [may be] fi nished, but we still have other types of wars poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, youth delinquency, and many more. YOUNG MAN, 16, ANGOLA Source: Will You Listen Young Voices from Confl ict Zones, Youth Companion to the Machel Study 10-year Strategic Review, United Nations, 2007 When confl ict broke out in our community, we fl ed our homes and it felt like the bullets were chasing us through the woods. YOUNG WOMAN, 17, PHILIPPINES When we were living in the IDP camp there were people everywhere in a very small space. It was horrible. YOUNG WOMAN, 13, SRI LANKA My visits to a number of conflict-affected countries have convinced me that for those displaced and victimized by war, our actions matter far more than our words. Their plight has left me with a deep sense of responsibility to ensure that where we cannot prevent armed conflict, the protection of civilians is, and must remain, an absolute priority Displacement, therefore, continues to be one of the principal features of contemporary conflict and arguably the most significant humanitarian challenge that we face. Ban Ki-moon, Former Secretary-General of the United Nations CAMP LIFE Can you imagine growing up in a temporary camp How would it feel to live in one tent with your entire family Each year, 3.5 million refugees and IDPs make their way into camps, where they may stay for many years. What would you do if you were forced to rely on others for survival From the list below, rank your most critical needs on a scale from 1 16: Blankets Buckets & Soap Clean Water Clothing Cooking Pans Cooking Utensils Firewood Food Plates & Cups Schools & Education Health Care & Medicine Housing & Shelter Recreation & Sports Sanitation & Toilets Employment & Training Security & Protection

8 REFERENCES AND RESOURCES DRC Amnesty International africa/democratic-republic-of-the-congo/ BBC News Women in DRC women-in-congo/ Human Rights Watch International Crisis Group central-africa/democratic-republic-congo Refugees International where-we-work/africa/dr-congo DISPLACEMENT Internal Displacement Monitoring Center IRIN NEWS IndepthId=41&ReportId=70979 World Refugee Day refugeeday/ UNHCR Game: Against All Odds ORGANIZATIONS International Organization for Migration UNHCR U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants Women s Commission for Refugee Women and Children World Food Program CONCERN WORLDWIDE U.S., INC Lexington Ave., 16th Fl. New York, NY S Michigan Ave., 9th Fl. Chicago, IL ConcernWorldwideUS This publication is intended to inform readers about the issue of displacement and does not necessarily reflect the views of Concern Worldwide U.S. Inc. or Concern Worldwide on this issue. Concern Worldwide does not officially recommend or endorse any of these organizations. Concern Worldwide U.S., Inc. is a New York not-for-profit corporation exempt from Federal income taxation under section 501(c) (3). Concern Worldwide U.S. Inc. supports projects carried out in the field by Concern Worldwide, registered in Ireland. This publication was written and produced in 2008 and updated in 2013 and Photo Credits: Front Cover Photo: Michael MacSweeney/Provision. Page 3: Concern Worldwide. Page 4, bottom: Dominic MacSorley. Page 5: Michael MacSweeney/Provision. Back Page: Ed Kenney.