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Copyright @ 2020 By Hinsdale Model United Nations

This is the intellectual property of Hinsdale Model United Nations and its staff. This background guide is intended for educational use only for a simulation of the United Nations for the purposes of an educational conference. Resale or redistribution of this document is not permitted unless given permission or proper authorization by Hinsdale Model United Nations.

Hinsdale Model United Nations SOCHUM

Page

Letter from the chair 4

Committee Powers 5

Current Situation 6

I. Protection From and Combatting Terrorism 6

II. Housing and Integration of Refugees 6

III. Humanitarian Aid 8

IV. COVID-19 8

Definitions 9

I. MINUSMA 10

II. Global Alliance for Resilience Initiative (AGIR) 10

III. UNHCR presence 11

Bloc Positions 12

Guiding Questions 14

Useful Resources 15

TABLE OF CONTENTS


LETTER FROM THE CHAIR

Hi everyone!

It is my pleasure to welcome you to H-MUN III! My name is Adi Badlani, and I am looking forward to being your Chair for the Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM)!

A few things about me: I am a Junior at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools and international relations has always played an important role in my high school experience. I joined MUN my freshman year, and I’ve been to or staffed at over ten conferences. Outside of MUN, I am a captain of Lab’s Science Olympiad Team, a Senior Editor and an Executive Board Member for the National Youth Science Journal, and the President of the American India Foundation’s Chicago chapter’s Junior Board.

At H-MUN III, we will be discussing the humanitarian situation in the Sahel. The rest of the dais and I have decided that our committee will only focus on three topics in order to let you, as delegates, provide in-depth and well-researched solutions rather than broad, blanket solutions. Those three modules are: (1) protection from and combating terrorism, (2) housing and integration of refugees, and (3) the implementation and administration of humanitarian aid. They will all be discussed and debated together, and each topic will not have its own working paper/draft resolution; rather, each working paper/draft resolution should include solutions to each topic.

You may be wondering how we, as a dais, will assess the committee. First and foremost are diplomacy, collaboration, and leadership. These three concepts are fundamental to MUN, and we expect nothing less. In addition, content of solutions is incredibly important; solutions have to be both feasible to enact and impactful, a balance that even many experienced delegates occasionally fail to strike. Thus, carefully researching the material before the conference in order to come up with possible solutions is crucial. We’re also looking for an active committee. We hope that you will always have something to contribute, even if it’s just a thought you have!

I am here for anything you need in terms of preparation for the conference or any questions you may have. Feel free to reach out, and I can’t wait to see you all in action on July 11!

Best wishes, Adi Badlani Chair of the Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee [email protected]


COMMITTEE POWERS

The Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Commit tee (SOCHUM) is the Third Committee of the United Nations. The committee was put into action in 1947, and all 193 member states of the UN are members of SOCHUM in the present day.

SOCHUM’s debates typically entail anything that deals with the preservation of humanity and culture or the progress of rights of a marginalized group. These topics may range from malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa to indigenous rights in the Americas. In fact, SOCHUM has worked with other UN bodies collaboratively to intervene on the ground in areas of conflict. A body within the General Assembly network of the UN like SOCHUM cannot enforce targeted action; such bodies can only recommend or suggest what could be done. Ratification of these recommendations by member states and the UN Security Council is necessary to push solutions forward to the stage of implementation. Because of this, remember that diplomacy and collaboration lay at the heart of discussions within this committee. It is in your benefit to work with other countries to agree on a common, specific set of solutions.

https://bestdelegate.com/research-binder-friday-sochum-ga3/

H. E. Prof. U Joy Ogwu, Permanent representative of Nigeria to the United Nations




CURRENT SITUATION

I. Protection From and Combatting Terrorism The Sahel region is comprised of the following countries: Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Algeria, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Ethiopia. Terrorist groups Al-Qadea in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Boko Haram are expanding their territories in Africa. Western Sahel is destabilized because there has been a proliferation of extremist groups. The extreme violence of both groups has destroyed the lives of the peoples of these regions: murdering and mutilating men, women, and children, abducting children and women into slave labor, destroying entire villages, schools, homes,and corrupting their governments further. Boko Haram, a jihadist militant organization active in Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, is to create a purified Islamic state and eliminate Western influence on Islamic society. But their intent is for economic and political gain, not just religious or cultural.In the past and currently, France has taken the lead role to combat and prevent violent extremism in the area. France has been conducting Operation Barkhane, a 3,000-s t r o n g e x p e d i t i o n a r y f o r c e t h a t i s headquartered in N’Djamena and has bases in Burkina Faso, Niger, and Cote D’Ivoire. It works with its counterparts in those countries

to eliminate AQIM and also provides logistic and intelligence support. The group also helps to implement a peace agreement by the Malian government and armed groups, taking a nonviolent approach to restoring the peace. Recently, due to increased violence in the Sahel region, the presidents of France, and the G5 Sahel states : Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Chad are expanding military operations against Islamist terrorism in the Sahel region called the Coalition for Sahel. The forces of the coalition will focus their operations against the IS-affiliated Islamic State in the Grand Sahara (EIGS), on the borders of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger which are the areas that have become the epicenter of Islamist violence more recently. This is also in part because the United States will be reducing military and intelligence in these regions, although aiding in diplomatic efforts. France and Germany are pushing for greater EU involvement

II. Housing and Integration of Refugees In 2017 in eastern Chad, temporary U.N. tents stretch for miles for the massive refugee influx. Forced displacement is a challenge in the region, particularly around the Lake Chad basin. While the presence of refugees is not new in the impoverished region, the considerable scale and complexity


CURRENT SITUATION (cont.)

of the crisis represents an unprecedented humanitarian and development challenge for host countries. In 2018, Burkina Faso hosts more than 23,000 Malian refugees who live around two consolidated camps in the Sahel region. The prolonged crisis and increased insecurity in Mali prevents a return. At the same time, the security environment in the Sahel region is rapidly deteriorating and theMalian refugees will need to spontaneously relocate to safer areas. Malian refugees settled near the Malian border in Oudalan Province will also be relocated to a safe zone at a later stage. Most refugees and internally displaced people in the Sahel region are also at particular risk of food insecurity and in need of food and livelihood assistance to avoid falling into crisis or emergency levels. Most refugees are located in areas where host communities are already highly vulnerable to food insecurity, water scarcity, and malnutrition and where basic services are overstretched or dysfunctional. A large portion of refugees in the region, particularly those who fled the Mali crisis, are pastoralists and fled with their livestock, putting additional pressure on the already scarce water and grazing resources in their host communities. While many IDPs in Mali have begun moving back to their homes, most Malian refugees remain reluctant to return. In February of 2020 UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi

stated, “Overall, countries in the central Sahel are sheltering more than one million refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs)... There are now some 600,000 IDPs in the country; a 1,200 per cent increase over last year.” Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Niger were praised for continuing to welcome refugees. In February 2020, The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said deadly attacks on villages in Burkina Faso have forced 150,000 people to flee warning of a displacement emergency in the wider Sahel region. 4,000 people a day flee violence. “The new arrivals are ‘occupying whatever space is available’, the UNHCR official explained.”

“So far, 765,000 people have already been displaced, of whom more than 700,000 in the past 12 months,” he noted.

“Those forced to flee ‘report attacks on their villages by militant groups, killing, raping, and pillaging,’ the UNHCR official said. “Terrified of these attacks, residents have left everything behind to find safety.” Similar violence has driven people from their homes in Mali and Niger, adding to the crisis in the Lake Chad region. The UN humanitarian coordination office (OCHA) estimates that 2.3 million people are displaced.

https://lcb.unocha.org/%232


https://www.unocha.org/



https://www.unocha.org/


CURRENT SITUATION (cont.)

III. Humanitarian Aid The EU is one of the largest donors of humanitarian aid to the Sahel.In November 2019, the EU's total contribution to humanitarian assistance in the Sahel was over €187 million. Aid organizations receiving EU support are helping with providing emergency food assistance, shelter, water access and sanitation, nutrition to undernourished children, supporting health care centres, and ensuring screening for children who are at risk of malnutrition. USAID provided more than $130 million in humanitarian assistance, including emergency food aid and health services, to Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger in fiscal year 2019. In addition to humanitarian aid, USAID has run a Voices for Peace program, which uses radio and video programming to promote peace, good governance, and human rights. The agency has also helped local governments better manage natural resources and community conflicts, such as with working with about 900 water user associations in Burkina Faso and Niger.

IV. COVID-19 The spread of COVID-19 has been increasing at a rapid rate globally since February of 2020. The spread of this disease greatly affects the elderly and those with respiratory issues. Symptoms include: cough, fever, shortness of

breath, and tiredness. The number of worldwide deaths due to COVID-19 was 14,582 as of March 19, 2020. The number of confirmed worldwide cases of COVID-19 was 340,846 as of March 19, 2020. Due to the lack of infrastructure, crowding in refugee camps, and lack of hygiene within refugee camps in the Sahel region, the spread of COVID-19 is even more prevalent. Cases of Covid 19 cannot be confirmed due to the lack of medical care and testing kits. The WHO encourages all countries to improve their monitoring for severe acute respiratory infections (SARI), to carefully review any unusual patterns of SARI or pneumonia cases and to notify WHO of any suspected or confirmed case of infection with coronavirus.


DEFINITIONS

National Sovereignty: National sovereignty is the idea that independent nations, which have declared their independence, have an organized government and are self-contained, have a right to exist without other nations interfering. It is essentially the unspoken rule of a nation's right to exist. It is the full right and power of a governing body over itself, without any interference from outside sources or bodies. In political theory, sovereignty is a substantive term designating supreme authority over some polity.

Custodial Sovereignty: Custodial Sovereignty is the idea that NGOs can intervene to help a group of people if the nation they are located in lacks the ability to do so.


POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS

Due to the nature of the General Assembly, delegates in this committee will not be able to enforce strict actions. However, to form a clause, delegates must suggest a discrete action. Clauses must always start with a third-person (calls upon, recommends, suggests, etc.) verb. The following information is supposed to give you a general idea of what your solutions can be based on.

I. MINUSMA The UN peacekeeping mission MINUSMA, established in 2013, was designed with the goal of bolstering Mali’s government and denying quarter to terrorists in Mali. Considering the involvement of terrorist organizations in organized crime and human trafficking, MINUSMA is effective in preventing these impacts from occurring beyond Mali’s borders.

Considering the dominating presence of terrorist organizations throughout the Sahel region, an expansion of the MINUSMA mission beyond Mali may prove beneficial. However, the longevity of the mission is largely dependent on the security of the UN troops as well as the stability of the region. Since the mission was implemented in Mali, more than 150 UN troops have been killed, and the German government has labeled the security situation in Mali as “fragile”. Thus, delegates should consider improving UN troop protections in tandem with facilitating a broader application of MINUSMA, in order to strengthen UN response to terrorism in the Sahel.

II. Global Alliance for Resilience Initiative (AGIR) The European Union is one of the largest donors of humanitarian aid to the Sahel, providing monetary assistance to both the people who have to flee their homes, as well as the communities hosting them. Furthermore, EU humanitarian aid supports emergency food and nutritional assistance to people facing hunger, including treatment for malnourished children, and assistance to people affected by conflict and insecurity. In order to help vulnerable communities that face recurrent and more frequent threats and challenges, humanitarian aid for short-term needs, paired with development aid for longer-term resilience, should be implemented strategically in order to strengthen the Sahel’s ability to cope with the challenges they face. The Global Alliance for Resilience Initiative (AGIR) was established in the Sahel during the food crisis in 2012, spearheaded by the European Union. The initiative primarily seeks to build resilience in the Sahel through the provision of humanitarian assistance and to achieve ‘zero hunger’ in the Sahel region by 2032 by strengthening agricultural productivity and improving the social protection system for vulnerable communities. The concept of this international alliance brings together governments, regional organizations to focus on the root causes of the crises to eventually reduce the number of emergencies and their cost.


POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS

III. UNHCR presence The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is actively providing shelter, food rations, water, and survival kits to the thousands of refugees arriving at the Sahel’s borders. Considering the Sahel’s long-term history of food instability, the UNHCR’s assistance is crucial to help alleviate the burden of resources on the host communities. Thus far, the UNHCR has provided emergency resources and teams to Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Niger, and has completed rapid assessments of many displaced populations in these regions. Considering the severity of the food crisis in the Sahel, the UNHCR’s life-saving assistance has helped thousands of refugees. However, as a consequence of the military coup and continuing violence in the Sahel region, it is likely that refugees (specifically, Malian refugees) will increasingly seek safety in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and elsewhere in the near future. Despite the success of the UNHCR’s refugee assistance, solely relying on UN presence for refugee assistance amidst the exponentially increasing food crisis will not be sustainable. Thus, delegates should look to support UNHCR presence with other non-governmental, governmental or regional organizations in order to prevent famine and needless deaths among host countries and refugees.


BLOC POSITIONS

France: France has a heavy stake in the Sahel. Total S.A. Oil Mining Company is a France-based company that has a large investment in the Sahel. Also, the Nigerian uranium supply is controlled by France, which was valued at $500 million in 2010. A lot of trust has been placed in the French people; for example, Mali came out about negotiations with terrorist groups to French news outlets. France has been ramping up military involvement in the Sahel. They are sending 5,000 troops and arming drones as of 2020. Operation Barkhane is a French operation to counter terrorists in the Sahel region. It is a follow-up to Operation Serval, a campaign that retook the northern half of Mali from Islamist Extremists. The French already have four military bases in the Sahel.

China: China is and has been making a power move in Asia and Africa, and the Sahel is a key region that needs economic support. As their One Belt One Road initiative expands, so does their need and ability to expand their power in Africa. China recently approved a UN funding plan to further back G5 Sahel. Chinese investment has been immense in Africa, as they are one of the only nations to have capitalized on their cheap labor and natural resources. Chinese projects in Africa have led to the continent almost universally loving the nation. It is important for China to keep the African nations on the side of the Chinese,

as every country gets a singular vote in General Assemblies, regardless of their size.

USA: The USA is seeking a military reduction in its involvement in the Sahel. The USA wants to focus on strategic great-power competition, merely aiming to contain the threat, not destroy it amid loss of life in an extremist attack that claimed four American soldiers. There are currently approximately 6000 American personnel deployed whose main involvement is just supporting pre-existing militaries in the area. However, an expansion of involvement could prove useful, as France and Morocco have a large stake in the Sahel and the US wants to ally themselves with these nations. The US has shown they are willing to support their allies; for example, they provided logistical and intelligence support during Operation Serval.

UK: The UK is supporting a plan to increase international involvement in the Sahel. The British government will be sending 250 “highly trained ground troops” to assist in combating local militias. This is all part of a peacekeeping mission in Mali scheduled for 2020. This plan was formulated at the request of the UN. This is just one example of how the UK is increasing its involvement in the Sahel.

Mali: Mali’s government is hesitant to act, as they believe that there is not enough civil


BLOC POSITIONS

pressure to warrant their expansion of action. However, that has left the civilians feeling neglected by their government. They have started to feel disillusioned with their leaders, as they feel that protecting their nation is no longer a priority. The conflict in Mali is a result of a coup that sought to overthrow the president in 2012. It was thwarted by French intervention, but the insecurity led to growth in terrorist actions.

Chad: Currently housing 391,000 refugees in its borders, Chad is crumbling under the stress of having such a strenuous situation. Chad only has a population of approximately 14.9 million, which includes these refugees. It should be a top priority to solve this crisis with national and international action.

Niger: In 2016, it was estimated that the Diffa region alone was housing 241,000 or more displaced persons, including 80,000 refugees. In addition to these refugees, Boko Haram’s attacks in this region are changing Nigeriens’ way of life. What used to be a fertile trading region on the shores of Lake Chad has turned into an area gripped by fear with strict curfews. Solving both the refugee crisis and quelling terrorist actions should be a top priority.

Burkina Faso: Recently, terrorism has been flourishing within Burkina Faso’s borders. Previously, terrorist groups from outside of the nation’s borders were the most dangerous to

Burkina Faso, but groups like Ansar ul Islam have arisen within Burkina Faso. Additionally, Burkina Faso reported Sub-Saharan Africa’s first death due to COVID-19, an area that had been previously recognized for its lack of severe infections. It is likely that humanitarian aid may be provided to “flatten the curve” for Sub-Saharan Africa. However, the large number of refugees from Mali that are still living within the borders combined with the ever-present threat of a terrorist attack may inhibit the ability for organizations to provide humanitarian aid.

Mauritania: Mauritania has succeeded greatly when it comes to countering terrorism. There has not been an attack there since 2011. The nation has set a great example by taking a multi-dimensional approach to countering terrorism. In addition to announcing that they are cracking down on terrorism, they have also worked with Islamic extremists. The government has been quick to point out Islam’s “tradition of tolerance.” This fact has convinced many extremists to repent and, with help from the government, integrate back into society. Mauritania allegedly also filed a “ceasefire” with terrorist groups, gaining protection from attacks by refraining from attacking terrorist bases. While some have criticized this deal, it has proven effective. Mauritania should focus on helping other nations in the Sahel to further remove terrorism from its borders.


Housing & Integration of Refugees: • How can this committee ensure that refugees will be safely held with humane

conditions, especially given the situations and sizes of the nations holding them? • Should refugees be transferred from these nations in the Sahel to places that can more

easily handle the burden? If so, how should they be transferred?

Combatting Terrorism: • How can other nations help to better defend the nations in the Sahel from extremist

attacks? • How can this committee help those affected by terrorism? • How can this committee help contain the spread of terrorism?

Humanitarian Aid: • How can this committee make sure that the proper humanitarian aid makes it to these

countries? • Can this committee determine what is a fair amount of humanitarian aid to send to these

nations? • What should be prioritized first when sending aid? (money, supplies, etc.) • How important is maintaining national sovereignty versus stopping the expansion of

terrorist action and power? Should we let countries dictate when and how NGOs intervene or should they be allowed to intervene as they please?

GUIDING QUESTIONS


1. https://mun.nd.edu/assets/299729/ndmun_iii_sochum_.pdf 2. http://www.homelandsecuritynewswire.com/dr20200114-france-five-african-states-launch-

new-antiterrorist-coalition-for-the-sahel-region 3. https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/publication/the-refugee-situation-in-the-sahel-an-

unprecedented-crisis 4. https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/burkina-faso.html 5. https://www.unocha.org/sites/dms/CAP/HNO_2014_Sahel_Region.pdf 6. https://www.nrc.no/shorthand/fr/sahel---the-worlds-most-neglected-and-conflict-ridden-

region/index.html 7. https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/02/1056782 8. https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/02/1057831 9. https://www.refugeesinternational.org/reports/2020/2/11/burkina-faso-and-the-sahels-new-

frontline 10. https://reliefweb.int/report/burkina-faso/humanitarian-aid-eu-announces-additional-35-

million-africas-sahel-region 11. https://www.devex.com/news/usaid-expands-presence-in-sahel-as-instability-grows-96039 12. http://www.emro.who.int/health-topics/corona-virus/questions-and-answers.html 13. https://www.un.org/africarenewal/sites/www.un.org.africarenewal/files/

English%20Summary%20Report_0.pdf 14. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/SahelStrategy2013_Dec2012.pdf 15. https://www.unocha.org/sites/dms/CAP/HNO_2014_Sahel_Region.pdf 16. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/pt/354021476267987185/pdf/108928-WP-

PopDevintheSahel-PUBLIC.pdf 17. https://www.who.int/hac/donorinfo/callsformobilisation/Sahel_advocacy_Oct06.pdf 18. https://www.oecd.org/swac/publications/47234320.pdf

USEFUL RESOURCES

https://mun.nd.edu/assets/299729/ndmun_iii_sochum_.pdf

https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/afr/publication/the-refugee-situation-in-the-sahel-an-unprecedented-crisis


https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/burkina-faso.html

https://www.unocha.org/sites/dms/CAP/HNO_2014_Sahel_Region.pdf

https://www.nrc.no/shorthand/fr/sahel---the-worlds-most-neglected-and-conflict-ridden-region/index.html


https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/02/1056782


https://www.refugeesinternational.org/reports/2020/2/11/burkina-faso-and-the-sahels-new-frontline


https://reliefweb.int/report/burkina-faso/humanitarian-aid-eu-announces-additional-35-million-africas-sahel-region


https://www.devex.com/news/usaid-expands-presence-in-sahel-as-instability-grows-96039

http://www.emro.who.int/health-topics/corona-virus/questions-and-answers.html

https://www.un.org/africarenewal/sites/www.un.org.africarenewal/files/English%20Summary%20Report_0.pdf


https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/SahelStrategy2013_Dec2012.pdf


http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/pt/354021476267987185/pdf/108928-WP-PopDevintheSahel-PUBLIC.pdf


https://www.who.int/hac/donorinfo/callsformobilisation/Sahel_advocacy_Oct06.pdf

https://www.oecd.org/swac/publications/47234320.pdf

https://mun.nd.edu/assets/299729/ndmun_iii_sochum_.pdf



https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/burkina-faso.html










https://www.devex.com/news/usaid-expands-presence-in-sahel-as-instability-grows-96039

http://www.emro.who.int/health-topics/corona-virus/questions-and-answers.html



https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/SahelStrategy2013_Dec2012.pdf




https://www.who.int/hac/donorinfo/callsformobilisation/Sahel_advocacy_Oct06.pdf

https://www.oecd.org/swac/publications/47234320.pdf

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