Refugee 101

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UN multimedia

UN multimedia

New York Times

Muslimvoices.org

UN multimedia

GTZ.DE

UNHCR

Colorado Refugee School Impact Grant

Who is a refugee?

contributed by LFS

DefinitionRefugees

• People who must flee their homeland fearing death or persecution because of their race, religion, or political views. These people must leave everything behind, including family members, material possessions, and cultural identity for the chance to rebuild a life with personal safety, individual freedom, and peace.

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http://www.ersden.org/ UN multimedia

The progress of a refugee: from persecution to a camp

UN multimedia

General Refugee FactsGlobal refugee population of 15.1 million people• 10.5 million get protection/assistance from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees• at least 8.5 million have been without a home for more than 5 years

–Many live in camps waiting among crime, violence, drugs, limited access to work or education

Durable solutions for refugees

1. Safe, voluntary return to own country2. Self-sufficiency and temporary/indefinite/permanent local

integration into country of asylum3. Resettlement in a third country

- used particularly for those refugees for whom the other two solutions are not feasible

Source: FY 2012 Report to Congress

U.S. ResettlementHISTORY• After World War II, the U.S. admitted over 250,000 displaced Europeans• In 1948, the Displaced Persons Act passed, allowing 400,000 additional European refugees to resettle in the U.S.• Other laws allowed refugees from Communist countries to enter during the 1950s and 1960s• In 1975, the Refugee Task Force admitted over 100,000 refugees from Southeast Asia• Congress passed the Refugee Act of 1980 which is the foundation of the current resettlement program

The U.S. resettles 74% of people who opt for third-country resettlement = 54,077 refugees in 2010

Secretary of State Clinton: • “The United States has a history of upholding human rights and humanitarian principles. For

decades we have led the world in overseas support for humanitarian protection and assistance, and we have provided asylum and refugee resettlement for millions. In doing so, we show through example our dedication to basic human decency, to our responsibilities under international law, and - along with the rest of the international community - to ensuring refuge when innocent lives hang in the balance. We do this because our country’s values must be a critical component of our foreign policy.” Source: FY 2012 Report to Congress

Source: http://www.brycs.org/aboutRefugees/refugee101.cfm

The progress of a refugee: from a camp to applying for a new home

contributed by LFS

In Colorado

Refugees Resettled 2008-2010  

 

http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/CDHS-SelfSuff/CBON/1251581469402

Country of Origin Number ResettledBhutan 1455Burma 1435Iraq 844Somalia 769Democratic Republic of Congo 323Eritrea 178Ethiopia 157Cuba 129Burundi 114

Bhutanese LhotsampaPeople of the South

• Ethnic Nepalis whose ancestors moved generations ago to Bhutan to farm

• Population grew; Bhutan’s king and the Druk majority started to marginalize by promoting Bhutanization of systems– Imposed Druk dress and customs– Outlawed Nepali language in schools– Changed citizenship eligibility,

stripping many Lhotsampa of their citizenship/ civil rights

• Community protests led to violence and, in December 1990, expulsion

http://www.cal.org/co/pdffiles/backgrounder_bhutanese.pdf

http://www.wfp.org/countries/Nepal/Media/The-Forgotten-Refugees

Bhutanese LhotsampaCultural Interactions and Customs • Respect is shown to elders and

authority.• Eye contact during conversation is

standard and is not a sign of disrespect.

• Family is one of the highest priorities, and the community is very supportive.

• The caste system separates people into different social levels and influences the choice of marriage and other social relationships.

• Gender roles are distinct and clearly defined.

Denver Health Refugee Clinic

Denver Health

Bhutanese Refugees in Nepal

contributed by LFS

BurmeseMinority groups: Karen, Karenni, Kachin

Chin, Rohingya, Myanmar Muslims, Mon, etc.

• Fighting between government, ethnic opposition groups and pro-democracy supporters has been ongoing for fifty years, but escalated in 1990s

• Many refugees fled between 1995-1997 after military offensives by government against opposition movements– Ethnic groups/individuals in these

states were forced to relocate or potentially face arrest, detention, forced labor, conscription

– Cultural and religious identities repressedUNHCR Quick Fact Sheet : Burmese Resettlement from Tham Hin Camp in Thailand

http://www.elevyn.com/blog/?cat=5

BurmeseCultural Interactions and Customs • Respect for elders is important and males have

the highest authority in families, though, women still have rights.

• It is considered improper to lose one’s temper or show much emotion in public.

• Do not touch people on the head, which is considered the spiritually highest part of the body.

• It is disrespectful to point your feet toward a senior person, since the feet are regarded as the least noble part of the body.

• Use both hands to give something to, and receive something from an older person.

• Traditions and religious beliefs play important roles in family life. – Religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Islam,

Hinduism, Animism http://www.elevyn.com/blog/?cat=5Denver Health Refugee Clinic

KarenCultural Interactions and Customs • Some Karen do not want to be referred to as

Burmese• Traditionally, Karen do not shake hands or bow. • Avoid walking in front of others; go behind those who

are seated. • Direct eye contact is sometimes not considered

polite. • Pointing with the feet or showing the bottoms of one’s

feet and touching the head is disrespectful. • Karen do not pick up something that belongings to

another person. • When handing something to someone, it is respectful

to use two hands.• Being direct is culturally considered rude and

confrontation is avoided.• Many Karen have a cultural value of not imposing on

others or being quiet or less talkative. Saying “no” is often a way to be modest, even when an affirmative answer might seem more appropriate. http://www.elevyn.com/blog/?cat=5Denver Health Refugee Clinic

Denver Health Refugee Clinic

KarenniCultural Interactions and Customs • Karenni is a religious and ethnically

diverse territory.• Communities highly value their traditions

and independence.• Karenni hold a strong sense of ethnic

identity and social cohesion.• Traditional identity is found in clothing.• Once young people have their own

nuclear families, they will still take care of the elderly.

• Karenni are not accustomed to saying “thank you”

http://www.elevyn.com/blog/?cat=5Denver Health Refugee Clinic

Denver Health Refugee Clinic

Mae La Refugee Camp: Thailand

contributed by LFS

contributed by LFScontributed by LFS

CongoleseTutsi and Hutu Conflict

• In 1994, the Rwanda genocide spread to DRC when Hutu extremists fled across the border and incited local Congolese to attack Tutsi.

• After the 2003 peace agreement Tutsi hoped that discrimination and violence against them would stop, but the government conspired with extremists to increase hostility towards them.

• In 2004, a refugee camp holding many Tutsi refugees was attacked and out of the 760 camp occupants 152 were murdered. welt.dehttp://www.cal.org/co/pdffiles/backgrounder_tutsi.pdf

CongoleseCultural Interactions and Customs • Handshakes are an important part of

greetings.• A typical greeting might start with

“Peace be unto you” or “Thanks be to God”, and continue with inquiries about the family, health, work and so on.

• Care of sick, disabled or elderly family members is shared by the extended family.

• The culture is matrilineal and children are considered a symbol of wealth.

• Historically, men have been given positions of authority and leadership.

http://www.elevyn.com/blog/?cat=5Denver Health Refugee Clinic

Denver Health Refugee Clinic

Denver Health Refugee Clinic

Gihembe Refugee Camp: Rwanda

http://aeglenn.blogspot.com/2009/10/refugee-project-in-rwanda.html

EritreanKunama and Tigrinya Refugees

• Kunama are located near the border of Ethiopia and are farmers and pastoralists

• Tigrinya make up the largest ethnic group

• Both have fled Eritrea because the outbreak of war in 1998 between Ethiopia and Eritrea– Kunama left to escape persecution by

the government which accused them of siding with Ethiopia in the war

– Tigrinya fled to escape harsh required enrollment in Eritrean national service

http://www.cal.org/co/pdffiles/backgrounder_kunama.pdf and http://www.cal.org/co/pdffiles/backgrounder_shimelba.pdf

Denver Health Refugee Clinic

EritreanCultural Interactions and Customs • Greetings are elaborate and include shaking

hands with each person, and asking about their health and family.

• Close friends of the same gender greet each other by kissing several times on both cheeks.

• Boys and men frequently hold hands as a sign of friendship.

• Respect for elders and authority is deeply rooted.

• Children are highly valued.• Care for elders by family members at home is

viewed as an important duty.• Eritreans do not expect to be thanked for

small favors; they consider it their duty to help friends. http://www.elevyn.com/blog/?cat=5Denver Health Refugee Clinic

Denver Health Refugee Clinic

Denver Health Refugee Clinic

farajat.net

A refugee camp south of the Eritrean border

Wikimedia Commons/Reinhard Dietrich

IraqisThose associated with the U.S.

• After Iraqi conflict was underway, people working with the U.S. troops and their families were increasingly under threat

• Refugee Crisis in Iraq Act– employees of the U.S. government– a U.S. government-funded contractor

or grantee, – U.S. media and NGOs working in Iraq

• certain family members of such employees– Beneficiaries of approved immigrant

visa petitions• Conflicts between Sunni and Shia

are also causes of fighting and forcing people to fleeFY12 Report to Congress http://www.usmilitary.com/8212/interpreter-mask-ban-

recinded-again/

IraqisCultural Interactions and Customs • When greeting, men commonly hold

hands or kiss each other, and say Salaam Alaykom (Peace be with you).

• Shaking the head from side to side means lack of understanding, not disagreement.

• Iraqis consider family unity and honor extremely important.

• Women in general are subservient to male authority, however, women wield power over their children and household affairs.

• A man usually does not shake the hand of a woman, but does give up his seat especially if the woman has children.

Denver Health Refugee Clinic

Denver Health Refugee Clinic

jonvidarphotography.com

Grdasin IDP Camp: Akre District, Iraq

Somalis

• In January 1991 the military regime under Major General Mohammed Siyaad Barre collapsed.

• Civil war resulted when different factions starting fighting for power

• Drought, famine and continued fighting result in Somali refugees to continue to flee their country

http://worldrelief.org/page.aspx?pid=1162 and http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49e483ad6.html http://abcnews.go.com/International/response-somalia-

refugee-camp-ambulance-driver-pregnant-refugees/story?id=14109630

SomalisCultural Interactions and Customs • The common way to greet someone is to share

a long handshake.• Women greet one another informally and may

hug and kiss one another on the cheek.• The right hand is considered the clean and

polite hand to use for daily tasks. • Men and women do not touch each other. • Somali culture is male centered in public.

Children and elders share mutual respect. • Somalis generally do not express their

appreciation verbally. • Elders are treated with respect.• When addressing Somali culture, it is

considered disrespectful to refer to ‘clan’ or tribes’.

• Somali women generally do not socialize with men in public places.

Denver Health Refugee Clinichttp://www.kpbs.org/photos/galleries/2010/sep/27/somali-refugees/

Kakuma Refugee Camp: Kenya

contributed by LFS

Other countriesEthiopia, Cuba, Burundi, etc.

• The U.S. resettled people from over 50 nationalities in 2010 based on the greatest need

• Most in need refugees include stateless people, victims of violence/war, and those suffering from political repression and religious freedom abuses. FY12 Report to Congress

sadiahaidarig.wordpress.com

UNHCR

The progress of a refugee: to a new home

clpmag.org

Refugee Resettlement Agencies in Denver (VOLAGs)

Responsible for the initial reception and core services to refugees, including:- Case management- Employment assistance- English language acquisition- Housing: placement & furnishing- Cash assistance- Some immigration legal services- Tutoring, financial literacy, and other classes- Volunteer support

The Refugee’s ResponsibilitiesWork toward self-sufficiency:

• Refugees are eligible to work lawfully on arrival and those who are fit and able to work are expected to find a job as soon as possible

• All adult refugees qualify for five years of free English classes at or through Emily Griffith Technical College so they are supported to learn the language

• After a year in the U.S., refugees should change their status to lawful permanent resident

• Refugees must pay back the travel loan that the IOM gives them for their international travel within 46 months

ChallengesMany and varied:

• physical, emotional, mental problems: PTSD• limited access to education; possible illiteracy in

their first language• few transferrable skills to an urban job market• limited English skills• very limited money and access to transportation• cultural differences

Services for SchoolsRefugee School Impact Grant

• Participating agencies– Colorado African Organization

Lisa Bright 303.953.7060 – Jewish Family Service

Mirjana B. Olujic 303.597.7777 ext. 343– Lutheran Family Services

Erin Kimmel 303.217.5187• How we support schools

– Support for Refugee Parents– Additional trainings for teachers– Direct support for refugee students

Sources/Resources• Helpful websites

– Bridging Refugee Youth and Children’s Services (BRYCS)– Colorado Refugee Services Program– Center for Applied Linguistics – United Nations High Commission on Refugees– International Rescue Committee– Independent School District of Boise City

(http://www.sd01.k12.id.us/ell/)• Clips of interest:

– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKKB7NnqTHg– http://www.unhcrwashington.org/site/c.ckLQI5NPIgJ2G/b.7519897/k.9D

B8/Refugee_Congress.htm

Questions?

refugeeeducation.com