UNHCR

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TableofContentsLetterfromtheSecretary-General.....................................................................................3

LetterfromChair...............................................................................................................4

CommitteeOverview........................................................................................................5

1. Introduction...........................................................................................................5

2. Governance,StructureandMembership................................................................5

3. Mandate,Functions,andPowers...........................................................................6

4. The1951RefugeeConventionandits1967Protocol..............................................7

5. DefiningImportantTerms......................................................................................7

6. BEYMUNFifthEdition............................................................................................8

7. Bibliography...........................................................................................................8

TopicA:ConnectivityforRefugees..................................................................................10

1. IntroductionBackgroundInformation..................................................................10

2. TheChallenge:DisplacedandDisconnected.........................................................10

3. RoleoftheInternationalSystem..........................................................................11

3.1) Partneringtotacklethechallenge.....................................................................11

4. Thestrategy:threepillars....................................................................................12

5. DifferentAspectsofConnectivity.........................................................................13

5.1) ConnectivityandCommunication......................................................................13

5.2) ConnectivityandHealthcare..............................................................................14

5.3) ConnectivityandEducation................................................................................15

5.4) Connectivity,incomegenerationandlivelihoodstrategies...............................17

6. Conclusion...........................................................................................................18

7. Questionstobeaddressed...................................................................................18

8. Bibliography.........................................................................................................19

TopicB:Vigorousnessoftherefugeevettingprocess......................................................21

1. Introduction.........................................................................................................21

1.1) Backgroundinformation.....................................................................................21

1.2) Rateofrefugees.................................................................................................21

1.3) RefugeeStatusDetermination...........................................................................22

1.4) TheVettingProcess............................................................................................22

1.5) Pastinternationalconferencesandtreaties......................................................22

1.6) Framework.........................................................................................................23

2. GeneralProtectionandManagement..................................................................24

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2.1) Theroleofthe1951ConventionRelatingtotheStatusofRefugeesandits1967Protocoltakesplaceinthissituation..............................................................................24

2.2) Stepstakentoreachthehostcountry...............................................................25

2.3) Theresettlementprocessisasfollows..............................................................25

2.4) IllegalRefugeesandMixedMigration................................................................26

3. Labormarketintegrationinhostcountries..........................................................26

3.1) LaborMarketIntegrationduringtheVettingProcess........................................26

3.2) Challenges..........................................................................................................26

4. LossofIdentity.....................................................................................................28

4.1) LossofPhysicalIdentity......................................................................................28

4.2) Lossofpsychologicalidentity.............................................................................29

5. Conclusion...........................................................................................................30

6. Questionstobeaddressed...................................................................................30

7. Bibliography.........................................................................................................31

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1Refugees,U.(2020).ContactUs.Retrieved5February2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/contact-us.html

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LetterfromtheSecretary-GeneralDearDelegates,

I’d first like to thank you for your interest in BEYMUN. By registering for our 2020conference, you’d be signing up for what will truly be an unforgettable, enrichingexperience.

In these times where global injustice and unrest are prevailing, and within a set ofchallenging regional and global problems,manyofwhich are set to affect generations tocome,onemightwonderwhatisBEYMUN?BEYMUNismorethanjustanMUNconferenceorastudent-ledorganization,BEYMUNisacommunitymadeupofcommittedandambitiousindividuals,ofpeoplewhorefusetostaysilent totheproblemsourworld iscurrently facing,acommunityof futureworld leaders.BEYMUN is a platform that provides the opportunity for young thinkers to question thedecisionsoftheirancestors,toputinretrospectivetheeventsthesedecisionshaveledto,tospeakup,loudandclearandproposereform,confidentlyandpersuasivelyinthehopesofbuildingabettertomorrow.BEYMUN isalsoapioneer in studentvolunteerismwith itsCommunityOutreachProgramthataims to respond to theneedsof the Lebanese community throughvariousactivities,campaignsandfundraisers.Bydedicatingsomeofourtimetogivingback,notonlydidwestartChartingabetter futureby responding to theneedsof theunderprivilegedbut alsoworkedtocraftagenerationofmoreaware,moreconsciousandmoreresponsibleadultsreadyto"FosterPeace".ButBEYMUNcanbenoneofthosethingswithoutitsdelegates,withoutyou.Youwillbeputinasituationthatwillallowyoutodemonstratewhatthegooduseofpowerreallymeans.What would you do if you had the chance to talk to the most powerful and influentialpeopleoftheworld,whatwouldyousayandwhatwouldyourecommend?IfyouweretobeanAmbassadorfor3days,whatwouldyouragendaconsistofandhowdiplomaticwouldyoubeinattemptingtoimplementit?YoucanbeginChartingtheFuturebyregisteringforthisconference,puttingyourselftothechallengeandmakinguseof thisopportunity to Foster thePeaceyouwant to see in theworld.TheBEYMUNTeamawaitsyou,Sincerely,JadMaaloufSecretaryGeneralofBEYMUN2020

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LetterfromChairDearDelegates,

Welcome to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees of BEYMUN2020! MynameisKarenSreih,andit iswithhugeexcitementthatIwillbeservingasyourChairforthisupcomingconference.WhatisimportanttopinpointistheroleofmyAssistantChairs,Kinda Ghazal and Marina Markarian, two girls who gave their hearts to make yourexperienceaspleasantaspossible,andtheRapporteur,ThaliaElKhoury.Thus,Iwriteyouthisletterinthehope,fromthebottomofmyheart,ofafruitfulconferencethatwillgivebirthtonewfriendships,diplomacyexertion,ideageneration,anddebates.

Before I dive into the topic of the committee, I’d like to tell you about myteammatesandmyself.Iamcurrentlyathird-yearundergraduatestudentattheAmericanUniversity of Beirut studying Industrial Engineering and minoring in Mathematics with afuturetrack inConsulting.Moreover,Kinda isanEconomicsstudentwhosehardwork ledherbeselectedasaheaddelegate in theMUNTRConference, representingtheAmericanUniversityofBeirut,whereasMarinaisaFreshmanstudentgoingintoPoliticalSciencewith3yearsofexperienceinMUNasbothchairanddelegate.Myscientificbackgrounddidnotinhibitmyinterestinmoreglobalandpoliticalinteractions.Moreover,I’vebeeninvolvedinseveral endeavors such as creating a startup called Promotial and joining both AUBMUNclubandtheBEYMUNConference.Thatsaid,ModelUnitedNationsisaconceptIholdveryclose to my heart as it molded my personality and, most importantly, changed myperspectiveonleadershipfromdirectivetoaconnector.MyexperienceinMUNismainlyasadelegatenotingthat Iparticipated inaround15conferences;themostmemorableonesareNationalModelUnitedNations inNewYork,HarvardWorldMUN inMadridandParisModel United Nations. I will be soon leaving to Tokyo for the 2020 HarvardWorldMUNEdition!

Thisyear,ourcommitteewillbetacklingtwoissues:ConnectivityforRefugeesandtheVigorousnessof theRefugeeVettingProcess. Ihopethatallofyoucomewithagive-and-take attitude, ready to listen to others in order to come up with the best tailoredresolutions that are coherent and feasible regarding these two topics. I really hope youcome out of this experience as a better critical thinker, a respectful diplomat and withenriched knowledge on all aspects of these topics. One thing that would be quitedisappointing is seeing you show up unprepared and unwilling, whichwill honestly, onlymakeyoumissoutonamemorablelearningexperience.

Pleasedonothesitatetocontactmebye-mailatbeymun.unhcr@gmail.comifyouhaveanyquestionsandIlookforwardtomeetingyouallsoonandlearningfromeachandeveryoneofyou!Bestofluck.

Sincerely,

KarenSreih

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CommitteeOverview

1. IntroductionTheUnitedNationsHighCommissioner forRefugees (UNHCR)was inaugurated in1950 inorder tomaintain and protect the rights and security of refugees around theworld2. ItsheadquartersareinGeneva,SwitzerlandanditwascreatedafterWWIIwiththepurposeofaidingEuropeansthathavebeendrivenoutoftheirhomebythewar.

Today, the committee’s work can be found in around 138 countries with 16,765 staffmembersworkingoverall.In1956,theUNHCR’sworkwasbroughtintothelimelightafterasovietmilitaryinterventioninHungary.ThiseventdemonstratedtotheworldtheUNHCR’sroleinprovidinghelptopeopleseekingrefuge.ThedecolonizationofAfricainthemid20thcentury marked the committee’s first involvement in a region outside of Europe. Theycontinuouslyexpandedtheirscopeto incorporateAsiaandLatinAmericaaswellasotherpartsoftheworld.In2003,theUNHCRmandatewasprolongedindefinitelyandcontinuedto commit to field operations that target the needs of refugees and internally displacedpeople. Their goal is also to provide aid to those wanting to voluntarily return to theirhomes.Moreover, theUNHCRprovides support in a series of humanitarianmethods andalsoencouragesrefugeestoreestablishtheirownlivesandintegrateintosociety.In2016,the General Assembly adopted the New York Declaration for refugees and migrants. ItstargetwastodecreasethepressureonhostcountriesandcommunitiesaswellasmaintainthegoaloftheUNHCRaswell3.

A few of theUNHCR’s successes includewinning theNobel Peace Prize in 1954 for theirwork in Europe, which included its effort in relocating 200,000 Hungarians during theHungarian Revolution, tackling the first refugee crisis born from the balkanization of theAfrican continent, andmanymore (1). Of course, it isn’t anything new that vast sums offundingareneededfortheorganizationtobesuccessfulinitsefforts.MostoftheUNHCR’sfundingcomesfromgovernmentalandintergovernmentalbodiesaswellasprivatedonorsforcharitablepurposes.Onlyalittleover2percentoftheirfundingcomesfromtheUnitedNationsRegularBudget4.Initsfirstyear,theUNHCR’sbudgetwasonlyUSD$300,000butthathassincegrowntoanannualbudgetofUSD$6.54billion in2016 3.TheUNGeneralAssemblyandSocialCouncil(ECOSOC)governtheUNHCRtogether5.

2. Governance,StructureandMembership

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), a subsidiaryorgan of theUNGeneral Assembly, began operating in 1951 and its headquarters are inGeneva. The currentHigh Commissioner, elected by theUNGeneral Assembly for a five-

2History-UNHCRPhilippines.(2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/ph/history

3Refugees,U.(2020).NewYorkDeclarationforRefugeesandMigrants.Retrieved5February2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/new-york-declaration-for-refugees-and-migrants.html

4(2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/42ad4d9c0.pdf5Refugees,U.(2020).GovernanceandOversight.Retrieved5February2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/governance.html

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yearmandate and nominated by the UN Secretary-General, is Filippo Grandi. 6 The HighCommissionerplays a crucial communicational roleby reporting to theGeneralAssemblyyearly,whichusuallydevelopsresolutionsinsupportoftheUNHCR3.

The Executive Committee (ExCom), constituted of representatives from the fifty-fourMember-States in theUNEconomicandSocialCouncil (ECOSOC),meets inOctobereveryyeartogivebirthto“deductions”thatestablishtheframeworkoftheactivitiesconductedbytheUNHCRsuchasreviewingfinancialmatters,advisingtheHighCommissioner,allowingappeals for funds and supporting future targets. 3 Thus, ExCom approves the agency’sannualprogramprioritiesandbudget.

TheUNHCR’s 2020 budget is estimated to beUSD $8.668 billion, demonstrating aminorincreaseofUSD$31.8million (0.4%) 7. Its budget,which stems fromvoluntarydonationsdone by foundations, corporations, Member States, individuals and governmentalinstitutions,restsonfourmainpillars:

o Globalrefugeeprogram

o Globalstatelesspeopleprogramo Globalreintegrationprojectso GlobalIDPprojects8

For these donations to be acquired, the UNHCR publicizes an annual Global Appealproviding information and data on the red flag areas of concern and critical situations.Moreover, the UNHCR has benefited from the funding contributed by the UN CentralEmergency Response Fund (CERF) for situations that required alarming and immediateresponse,suchasnaturaldisasters.8

3. Mandate,Functions,andPowers

Themandateof theUNHCR is toprotect,providehumanitarianaidand find solutions forrefugees. Itnowcoversrefugees,returneesandStatelesspeople.Formorethan60years,theUNHCRworkedwith governments, non-governmental organizations and internationalagencies. It is also considered the legal entity thatmediates for refugees. Its powers areclarified in the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol. Party States shouldcooperate with the UNHCR according to article 35 of the 1951 Refugee Convention andarticleIIofits1967Protocol.Inaddition,UNHCRhasasupervisoryroleandhascarriedoutmanyactivitiesrelatedtoreliefprovidence,assistance,anddevelopment.IthasaidedStatesto solve administrative, financial, legal and diplomatic issues. The bases for theUNHCR’smandate are the Statute of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner forRefugees,adoptedbytheUNGeneralAssemblyon14December1950, the1951RefugeeConventionandits1967Protocol,andcertainrequestsmadebytheUNGeneralAssemblyortheSecretary-General.910

6(2020).Retrieved5February2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/ibelong/u-n-high-commissioner-for-refugees-filippo-grandi/7Doctorswithoutborders|ThePracticalGuidetoHumanitarianLaw.(2020).Retrieved5February2020,fromhttps://guide-humanitarian-law.org/content/article/3/united-nations-high-commissioner-for-refugees-unhcr/

8Refugees,U.(2020).ExecutiveCommittee.Retrieved5February2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/executive-committee.html

9Refugees,U.(2020).ExecutiveCommittee.Retrieved5February2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/executive-committee.html10(2020).Retrieved5February2020,fromhttp://reporting.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/ga2020/pdf/Chapter_Financial.pdf

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4. The1951RefugeeConventionandits1967ProtocolThe1951RefugeeConventionpavedthewayforanewsystemthatprovidesprotectionfortheinnocentpeoplelivinginstrugglingconditionsduetotheirhomecountry’sinstability.Itis amultilateral treaty thatwas created in theUnitedNations that also defines the term“refugee”anddiscussestherightsofrefugeesandtheresponsibilitiesofhostcountries.Incorrelationwiththe1951Conventionisthe1967ProtocolrelatingtotheStatusofRefugeespresented as an international treaty 11. The Protocol is to be read alongside the 1951Refugee Convention since the convention did not include any new refugee crisis thatoccurred. The Protocol removed the Refugee Convention’s temporal and geographicalrestrictionssothattheConventioncanbeapplieduniversally12

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5. DefiningImportantTerms

Before reading the background guide, it is important to recognize and understand thefollowingtermsintheirproperdefinitionrelevanttothetopicsathand.Firstly,theUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforRefugees(UNHCR)isanagencywhoseaimistoprotectandaid refugees, stateless and displaced people.Moreover, the difference betweenmigrant,refugee,asylumseekerandinternallydisplacedmustbedistinguishedtoavoidconfusion.Amigrant isan individualor familymoving fromoneplace toanother in searchofabetterlivingandworkingenvironment.Whileamigrantchoosestorelocate,aforcedmigranthasnochoice.Thetermforcedmigrantisinterchangeablewiththetermrefugeeandtheybothindicate an individual or family that have been forced to flee their country to escapeeconomic issues, human rights violations,war and/or violence.When referring to asylumseeker(s), the term indicates an individual or family that have left their home country as11(2020).Retrieved5February2020,fromhttp://reporting.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/ga2020/pdf/Chapter_Financial.pdf12Evaluationsandstudies|CERF.(2020).Retrieved5February2020,fromhttps://cerf.un.org/partner-resources/performance-and-accountability/evaluations-and-studies

13Refugees,U.(2020).The1951RefugeeConvention.Retrieved5February2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/1951-refugee-convention.html

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refugees seeking asylumwithin another country that provides better circumstances thantheir current situation. An asylum seeker is considered to be a migrant but it is notnecessaryformigrantstobeasylumseekers.Theycanalsoberepresentedasrefugeesordisplacedpersons.Displacement isdefinedaspeople thatwere foundobligated to leavetheir homes to evade debacles. On the other hand, internal displacement is when thepeopleofatragedy-strickenstatefindsafetywithinthebordersoftheirowncountry.Whileresearching “Vigorousness of the Refugee Vetting Process,” the terms you will need todistinguish are vetting and refugee status determination. The word vetting suggests acareful investigation conducted on each individual that has applied for refugee statusdetermination.Therefugeestatusdeterminationprocessisalsoreferredtoasthevettingprocess. It isa legalprocessbywhicheitheragovernmentof theUNHCRdeterminesandassignstherefugeestatusonindividualsunder international,regionalornational law.Themain idea in “Connectivity for Refugees” that should be understood is the definition ofconnectivitywhichistheabilitytobedigitallyinterconnectedworld-wide.

6. BEYMUNFifthEdition

BEYMUN’s United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will be welcomingdelegatesfromdifferentcultural,ethnicandeducationalbackgrounds,whichgivesbirthtoanenvironmentimmersedindiversity,opposingorevenoverlappingmindsetsanddifferingwork philosophies. That said, delegates will have the opportunity to interact with aconfluence that will help them bloom and explore brilliant ideas by taking into accountotherperspectivesontheworld.Itisthusimportanttoattendtheconferencewithanopenmind, a diplomatic attitude and respect in order to surpass any closed-minded ideology,whichonlyleadstoboth,hateandprejudice.

Thisyearwechosetwoubiquitousissuesin linewiththeUNHCR’sultimategoalthat istosafeguardtherightsandwell-beingofrefugees.

Thetwotopicsareasfollows:

I. TopicA:ConnectivityforRefugees

II. TopicB:VigorousnessoftheRefugeeVettingProcess

7. Bibliography1) Denselow,J.,&Denselow,J.(2020).Theendoftherefugeecamp?.Retrieved5February

2020,fromhttps://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2016/05/refugee-camp-160517112016380.html

2) Refugees,U.(2020).ContactUs.Retrieved5February2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/contact-us.html

3) History-UNHCRPhilippines.(2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/ph/history

4) Refugees,U.(2020).NewYorkDeclarationforRefugeesandMigrants.Retrieved5February2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/new-york-declaration-for-refugees-and-migrants.html

5) (2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/42ad4d9c0.pdf6) Refugees,U.(2020).GovernanceandOversight.Retrieved5February2020,from

https://www.unhcr.org/governance.html

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7) (2020).Retrieved5February2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/ibelong/u-n-high-commissioner-for-refugees-filippo-grandi/

8) Doctorswithoutborders|ThePracticalGuidetoHumanitarianLaw.(2020).Retrieved5February2020,fromhttps://guide-humanitarian-law.org/content/article/3/united-nations-high-commissioner-for-refugees-unhcr/

9) Refugees,U.(2020).ExecutiveCommittee.Retrieved5February2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/executive-committee.html

10) Refugees,U.(2020).ExecutiveCommittee.Retrieved5February2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/executive-committee.html

11) (2020).Retrieved5February2020,fromhttp://reporting.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/ga2020/pdf/Chapter_Financial.pdf

12) (2020).Retrieved5February2020,fromhttp://reporting.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/ga2020/pdf/Chapter_Financial.pdf

13) Evaluationsandstudies|CERF.(2020).Retrieved5February2020,fromhttps://cerf.un.org/partner-resources/performance-and-accountability/evaluations-and-studies

14) Refugees,U.(2020).The1951RefugeeConvention.Retrieved5February2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/1951-refugee-convention.html

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TopicA:ConnectivityforRefugees

1. IntroductionBackgroundInformationDuring a crisis, populations of all ages, genders and demographics are in need of propercommunication platforms that stabilize their daily lives. However, refugees are usuallyaccommodatedinruralareasthatlackproperinfrastructureinhibitingtheirabilitytoaccesstheseplatforms,whichincludemobileconnectivityandnetworks.

Therefore,with its leadership role in refugee emergencies, theUNHCR is in a position toenable access to connectivity for these displaced individuals by partnering with mobilenetwork operator and professional private sector and community-based organizations.Moreover,italsohasthepowertosetupmobilenetworkswherenoneexistedorestablishconnectionfacilitiesinplaceslikelocalcommunitycentersbasedontheUNHCR’sstudiesofthe refugees’ connectivity needs and situation. With its ability to deliver an optimizedhumanitarian responseby facilitating cash transfers,mobilemoney, digital education andotherservices,digitalnetworksarenottobeignoredandmustbecarefullystudied.

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2. TheChallenge:DisplacedandDisconnectedWiththegrowthofthetechnologicalworldcomesgreaterresponsibilitytoensureeveryonereceives the resources needed for gradual improvement. There is currently a digitalrevolution underway in our society, but refugees don’t seem to be included in thistransition. Nowadays, more than half of the world has easy access to a stable internetconnectionandmobileconnectivity,yet,unfortunately,60millionoftheworld’sdisplacedrefugeesaredeprivedofaccesstoonlinenetworks15.Thislackofconnectiontotheworldoutside of their physically immediate communities obstructs major advancements thatcouldmakeahugedifferenceintoday’ssociety.

When discussing the idea of connectivity, it is crucial to note that it is more than justprovidingalinkbetweencommunities.Allaspectsofconnectivityaredirectedtowardsonevision: to provide digital literacy and IT education wherever it is needed as well as

14Malawi,U.(2020).Refugeeambassadorsgetsmartphones.Retrieved5February2020,fromhttps://mw.one.un.org/smart-phones/15TU:MoreThanHalfWorld’sPopulationUsingInternet.(2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://www.voanews.com/silicon-valley-technology/itu-more-half-worlds-population-using-internet

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identifying any obstacles that prevent access through research andworking to overcomethem (13). Moreover, it is the usage of communications and the power of stories thatcatalyzeschange.Connectivitydoesnotimplyshiftingtocompletedigitalizationofservicesandhumanitarian responses,but ratherensuringa smooth transition todigitalusageandsecuring the futureofaconnectedsociety that isaccessiblebyall todisplay the resultofchoiceandinclusion.

Thestrugglesoflivingofflinecomplywiththeideaofnothavinganymeansofcontactandcommunication with loved ones. Being devoid of up-to-date information appertaining toevents happening either in their home country or countries of asylum, results in theabsence of refugees having access to basic services such as health and education orguidancetomake informeddecisionsonhowto improvetheir livingsituation.The lackofconnectivity cuts off the path to self-reliance and places limitations on the refugeecommunities’ capacity to organize and empower themselves. Not only that, but it alsoconstrainsthekindoftransformativeinnovationinhumanitarianassistancethathasneverbeenmorenecessaryandrelevanttooursocietythaninthisdayandage.

3. RoleoftheInternationalSystem

TheUNRefugeeAgency(UNHCR)believesthatrefugeeshavetherighttobeconnectedtotherestoftheworldbyhavingaccesstotechnologicaldevicesthatwillhelpthemimprovetheirownsituationandmakewayforabetterfutureforthemselves,theirfamilies,andtheworld.Theiraimistoinitiatenewpartnershipsandinvestmentsthatwillassistinspreadingconnectivity as well as place leverage on technology for protection, communications,education,health,self-reliance,communityempowerment,anddurablesolutions16.

The UNHCR’s Innovation Service launched “Connectivity for Refugees”, an initiativecommittedtocreatingacapableenvironmentfortheflourishmentofinnovationbytrainingateamand instilling inthemtheknowledge,resources,andskills required.Theseabilitieswillthereforesafeguardthecreationofanewstructuredideainordertosolveimperativechallenges.Theservicecreatesasafespaceforexperimentstooccurinfieldoperationsandheadquarterswhilstintroducinganenhancedapproachintohowproblemsaresolved.TheUNHCR InnovationService supports theConnectivity forRefugees initiativeusinga three-pillarmethod that focuses on catalyzing connectivity innovations and solutions from thefield with the use of research to have a better understanding of the intersections ofconnectivityanddisplacementandcapturingbrightspotsthroughstorytellingandstrategiccommunications. The Innovation Fund provides the funding, support and communityneededsothatinnovationandadaptabilitycanbeeasilyacquired17.

3.1) Partneringtotacklethechallenge

As an international organization, the UNHCR is unable to connect the whole refugeepopulationby itself. Instead, itwillproactivelywork tobuildmultidirectionalpartnerships

16ConnectivityforRefugees-UNHCRInnovation.(2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/innovation/connectivity-for-refugees/

17TheInnovationFund-UNHCRInnovation.(2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/innovation/innovation-fund/

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with a wide range of stakeholders across five different categories: refugees 18 and hostcommunities, host governments, theprivate sector, non-governmental organizations, anddonors. When it comes to partnerships, the Accenture Development Partnerships (ADP)shouldbetakenintoconsideration.ADPisanassociationwithinAccenturethatisaimedatmanagingonanon-profitbasis.TheUNHCRandADPhavecarriedoutaglobalassessmentofrefugees’accessto internetusageandmobilephonesfromanewlyestablishedUNHCRGlobal Strategy for Connectivity for Refugees. The key findings included the increase ofavailability of mobile networks, affordability, and access to training, digital content andservices19.

4. Thestrategy:threepillarsBy following the concept of the three-pillar method, tremendous development will beobservedon a global level. The3 steps tobeexplored areAccessibility,Affordability andUsability,eachofwhichareneededtoachieveconnectivity.

First, in order to ensure that access to basic technology is simplified, improvement isneeded to reduce regulatory barriers. About 40% of the global population, includingrefugees,lacksaccesstoa3G+mobilenetwork,mostlyinruralareas.Theenhancementofmobileand internetnetworksbenefitsnotonlyrefugeesbutalsothehostcommunity.Toimproveavailability,theUNHCRwillworkthroughfourinterventions:enhancingthemobilenetwork infrastructure, collaboratingwith governments to expand network infrastructureand access, collaborating with internet service providers and othertechnology/communications companies to improve infrastructure, and making targetedinvestmentsininfrastructure.

Nextcomesaffordability,whichtargetsthereductionofpricesrelatedtoconnectivityandtheexpansionofthecommunities’accesstothesenetworks.Nearlyallrefugeesstruggletoafford devices, mobile data plans and internet access. By prioritizing affordability andinterveningwherepossible,theUNHCRwillbeabletofocusonnegotiatingrefugee-specificplans and discounts, subsidizing device and mobile/internet plans, and deploying andexpandingcommunityinternet-accesscenters.

Lastly, by enabling the richer usage of internet through training programs and relevantdigitalcontentandservices,usabilitywillbefacilitated.AsurveyconductedbyUNHCRstaffshows that 6 of the top 10 challenges of lack of refugee connectivity is associated tousability issues such as the lack of digital skills and the lack of information provided indifferent languages. Inordertoovercomethesechallenges,TheUNHCRhasbeenworkingoncarryingouttrainingwiththeintentionofimprovingthedigitalliteracyofrefugeesandboostingnon-profitorganizationstoaidinfacilitatingtheirlivesbydeliveringcontentthatismosthelpfultorefugees.

18(2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://www.accenture.com/t20150527t211350__w__/jp-ja/_acnmedia/accenture/conversion-assets/dotcom/documents/local/ja-jp/pdf_2/accenture-development-partnerships-capability-statement-v2.pdf

19Foundation,T.(2020).UNHCR,AccentureStudyFindsInternet,MobileConnectivityaLifelineforRefugees.Retrieved4January2020,fromhttp://news.trust.org/item/20160915111610-9avin/

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5. DifferentAspectsofConnectivity

5.1) ConnectivityandCommunication

Refugeesareunabletocommunicatewithothersduetoculturalbarrierssuchaslanguage,stereotypes, cultural norms, and manners. Verbal communication is one of the mainmethodsusedbypeople to communicatewitheachother. Language canbeabarrier forrefugeeswhenthehostcountry’sverbalspeechdiffersfromtheirmothertongue.Refugeesalsosufferfromstereotypesthatarerelatedtocertainidentities.Moreover,culturalnormsdifferbetweencountriesaswell;asimpleexampleisthedistinctwayofgreetingpeopleindifferentcountries.

Oneof themainusages of connectivity is communication, be itwith family or friends, inboth the individual’shomeandhost country.Connectionhasbeen identifiedas themostimportant need for refugees. When they flee their homeland, they split up, their socialbonds break down, and they are separated from their loved ones. As a result, they andother displaced populations arguably have a greater need for communication than thegeneral population because of social isolation caused by displacement. Compared to thegeneral population, refugees are 50% less likely to have access to phones with internet.Somerefugeesmayhavecellphones,butareunabletoaffordconnection,andothersmayhavenomeansofcontactingtheirfamiliesbecausetheydonothaveeithertheirnumbersorlocations.20Communicationalsohelpswithfamilyreunification.

Thebenefitsofhavingaccessto informationforrefugeesandotherdisplacedpopulationsarenumerous,andinsomecasescanbelifesaving.Forsome,connectivitycanhelpmitigate'information precocity' — a condition of information instability and insecurity that mayresult inheightenedexposuretoviolence—byprovidingpeoplewith increasedaccesstonewsandother informationthat ismostrelevanttotheircircumstances.Connectivitycanalso facilitate access to information about the situation in one's home country, allowingrefugeestomakewell-informeddecisionsaboutwhether itmightbesafe toreturnhomeand when. In addition, refugees can connect to get updates on the asylum process andproceduresandcommunicate,forexamplebyemail,togetanswersonthesameissue.

REFUNITEisanon-profitorganizationfoundedin2008tohelprefugeesreconnect.Themainmission of the organization is to help refugees find their families. REFUNITE has a list ofpartnerships that include but is not limited tomobile network operators and the UnitedNationstopursuetheirmission.Manyheart-warmingstoriesofchangeweremadebecauseofREFUNITE’sefforts.21

Another technology NGO is Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF), whichwas founded in 1998.Theiraimistohelppeopleduringcrisistocontacttheirfamiliesandtheirlovedones.Also,usingtheir innovativeminds,theyhelpproviding low-costsolutionstorefugeesandotherdisadvantagedpeopleinissuesrelatedtoeducation,rights,healthcareandfood.22

20(2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://www.unicef.org/protection/IAG_UASCs.pdf

21Whoarewe?.(2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://www.tsfi.org/en/who-are-we

22ReconnectionStoriesArchive-Refunite.(2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://refunite.org/reconnection-stories/

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5.2) ConnectivityandHealthcare

Refugees face a difficulty when communicating with healthcare providers and systems.Most of the time there is a cultural gap between refugees and host communities. As aresult, they face many challenges in communicating with others, and in this case withhealthcaresystems.Refugeesmightnot trustsuchsystemsduetodifferences inbehaviorandculture.Languagealsoposesaproblemduetothelackofunderstandingoftheotherparty.Inaddition,duetounemployment,refugees’familiesmightfindthemselvesdeprivedfrom the income necessary to encourage their connection to healthcare systems. Just aswell, there is no infrastructure for healthcare training, such as long distance to trainingcenters,andlimitedscalableandreal-timesupportandguidanceforCHWs.

Nonetheless,thebenefitsofintroducingconnectivityinthefieldofhealthcareoutgrowthechallenges listed above. With connectivity in the way, refugees will benefit more fromhealthcare systems. Refugees can access information on the provider to feel safer andreduce the language problem by using downloadable translators or ones found online inorder to effectively communicatewithhealthcareprofessionals. Refugees can also accessinformationconcerningtheirhealthonline,whichwillreducethecostofgoingtothecenterandgettingthe information.Monitoringthehealthofrefugeesandreportingabout itcanbeimprovedthroughonlinesystems,abenefitthatwouldhaveagreatimpactinsituationswheremedicalservicesarenotreadilyavailable.

Efforts weremade to findmore solutions to the issue. Twine is an online platform thatcollectsinformationforrefugeecamps24.Theplatformmanagesandanalysespublichealthdatacollected in refugeeoperations.Data is collectedusing severaldifferent tools,whichcover a range of sectors and operational settings. UNHCR and partners select the mostappropriate combination of tools in Twine to design, monitor and evaluate their publichealth programs. Gnucoop, which is a small company, collaborated with the UNHCR toredesigntheinformationcollectionsystem,anddesigned“NewTwine”whichisanupdatedform of Twine. NewTwine is now a website and a mobile application that collects data

23UbiquitiAPsusedforfreeWi-FiatIdomenirefugeecamp.(2020).Retrieved5February2020,fromhttps://www.tanaza.com/blog/ubiquiti-aps-used-for-free-wi-fi-at-idomeni-refugee-camp/

24Twineproject.(2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttp://twine.unhcr.org/app/

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uniformly.Itcollectsdatarelatedtorefugees’healthdirectlyandindirectly,suchasmedicalandnutritionalinformationandwatercleanliness25.

26

5.3) ConnectivityandEducation

AccordingtotheUNHCR,with51%ofrefugeesbeingchildren,educationbecomesatopicofpriority as soon as refugees begin to settle into the host country.27 However, substantialdemands for adult educational services, andmore specifically demands in the learningofnew languages, have been observed. Therefore, not only must schooling services bedeveloped, but education services regarding the cultural context that refugees are beingembedded in as well, which is a crucial tool to help with these difficult transitions andsettlements. 28 Inaddition, skillsdevelopment is important inorder tohelp refugeesstarttheirnewlivesandbeginworking,andthushaveanefficientandpresentroleintheirnewsocialcontext.

TheUNHCRreportedthat thegreatestchallenges facedwhentrying toprovideeducationforrefugeeswasmainlyduetothescarcityofqualifiedindividualsandtherelativeabsenceof suitable educational resources, thus indicating a poignant lack of funding.29However,digitaltechnologiesaimingtoprovidedistancelearninganddigital learningcanpotentiallysolvethemainissuesfaced.Thereisawiderangeofdigitaleducationprojectsdevelopedincollaborationwith theUNHCR such as theVodafone Foundation InstantNetwork Schoolsinitiative which was launched in 2014 and supports around 20 schools in Kenya, SouthSudan,TanzaniaandtheDominicanRepublicoftheCongo.Itisestimatedthatthisinitiativetargets around 30,000 students and 600 teachers per month.30 In 2015, Vodafone

25Twine.(2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://digitalsocial.eu/case-study/45/twine

26Refugees,U.(2020).Health.Retrieved5February2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/health.html

2720peoplearenewlydisplacedeveryminuteoftheday.(n.d.).Retrievedfromhttps://www.unhcr.org/globaltrends2016/.

28TheImportanceofmobileforrefugees:alandscapeofnewservicesandapproaches.(n.d.).Retrievedfromhttps://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/resources/the-importance-of-mobile-for-refugees-a-landscape-of-new-services-and-approaches/.

29UnitedNations.(n.d.).Refugeeeducationincrisis:Morethanhalfoftheworld'sschool-agerefugeechildrendonotgetaneducation.Retrievedfromhttps://www.unhcr.org/news/press/2019/8/5d67b2f47/refugee-education-crisis-half-worlds-school-age-refugee-children-education.html.

30UnitedNations.(n.d.).VodafoneFoundation.Retrievedfromhttps://www.unhcr.org/vodafone-foundation.html.

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inauguratedtheInstantClassroomproject,whichisadigital“schoolinabox”thatoperateswithoutinternetconnection.31

Other examples of tech organizations working in the educational field include Ericsson,which supports the Connect to Learn initiative that operates in around 22 countries andengages16MobileNetworkOperators.Severalprojectsaresupportedbythistechpartnersuch as the Iraq’sDomiz refugee camp,which includes providing teacherswith access toresources using technology. Ericsson works with Asiacell and the International RescueCommittee to deliver camp based education. The process is enabled through Ericson’scloud-basedInformationandCommunicationsTechnology(ICT)platformcalledConnecttoLearn, accessed through Asiacell-provided 3G internet. 31 Recently, the MassachusettsInstituteofTechnology(MIT)alsocreatedacompetitionwhichaimstogathersubmissionsin order to improve the children in refugee camps’ access to education. 3233 In fact, theLebaneseorganizationLebaneseAlternativeLearning (LAL),whichaimstogiveeverychildaccess to education though digital content, participated and won the 2019 Solve MITcompetition.3435Celebritiesaregettinginvolvedintheseinitiativesaswell.AgoodexampleoftheworktheyaredoingistheClooneyFoundationforJustice’sinitiative,whichcombinesfinancial supportwith technology, aiming to improveeducationalopportunities for SyrianrefugeesandLebanesechildren.36

However,theremainingissueisthatalotoftheseprojectsareintheirearlystagesandhaveprovedtobesomewhatmorecomplexthananticipated.Infact,theUNHCRworkedintwoRefugee Learning Centers providing digital learning materials pre-loaded on tablets forchildrenbutnoticedthatstudentswerefrustratedbecauseoftheslowinternet,thestart-upcosts that were way too expensive and the lack of conclusive evidence regarding theimprovement of education using tablets. The UNHCR thus aims to tackle these specificchallengesfacedinregardtodigitallearningwithhopeandapromisingvision.37

31EricssonpartnerswithAsiacellandtheInternationalRescueCommitteetobringConnecttoLearntoschoolsinrefugeecampsinIraq.(2016,March1).Retrievedfromhttps://www.ericsson.com/en/news/2016/2/ericsson-partners-with-asiacell-and-the-international-rescue-committee-to-bring-connect-to-learn-to-schools-in-refugee-camps-in-iraq.

32WhatisUNHCRRSD?.(2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://rsdwatch.com/about/

33Refugees,U.(2020).The1951RefugeeConvention.Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/1951-refugee-convention.html

34Challenges.(n.d.).Retrievedfromhttps://solve.mit.edu/challenges.35(n.d.).Retrievedfromhttp://lal.ngo/index.php/event/lal-wins-mit-solve-ece-competition-2019/

36WhatisaRefugeeCamp?DefinitionandStatistics|USAforUNHCR.(2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://www.unrefugees.org/refugee-facts/camps/

37Mobilemoneyistransformingfinancialinclusionforrefugees.(n.d.).Retrievedfromhttps://www.mastercardcenter.org/insights/mobile-money-transforming-financial-inclusion-refugees

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5.4) Connectivity,incomegenerationandlivelihoodstrategies

Nowadays,mobilemoneyhasproved tobeamajor growth factor in themobile industryandwasactuallyadoptedbyseveralemergingmarketsinwhichaccesstofinancialservicesis restricted.Mobilemoney ormobile payment is a service that stores funds in a secureelectronicaccount,linkedtoamobilephonenumber.

Internationalbanktransfersarethusaneffectivewaytofacilitatetherefugee’sjourneybygiving them easier and cheaper access to this activity through mobiles. It is crucial forrefugeestomaketransferswhentheyworkinhostcountriesinordertosendremittanceshome and support the families that they have abandoned. In other cases, those living inrefugeecampsaresometimes indesperateneedofreceivingremittancesfromfamilyandfriendssincetheyhaverestrictedaccesstoworkpermits.Allthesefactorsmakeitanissueof major interest to the mobile industry. Hence, refugees face several barriers when itcomestotheaccesstobankaccounts,internationalbanktransfersandworkopportunities.It is important to highlight that international transfers are a fast growingmobilemoneyservice.

Mobile technology plays a crucial role in livelihood strategies and income generation forrefugees. Mobile phones usually allow these individuals to find employment, run microbusinessesandevenworkinsecondaryservicessuchasmobilephonerepairandcharging,sellingorcreditservices.Infact,89%ofrefugeesinKampalausetheirphonestogenerateincome.38Thegrowingnumberofrefugeesworldwideandtheirrelativelylongdurationofdisplacement along with the proliferation of mobile phones pushed the development ofmobilemoneyaimedatreachingrefugeecommunities.

OnegoodexampleistherefugeesinRwandawhoappearedtoberegularusersofmobilemoneyandevenworkedasmobilemoneyagents. 39Thisgavebirth toahealthy cycle inwhichtheyservedtheirnewcommunitypositively,aswellasotherrefugees,dependingontheiroperatinglocationbeingeitherinsideoroutsidethecamps.Itappearedthattheusage

38Project,B.(2020).ThreeTypesofEducationforRefugeeChildren.Retrieved5February2020,fromhttps://borgenproject.org/education-for-refugee-children/

39(n.d.).Retrievedfromhttp://www.afr.rw/resources/news/article/refugees-in-rwanda-gain-access-to-finance.

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ofmobilemoneywasrecurrentbetweenfriendsandfamilyandthuswasusedasaperson-to-person(P2P)payment.40

Although thereare several significantopportunities toaiddisplacedpersonsusingmobilemoneysolutions throughthedeliveryofcash, thereareseveralchallenges thatmakethisfinancialsystemcomplicated.

There are stillmultiple challenges that refugees facewhen it comes to thedigitizationofmobile money and cash transfers. One notable issue faced is the lack of properinfrastructure necessary to provide both technical and human support such as agentliquidityandmobilenetworkcoverageworldwide.41Infact,ruralareasarestillunderservedsegments, making it an operational issue as well. Another notable issue was the lack offamiliaritywith this technology inhumanitariancontextswhen theproper trainingwasn’tprovided.41Itisalsoimportanttonotethatmaintainingtrainingsonthelong-termisaverycostlyactivitythataddsabarrierforrefugeespreventingthemfromgainingfamiliaritywiththis technology. Finally, the loss of physical documentation sets a huge barrier with theKnow Your Customer (KYC) requirements needed for SIM and mobile money accountregistrations.41

6. ConclusionDemandformobiletechnologiesis likelytoincreasewiththegrowingnumberofrefugeesworldwidethuspushingrefugees tobemoreandmoredependentonmobile technology.However, many barriers arise in providing connectivity for deprived and underservedsegments of the world population and more specifically the refugee segment. Thesechallenges are all embedded in the three pillars being: accessibility, affordability andusability. Overcoming these issues would mean giving refugees access to needs such ascontinuityofeducation,familyreunification,financialservicesusingmobilemoneyandeventohealthcare,throughconnectivity.Therefore,itisimportantfordelegatestofindwaystoimprove the current challenges while remaining in line with their country’s regulatoryframeworks.Ona finalnote, it is importanttorememberthatmobileconnectivityandallrelateddigitalecosystemsbenefitboththerefugeeandhostcommunities.Infact,thehostcommunitybenefitsfromtheexpansionofmobilenetworkcoverage.

7. Questionstobeaddressed1. Howcanyouachieveamarket-basedapproachinmostinterventions,whichwill

incentivizelong-termprivatesectorinterest?

2. Howwilladditionallivelihoodopportunitiescreatedthroughconnectivityachieveanincreaseinrefugeeandhostpurchasingpower?

3. Whatpossibletechniquesaretheretoachievedowntrendsinthecostofdevicesandservices?

4. Howcouldyouameliorateaccesstofasterinternettoimprovedigitallearning?

40Mobilemoneyenabledcashaiddelivery:Operationalhandbookformobilemoneyproviders.(n.d.).Retrievedfrom

41DisplacedandDisconnected.(n.d.).Retrievedfromhttps://www.unhcr.org/innovation/displaced-and-disconnected/.

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5. Whatfurthermechanismcouldbeusedtoreducecostsandmakeconnectivitymoreaffordable?

6. Whatareyourcountry’sregulatoryframeworkwhenitcomestoaccesstobankaccountsandmobilemoney?Howcanyouensuremobilemoneyandtransferstorefugeestakingintoaccountthedifferentrestrictionssetbyregulations?

8. Bibliography15) Malawi,U.(2020).Refugeeambassadorsgetsmartphones.Retrieved5February2020,from

https://mw.one.un.org/smart-phones/16) TU:MoreThanHalfWorld’sPopulationUsingInternet.(2020).Retrieved4January2020,

fromhttps://www.voanews.com/silicon-valley-technology/itu-more-half-worlds-population-using-internet

17) ConnectivityforRefugees-UNHCRInnovation.(2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/innovation/connectivity-for-refugees/

18) TheInnovationFund-UNHCRInnovation.(2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/innovation/innovation-fund/

19) (2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://www.accenture.com/t20150527t211350__w__/jp-ja/_acnmedia/accenture/conversion-assets/dotcom/documents/local/ja-jp/pdf_2/accenture-development-partnerships-capability-statement-v2.pdf

20) Foundation,T.(2020).UNHCR,AccentureStudyFindsInternet,MobileConnectivityaLifelineforRefugees.Retrieved4January2020,fromhttp://news.trust.org/item/20160915111610-9avin/

21) (2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://www.unicef.org/protection/IAG_UASCs.pdf22) Whoarewe?.(2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://www.tsfi.org/en/who-are-we23) ReconnectionStoriesArchive-Refunite.(2020).Retrieved4January2020,from

https://refunite.org/reconnection-stories/24) UbiquitiAPsusedforfreeWi-FiatIdomenirefugeecamp.(2020).Retrieved5February

2020,fromhttps://www.tanaza.com/blog/ubiquiti-aps-used-for-free-wi-fi-at-idomeni-refugee-camp/

25) twineproject.(2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttp://twine.unhcr.org/app/26) Twine.(2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://digitalsocial.eu/case-study/45/twine27) Refugees,U.(2020).Health.Retrieved5February2020,from

https://www.unhcr.org/health.html28) 20peoplearenewlydisplacedeveryminuteoftheday.(n.d.).Retrievedfrom

https://www.unhcr.org/globaltrends2016/.29) TheImportanceofmobileforrefugees:alandscapeofnewservicesandapproaches.(n.d.).

Retrievedfromhttps://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/resources/the-importance-of-mobile-for-refugees-a-landscape-of-new-services-and-approaches/.

30) UnitedNations.(n.d.).Refugeeeducationincrisis:Morethanhalfoftheworld'sschool-agerefugeechildrendonotgetaneducation.Retrievedfromhttps://www.unhcr.org/news/press/2019/8/5d67b2f47/refugee-education-crisis-half-worlds-school-age-refugee-children-education.html.

31) UnitedNations.(n.d.).VodafoneFoundation.Retrievedfromhttps://www.unhcr.org/vodafone-foundation.html.

32) EricssonpartnerswithAsiacellandtheInternationalRescueCommitteetobringConnecttoLearntoschoolsinrefugeecampsinIraq.(2016,March1).Retrievedfromhttps://www.ericsson.com/en/news/2016/2/ericsson-partners-with-asiacell-and-the-international-rescue-committee-to-bring-connect-to-learn-to-schools-in-refugee-camps-in-iraq.

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33) WhatisUNHCRRSD?.(2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://rsdwatch.com/about/34) Refugees,U.(2020).The1951RefugeeConvention.Retrieved4January2020,from

https://www.unhcr.org/1951-refugee-convention.html35) Challenges.(n.d.).Retrievedfromhttps://solve.mit.edu/challenges.36) (n.d.).Retrievedfromhttp://lal.ngo/index.php/event/lal-wins-mit-solve-ece-competition-

2019/37) WhatisaRefugeeCamp?DefinitionandStatistics|USAforUNHCR.(2020).Retrieved4

January2020,fromhttps://www.unrefugees.org/refugee-facts/camps/38) Mobilemoneyistransformingfinancialinclusionforrefugees.(n.d.).Retrievedfrom

https://www.mastercardcenter.org/insights/mobile-money-transforming-financial-inclusion-refugees

39) Project,B.(2020).ThreeTypesofEducationforRefugeeChildren.Retrieved5February2020,fromhttps://borgenproject.org/education-for-refugee-children/

40) (n.d.).Retrievedfromhttp://www.afr.rw/resources/news/article/refugees-in-rwanda-gain-access-to-finance.

41) Mobilemoneyenabledcashaiddelivery:Operationalhandbookformobilemoneyproviders.(n.d.).Retrievedfrom

42) DisplacedandDisconnected.(n.d.).Retrievedfromhttps://www.unhcr.org/innovation/displaced-and-disconnected/.

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TopicB:Vigorousnessoftherefugeevettingprocess

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1. Introduction

1.1) Backgroundinformation

Withomnipresentwarsandhostilitiesintoday’sworld,theamountofdisplacedindividualshas been growing. These violent issues have been the most common causes of internaldisplacement of individuals living in these conflict-stricken countries which has led to asubstantialnumberof refugeesbeing forced to flee theirhomes toavoidgetting stuck inthese disputes’ cross-fire. In other words, a refugee crisis refers to large groups ofindividuals traveling from one state to another to seek asylum. Currently, there are 70milliondisplacedpeoplespreadacrosstheglobethathaveeitherbeenforcedtomoveorchosetodoso.Turkey,Pakistan,andLebanonarethecountriesthatsupportandcompriseof thehighestpopulationof displaced refugees standing at 2.9million, 1.4million, and1millionrespectively43.

1.2) Rateofrefugees

Over the years, the rates of globally displaced refugees increased gradually. In 2014, thewave of refugees was recorded by the UNHCR with a total number reaching up to 59.5million people. In 2017, another refugeewavewas recorded and reached to 68.5millionpeople,includingthenumberofinternallydisplacedindividuals.In2018,2.9millionofthesedisplacedindividualswereabletoreturntotheirhomecountries,butby2019,thenumberof refugees rose to 70.8 million people. In order to escape conflict and persecution, anaverageof37,000peopleleavetheirhomeseveryday(UNHCR,2018).

TheUNHCR has been a prominent presence in the lives of refugees and aims to protectthemandprovideeachwiththerighttosafelysettledown insafercountries. Ithasbeen

42Here'sthe20-stepvettingprocessrefugeesmustfollowtoentertheUS.(2020).Retrieved5February2020,fromhttps://www.businessinsider.com/vetting-process-refugees-enter-us-syria-iraq-executive-order-ban-libya-sudan-2017-1/reporter-calls-out-claim-that-fbi-was-happy-comeys-firing-sarah-huckabee-sanders-white-house-press-briefing-2017-5

43Bloomberg-Areyouarobot?.(2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2017-countries-of-asylum-for-migrants/

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working on improving refugees’ living situations from the early 1950s with the hopes offacilitatingtheprocessoftransferfromtheirhometosettleinanothercountryandeitherstay inthehostcountry indefinitelyorpossiblyreturnandresettle intheiroriginalhomespost-conflict. In addition, as the number of refugees continues to rise, the UNHCRconstantly calculates the amount of individuals displaced from each country. The largestrefugeecrisistoeverberecordedistheSyrianRefugeeCrisis,counting6.7millionrefugeesoveracourseofeightyearssince2011.NextistheAfghanistanRefugeeCrisis,comprisedof5.1millionrefugees,asylumseekersandinternallydisplacedpeople.LastlyisthecrisisthatoccurredinSouthSudanthatcounted2millionindividualscategorizedasrefugees,asylumseekersandinternallydisplacedpeople(UNHCR,2018).

1.3) RefugeeStatusDetermination

InorderforindividualstomovetoanothercountryorState,theyareobligedtogothroughtheRefugeeStatusDetermination,thevettingprocess.AccordingtotheUNHCR,“RefugeeStatusDetermination,orRSD,isthelegaloradministrativeprocessbywhichgovernmentsor UNHCR determine whether a person seeking international protection is considered arefugee under international, regional or national law.” (Refugees, 2019)44 . Using thisprocess,theycandefinewhetheranasylumseekerisqualifiedtobedefinedandtreatedasarefugee45.

1.4) TheVettingProcess

When the word “vet” was first introduced in the 19th Century, it mainly referred to thethoroughexaminationofahorsebeforeallowingittorace.Themodernizeddefinitionhasbecometheprocessofdelvingintoaperson’spastofclarityandintegrity.Themainfocusofthesedetailedbackgroundchecksistograspanideaofthekindoflifethesepeopleledintheirhomecountry,priortotheirdisplacement.Thevettingprocess forrefugeesrevolvesaround a series of detailed background checks on individuals and families to uncover allrelevant aspects of their lives to ensure lack of liability to the host country in both theirintentionsandpresencethere.Theprocessitselfdiffersfromcountrytocountrydependingonthebudgetplacedonvettingandthequalityofsecurityplacedontheseexaminations.Thedegreesofscrutiny,budgetplacementandacceptanceratesdifferfromonetoanother,eitherfacilitatingtherefugees’journeyorimpedingit.Theinformationgatheredfromtheseinspections reveals any assets that could be deemed useful in the future. In total, thevettingprocessusuallycantakeupto12weekstocomplete.Thewholejourneytakesatollonthehumanmindandbodycausingagreatamountofsufferingtoadisplacedpopulationthathasalreadygonethroughsomuch.

1.5) Pastinternationalconferencesandtreaties

Numerousconferenceshavetakenplacetodiscussrefugeerelatedmatters.In2010,onthe6thand7thofSeptember,theUNHCR,IOM,andgovernmentofTanzaniaheldaconferenceregardingtheprotectionofrefugeesandinternationalmigration46.In2016,theGAhelda

44Refugees,U.(2020).RefugeeStatusDetermination.Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/refugee-status-determination.html

45Refugees,U.(2020).ResettlementProcedures:TheCaseIdentificationandDeterminationProcess.Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/protection/resettlement/3bd58ce9a/resettlement-procedures-case-identification-determination-process.html

46(2020).Retrieved5February2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/4d7f7ef711.pdf

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counciltodiscusstheNewYorkDeclarationforRefugeesandMigrantsonSeptember19th47. On the 17th and 18th of December in 2019, the Global Refugee Forum took place todiscuss the rise of the refugee population that reached 25million individuals around theworld48.

1.6) Framework

Under the1951UnitedNationsConvention relating to theStatusofRefugees, it is rathercrucialfortheseindividualstohaveanydocumentationthatpermitsthemtoinstitutetheiridentity. In fact, Article 27 clearly highlights this point by stating the following: “TheContractingStatesshallissueidentitypaperstoanyrefugeeintheirterritorywhodoesnotpossess a valid travel document.” Therefore, contracting States should provide to everyrefugeeanymeansofidentifyingthemselveseitherwithidentitypapersasstatedinArticle27,oranyvalidtraveldocumentasmentionedinArticle28.Thus,inthecontextinwhichaState lacks any crucial resources or even capabilities to perform the procurement ofidentification,theUNHCRhasamandatethatprovidesbothtechnicalandfiscalsupportaswell as sometimes even taking full responsibility for the recording and identificationprocedures. Additionally, in order to guarantee that refugees are treated in line withinternationally accepted morals and standards, it is vital for these individuals to beacknowledged as refugees by providing themwith documentation attesting their refugeestatus. In fact, in the conclusionon thedeterminationof refugee status by the ExecutiveCommitteeatitstwenty-eighthsession(No.8)andrecordedinparagraph5349ofdocumentA/32/12/Add.50, itwasmentionedthatthe issueofsuchdocumentation is recommended.Morerecently,theUNHCRlaunchedaninitiativecalledPRIMES(PopulationRegistrationandIdentityManagementEcosystem),whichisacollectionofinformationservicesthatensuresfortherefugeestoberecognizedwithlegalidentitytiedtoabiometricIDcard.51

47Refugees,U.(2020).NewYorkDeclarationforRefugeesandMigrants.Retrieved5February2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/new-york-declaration-for-refugees-and-migrants.html

48Refugees,U.(2020).GlobalRefugeeForum.Retrieved5February2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/global-refugee-forum.html)

49UnitedNations.(n.d.).IdentityDocumentsforRefugees.Retrievedfromhttps://www.unhcr.org/excom/scip/3ae68cce4/identity-documents-refugees.html.

50UnitedNations.(n.d.).AddendumtotheReportoftheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforRefugees.Retrievedfromhttps://www.unhcr.org/excom/unhcrannual/3ae68c304/addendum-report-united-nations-high-commissioner-refugees.html.

51UNHCRDigitalIdentity.(2018,April23).ModernizingRegistrationandIdentityManagementinUNHCR:IntroducingPRIMES.Retrievedfromhttps://www.unhcr.org/blogs/modernizing-registration-identity-management-unhcr/.

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2. GeneralProtectionandManagement

Among the most vulnerable people in the world lie the refugees. Citizens’ fundamentalhumanrightsareusuallyprotectedbytheirStates,yetinsomecases,suchaswar,conflictornaturaldisasters,citizensleavetheirhomelandandtheircommunitiesduetoviolationsof their basic human rights. These citizens then take refuge in other places or countries,renouncingtheirowncountry’sprotection.Refugees’protection isanongoing issueandabigconcerntotheinternationalcommunity.

2.1) Theroleofthe1951ConventionRelatingtotheStatusofRefugeesandits1967Protocoltakesplaceinthissituation

Ithelpsprotectthepeoplewhoreceivedtheirrefugeestatusanddescribestheirrightsanddutiesasrefugees.Someoftherightshighlightedintheconventionaretherighttofreedomofreligion(Article4),therighttoaccesstocourts(Article16),therighttowork(Articles17-18-19) and housing (Article 21), the right to elementary education and certain types ofdiplomas and degrees (Article 22), and the right to freedomofmovementwithin certainterritory(Article26).Inaddition,accordingtoArticle31,refugeesenteringinanillegalwayshouldnotbepenalizednor face restrictionswith thecondition that theyannounce theirpresence and the cause of their presencewithout any delay. States also cannot expel orreturn (“Refoulement”) refugeesunderArticle32and33unlessundercertainexceptions.None of these rights is bound by a certain time limit; in fact, the longer a person is arefugee,themoretheneedfortheirrightsincreases.Asfortherefugees’obligations,they

52U.S.Re-entryPermit-Gpedia,YourEncyclopedia.(2020).Retrieved5February2020,fromhttp://www.gpedia.com/en/m/gpedia/U.S._Re-entry_Permit

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arerequiredtofollowthelawsoftheirhostcountry.UnderArticleIIofthe1976protocolorArticle 35 of the 1951 convention, all party states must abide and cooperate with theUNHCR and share the responsibilities relevant to refugee’s protection andmanagement.53’54’55

2.2) Stepstakentoreachthehostcountry

Refugees facemany challenges, especiallywhen trying to reach a host country. They canreachtheirdestinationeitherlegallyorillegally.Legalrefugeesarethosewhoreachthehostcountrythroughlegaltransportationorwhoarriveusinglegaldocuments.Theyregister intheUNHCRwheretheygothroughcertainproceduresandinterviews.Inordertofacilitatecollecting informationand identitymanagement for refugees, thePopulationRegistrationand IdentityManagement Ecosystem (PRIMES) was created by the UNHCR. It is a digitalsystemthathelpstheUNHCRdocumentdataandpartnerstatestotakeadvantageofthissystem. 56 Furthermore, refugee resettlement is a program in which some refugees areselectedandmovedfromtheirhostcountrytoathirdcountrythathasacceptedthem.Theyare transferred as refugees once again with more rights such as naturalization, non-refoulement and same civil, economic and social rights as nationals. Moreover, partnercountriesacceptacertainnumberofrefugeesyearlyasagreedwiththeUNHCR,andalsooffer support and integration programs for them. Refugees can be considered forresettlementiftheyfallunderoneofthefollowingcategories:“legaland/orphysicalneeds,Survivors of Torture and/or Violence, Medical Needs, Women and Girls at Risk, FamilyReunification,ChildrenandAdolescentsatRisk,andLackofForeseeableAlternativeDurableSolutions.”57

2.3) Theresettlementprocessisasfollows

First, the refugeesubmitshis request tobeconsidered for resettlement, thentheUNHCRmakes sure of the status of the refugee andmakes an appointment for an interview inwhich all the family should be present. The purposes of the interview are to providecounseling, verify the family’s identity, and discuss the reasons behind the request forresettlement. After that, the UNHCR representative fills in and submits a ResettlementRegistration Form (RRF), which contains biographical information on each person of thefamily, explanation on the purpose of resettlement and information on any vulnerability,specificneedsandanyadditionalinformation.Manyfactorsalsoaffectthedecisionontheresettlement:thepresenceoffamilyrelatives,vulnerability,timetakenbythecountryandtheemergencyofthecase,annualquota,submissiondatepriority, languagebarriers,andnationality.Theapplicationisthensenttothecountrythatcaneitheracceptorrejectit.Iftheapplication is accepted, itwill thenbeprocessed, andmeasureswill be taken for thefamily’sdeparture.However, if theapplication is rejected, theUNHCRwill investigate the

53(2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/4ec262df9.pdf

54Refugees,U.(2020).ConventionandProtocolRelatingtotheStatusofRefugees.Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/3b66c2aa10

55Refugees,U.(2020).RegistrationandIdentitymanagement.Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/registration.html

56Refugees,U.(2020).InformationonUNHCRResettlement.Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/information-on-unhcr-resettlement.html

5730,000IrregularMigrationDeaths,DisappearancesBetween2014-2018:IOMReport.(2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://www.iom.int/news/30000-irregular-migration-deaths-disappearances-between-2014-2018-iom-report

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decision and look for other options. Accepted applications have certain procedures to gothroughwhilemovingtothenewhostcountry.First,medicalscreening isrequiredbut itsprocessvariesbetweencountries.Second,thehostcountrywillofferorientationbysendingvideos and information to facilitate things for the refugees in question and will sendauthorizedtravel letterstoensurethesafetyofthefamily’sdeparture.Alltravelcostsarecoveredbythehostcountryand/orfundingbycertainNGOs.58

2.4) IllegalRefugeesandMixedMigration

On theotherhand, illegal refugees arepeople that travel usingunsafe techniquesor arepeople with no legal documents. Many refugees risk their lives and travel unsafely,overcrowding small, unsafe boats trying to reach the shores to safety. This paradox iscausedbytheirurgetofleetheirhomeland.AccordingtotheInternationalOrganizationforMigration (IOM), a total of 30,510 refugees died between 2014 and 2018, amongwhich19,000peoplediedorwentmissingduetodrowning.58Manyothersgetrescuedatsea,andthen find themselves being delivered to the nearest port to wait for their resettlement.There is no international law that defines the treatmentof thesepeople, yet theUNHCRcalls the rescuers to send them to the next port where local authorities decide on theirstatus.59“Mixedmigrationreferstocross-bordermovementsofpeople includingrefugeesfleeingpersecutionand conflict, victimsof traffickingandpeople seekingbetter lives andopportunities.” 60 Mixed migrants travel irregularly with the assistance of migrantsmugglers. The main struggle of the international community is the protection of thesepeople from different types of danger such as cases of trafficking and certain infectiousdiseases.Inordertoprotecttheserefugees,theTen-PointPlaninActionwastaken.

3. Labormarketintegrationinhostcountries

3.1) LaborMarketIntegrationduringtheVettingProcess

Labormarketintegrationandthevettingprocessareinterconnected.Whenrefugeesarriveat their host country, their asylum application gets processed, and in many countries,refugeesarenotallowedtoworkuntiltheprocedureiscompleted.Inotherwords,duringthevettingprocess, refugeesarenotallowedtoparticipate in the labormarket foreitherthewholedurationoftheapplicationorcoupleofmonths.Forexample,inBelgium,whiletheasylumapplicationdecisionisnotoutyet,asylumseekersarenotallowedtoworkforthefirstfourmonthsoftheirapplication.InGermany,ifasylumseekersarestillintheirfirstreceptioncenters,theyarenotallowedtojointhelabormarket.61

3.2) Challenges

Later on, another concern of both the international and national communities is theintegrationofrefugeesinthelabormarket.Duetotheirrecentmovements,refugeessuffer

58Refugees,U.(2020).ProtectingRefugees:questionsandanswers.Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://www.unhcr.org/publications/brochures/3b779dfe2/protecting-refugees-questions-answers.html

59(2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttp://www.mixedmigration.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/terminology_MMC.pdf

60(2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://www.oecd.org/els/mig/Finding-their-Way-Germany.pdf

61(2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttp://apps.who.int/disasters/repo/8699.pdf

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in the labormarketof theirnewhost country. The slow integration in thismarket isnotfavorable to both the receiving country and displaced person since covering all of therefugees’lifeexpenseswouldbecostly.Inaddition,notallrefugeeshavethesamepaceofintegrationinthelabormarket.Inotherwords,somehavemoreadvantagessuchasfamilyreunionresettlementorprofessionresettlement.Therearemanybarriersfacedbyrefugeesthataddtothecausesoftheirslowintegration.

3.2.1.Languagebarriers

Itisacommonproblemfacedbyrefugees.Learningthelanguageofthehostcountrytakesa lot of time, and jobs require the individual to have a high level of fluentness in thelanguage. For example, in the German labor market, the most common difficulties thatrefugees suffer from is their lowproficiency inGerman,whilehavinga tightgraspon thelanguage is a fundamental requirement in order to get employed, although the leveldemandedvarieswiththeskillsetofthejobinquestion.Halfofthelowskilledworkersand90%ofmediumskilledworkersarerequiredtohavegoodGermanlanguage.62Tosolvethisissue, the FederalOffice forMigration andRefugees and Finance and theMinistryof theInterior organized the integration courses with 600 language hours and 100 civicengagementandorientationhours.63

3.2.2.Degreeaccreditationandequivalency

Thesecondbarrieristheneedfordegreeaccreditationandequivalencyinmostcountries.Mostrefugeescomefromdifferentcountrieswithdifferentacademicsystemsthanthoseintheirhostcountries.Theirschoolanduniversitydegreesshouldbeaccreditedbythehostcountry before allowing them to work. During this process, the refugee cannot work.Additionally, inmany cases, somemajors or academic systems are not easily accredited.Whenthissituationoccurs,refugeesmightneedtotakesomeadditionalcoursestoachieveadegreeequivalencywiththatofthehostcountry.

3.2.3.Residencytypeorlegalstatusofrefugees

Thethirdbarrierislinkedtothetypeofresidencytakenbytherefugeesortheirlegalstatusinthecountry.Itcanaffecttheirparticipationintheworkforce.Therearedifferenttypesofresidencygivenbyhostcountries.Somedonotallowtheholdertowork.Thus,theholderisrequiredtochangehisresidencypriortoworkingandisthereforenotallowedtoworkuntilhe/shereceiveshis/herworkingpermit.

3.2.4.Mentalhealthstatusandmismatchbetweenlabormarketneedsandskillsofrefugees

Another constraint on the participation of refugees in the labor market is their mentalhealthstatus.Refugeessufferfromseverementalproblemsduetothelossofrelativesorloss of contact with them, future insecurities, or physical injuries... etc. They areoverwhelmed with emotions and need immediate and continuous care.63 Furthermore,therehavebeenmanycasesofmismatchbetweentheskillsoftherefugeeandtheneedsofthelabormarket.Thismismatchcausesanincreaseintheunemploymentrateofrefugees

62(2020).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://www.ecre.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Working-Paper-02.pdf

63Bevelander,Pieter(n.d).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://wol.iza.org/articles/integrating-refugees-into-labor-markets/long

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inhostcountries.AIishelpingbuildabetterlifeforrefugees.Forexample,“Annie”isanewsoftwarethataimstorelocatemigrantsandmaximizetheirjobprospects.

3.2.5.Placeofrefuge

Thehostcountriesarecategorizedintodevelopingcountriesordevelopedcountries.Bothcountrieshavedifferentcapabilitiesandcapacitiesforhelpingrefugees.Thosewhoendupindevelopingcountrieshavelowchancesoffindingjobopportunities.Developedcountrieson the other hand actively work on finding solutions and programs to facilitate theintegration process.64Most OECD countries have introductory courses to help refugeesintegrate into the society of the host country. Such courses aim to decrease theunemploymentgapbetweennewrefugeesandnative/labormigrants.

4. LossofIdentityInreferencetothepost-vettingprocesseventscometheconsequencesoflosingphysicalandpsychologicalidentity:

4.1) LossofPhysicalIdentity

Owningsomeformofpersonaldocumentationisadailylifeconstantinmostofthesefast-moving modern societies. In fact, registering births and deaths, engaging in marriage,earningemployment,hospitalcase,housing,applyingforsocialbenefits,joiningeducationalinstitutions, or even submitting requests for the issuance of official documents are allactivitiesthatusuallyrequiretheestablishmentofone’sidentity.

Toproperlyfulfillthesedemandsandneeds,andtomaintainpublicorder,multiplenationshavesetupthenationalidentitycardsystem.Suchcards,besidesidentifyingtheholder,canalso serve as evidence of civil status and nationality. 65 Moreover, residency permitssometimes serve as virtual identity documents. However, due to their utmost situationmakingthemfleetheirhomecountries,refugeesaremuchlesslikelytopossessaproofofanysortofidentitycertifiedbytheircountryoforigin.Theirdocumentsmighthavegottenlost, stolen, destroyed or even forgotten during their difficult journey. In some cases,individuals leave their homes due to persecution thatmight erupt from issues related toethnicity,politicalaffiliation,religion,orevennationality,pushingthemtohidetheirorigins,thustravelingwithoutanydocumentation.

In fact, since the start of the civil war in Syria, applying for new identity documents hasgottennearlyimpossibleforSyriancitizens,mainlyduetothefearofpersecutionthatmighteruptwhenapproachinggovernmentauthoritiesanddenialofapplications.However,manySyriancitizens lostallphysical identitybecauseofnon-Stateactors (alsoknownas IslamicState)whodestroyedalllegalrecordsandpassportsasanactofterror.66

It is also important to note that refugees from jeopardized, poor, deprived, or evendisconnectedsegmentsoftheworldareevenlesslikelytoownidentitydocumentsmakingtheirjourneyevenmoretedious.Itmightbecausedbythefactthattheprocessofgetting

64Bevelander,Pieter(n.d).Retrieved4January2020,fromhttps://wol.iza.org/articles/integrating-refugees-into-labor-markets/long

65UnitedNations.(n.d.).IdentityDocumentsforRefugees.Retrievedfromhttps://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae68cce4.html.

66Thelossofanation.(2014,October23).Retrievedfromhttps://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2014/10/23/the-loss-of-a-nation.

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documents istoocostlyforthem,orthattheirgovernment lacksthecapacityto issuethepapers, or simply that they were never incentivized to own any proof of identity. Theperfect example is the case observed by Somali citizens. Most of these individuals areincapableofobtainingpassportsandidentitydocumentssincetheymustflytoMogadishu,undergoextensivecriminalchecksandpayfeesthatareveryhighrelativelytotheirbuyingpower($12.5011USD).67Additionally,ithasclearlybeenshownthatinpoornationsidentitycardsarehardlyusedorrequiredbySomalisandaretypicallyusedasforerunnersfortheprocurementofpassports.68

Therefore, these refugees and asylum seekers that are even further endangered by theabsenceof identitydocuments face furtherbarriersanddelayswhendemanding to crossinternational borders, registering with humanitarian organizations (NGOs) or evenauthorities.

When arriving at their host country, these individuals will have restricted freedom ofmovement,narrowedlegalrights,andwillevenfacegreaterrisksofbeingexpelledbacktotheirhomecountryandincarcerated.69Wemustalsotakeintoconsiderationthelongtermdifficultiestheyfaceintermsofaccesstofinancialservices,education,mobileconnectivity,healthcare,orevenemployment.70

4.2) Lossofpsychologicalidentity

Theperceivedlossofasenseofidentityorevenpersonhoodthatisenduredbyrefugeesisnotasimpleresultofwaranddisplacementbutalsoaconsequenceofdestabilizationdueto geopolitics, bureaucratic practices and statebuilding goals. 70 In fact, the loss of one’ssocialstructureandculturecancausegriefasmentionedbyEisenbruch. 64Thecorrelationbetweenindividualsfleeingtheirhomesandtheeffectofsuchactionsonthedevelopmentof both their psychological and psychiatric conditions is a complex analysis thatmust betouched upon. Refugees leaving their home countries involve the loss of the acquainted,including factors such as language, values, social structures, attitudes and even supportnetworks.Therefore,grievingfortheselossescanbeviewedasarathernaturalandhealthyreaction to this difficult transition from one country to another. Nevertheless, if thesesymptoms last for a longperiodof timeand causemeaningful suffering and impairment,psychiatric intervention may be needed.71Research states that displaced individuals arearoundfivetimesmorelikelytoendurementalhealthneedsthanthegeneralpopulation,and more than 61% will even experience serious mental health suffering. 72 With these

67RefugeesandIdentity-GSMA?RefugeesandIdentity:Considerationsformobile-enabledregistration.(n.d.).Retrievedfromhttps://pdfslide.net/documents/refugees-and-identity-gsma-refugees-and-identity-considerations-for-mobile-enabled.html.

68UnitedNations.(n.d.).Somalia:Passportsandotherdocumentationthatcouldassistwithidentification.Retrievedfromhttps://www.refworld.org/docid/46fa53791e.html.

69Manby,&Bronwen,N.(2016,July29).IdentificationintheContextofForcedDisplacement:IdentificationforDevelopment(ID4D).Retrievedfromhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/375811469772770030/Identification-in-the-Context-of-Forced-Displacement-Identification-for-Development-ID4D.

70Kirkbride,J.,&Jones,P.(2010).Epidemiologicalaspectsofmigrationandmentalillness.InD.Bhugra&S.Gupta(Eds.),MigrationandMentalHealth(pp.15-43).Cambridge:CambridgeUniversityPress.doi:10.1017/CBO9780511760990.004

71Bhugra,D.,&Becker,M.A.(2005,February).Migration,culturalbereavementandculturalidentity.Retrievedfromhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1414713/.

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astonishingnumbers, it iscrucialtoconsiderthementalsupportthatmustbeprovidedtorefugees.

5. ConclusionThisissueisgraduallybecomingabiggerproblemforhostcountriesandindividualsbecauseof the increasing difficulties that arise in its management. There are many componentsregarding this topic which contribute to and highlight the current situation of severalcountries around theworldand thedifficulties that arebeing facedbypeoplewhodon’thavetherighttoolstodefeattheseissues.TheUNHCR’s1951conventionand1967protocolmarkedthestartofdevelopingasolutionthatisnotyetcomplete.Thevettingprocesshasdeveloped intoaheavyand tiringburden for refugees,bothmentally andphysically, anddebilitates their abilities and hope.While living in refugee camps, they facemany brutalchallenges that change their future and identity as well. The lack of proper education,nutrition,workforceandmedical services is justoneof themanychallenges facedby therefugees. Nevertheless, solutions can be found and implemented to reach a simplifiedresolutiontothisgrowingcrisis.Themostessential roleofthedelegate is tofindwaystofacilitate the process but maintain its effectiveness while eliminating as many of thechallengesfacedaspossible.Delegatesmustlookatbothpartiesinvolvedintheissue,thehost and the individuals, and find solutions that can accommodate both sides. It is alsoimportant to follow up on the rules and regulations of each country aswell as note thedifferentprocesseseachcountryfollowsaswell.

6. Questionstobeaddressed1. Whatprecautionscanacountrytaketoimprovethelifeofrefugeesincamps?

2. Isittheresponsibilityoftheinternationalornationalcommunitytoensuresafetransferofrefugeesfromcountrytocountry?

3. Whatstepsaretakentoprotectasylumseekersfrombecomingillegalrefugees?

4. Islabortakenintoconsiderationduringthevettingprocess?

5. Dotheskillsofrefugeesdepictwheretheywillbeassignedtoliveinacountry?

6. Ifcountriesarenotassigningrefugeesbasedontheirskills,aretheyfacilitatingtheirmovementfromregiontoregion?Aretheyfindingwaystodevelopskills?

NB:Whenrefugeesareassignedtoaregionorcountry,itisveryhardtomovetheirrefugeeresidencytoanothercountryorevenaregionwithinthesamecountry

7. Isthevettingprocessinfavorofasylumseekers?(doesitensureequalchances,safeenvironmentlater,etc...)

8. Howcanyouadequatelysupportrefugeesbycreatinganenvironmentthatfacilitatestheflourishingoftheirpersonhood?

9. Whatcouldbeimprovedinthecurrentsystemintermsofphysicalidentity?

10. Howtopreservearefugee’sidentitywhileundergoingtheprocessofRefugeeStatusDetermination?

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