Who is affected by refugees

Early studies showed that post-migration stress contributed to the poor mental health of refugees. References 1. Mollica R. Development of an inventory for measuring war-related events in refugees. Comprehensive Psychiatry. Is torture reliably assessed and a valid indicator of poor mental health? J Nerv Ment Dis. Quiroga J, Jaranson, J. Politically-motivated torture and its survivors: A desk study review of the literature. Torture Thematic Issue. Beiser M. Strangers at the Gate.

Toronto: University of Toronto Press; The best commissioned study ERM [ 1 ] found such widely varying estimates of per capita fuelwood consumption from 5. It found a daily per capita consumption among local people in Ngara of 2. Figures in the camps were higher with a figure of 2. Taking a mean figure of 2. Mean annual increment in the area is likely to be around 1m 3 per hectare, so sustainable off-take ought to spread the refugee demand over ,ha or 5,km 2.

If this area were a circle the pattern of fuelwood use around population centres with all , refugees at its centre, its radius would have to be at least 43km for sustainable off-take. Instead, all this use is concentrated within a radius of km. These figures take no account of the needs of local populations resident in the area before the refugees arrived.

There are a variety of short- and longer-term solutions to the need for fuelwood provision on this scale, which were proposed by the agencies involved in the camps, including UNHCR, and by consultants.

These are set out in the table on page 9, in descending order of urgency and usefulness. The most urgent need is to keep per capita consumption of fuel low, and to make fuel available from a wide area and variety of sources so that refugees do not irreversibly damage the area immediately surrounding camps.

On the demand side, the biggest single reducer of per capita consumption of fuel is the provision of food in a quick-cooking form. It is theoretically possible to save fuel through the use of fuel-efficient stoves as well, though stove programmes have a depressingly unsuccessful history.

A far simpler technology, which greatly reduces fuel-use and cooking time, is the provision of large flat saucepan lids to refugees for covering boiling food and water high altitude has been a factor in high fuel consumption rates in the Rwanda refugee situation. Cooking times are much slower in highland areas because the boiling point of water is lower.

On the supply side, the simplest way of reducing the impact of refugees though it is often not politically possible , is to set up a larger number of smaller camps, rather than a tiny number of large ones, so that fuelwood collection is automatically spread over a larger area.

If this is impossible, then it is essential for agencies to identify natural stands of forest or plantations, and to organise the delivery of fuelwood to the camps. As time goes by, other sources of fuel may be identified as well. In Tanzania, for instance, both peat and papyrus reeds constitute such sources. A range of other options are inappropriate in this context for the reasons set out in the chart kerosene, charcoal, briquettes, solar cookers, stoves.

At the same time, important trees around the camps along water courses, large shade trees, etc can be marked with white paint as not available for felling. A further area which needs early consideration, from the environmental point of view, is the need for poles and timber. Current refugee shelters provide polythene sheeting, but no wood supports. These have to be cut from the surrounding area.

Nor have the agencies themselves been blameless. UNHCR notes that the implementing agencies cut tens of thousands of poles within easy trucking distance for pit latrines, medical clinics etc.

In the longer run, there are three further actions to be taken. Firstly, in the refugee-affected areas, tree-planting programmes with local villagers and with remaining refugees should be a priority. Secondly, and this is more for future refugee situations than for restoring the environment in current ones, databases for countries in Africa and elsewhere likely to be involved in a refugee crisis in due course, need to be set up to document areas of ample fuelwood resources if any available for future need, border areas of each country most unsuitable for the establishment of a refugee camps, and those which ought to be avoided at all costs.

The Working Group proposes that in future, more effective environmental planning in the context of refugee camps should be a primary duty of UNHCR and host governments; that both refugees and local populations should be involved in environmental planning of any projects which are instituted; that there should be coordination with other UN agencies and international NGOs and that development funds should be committed where environmental damage is extensive.

All things being equal, prevention of environmental deterioration is preferable to cure, and in many contexts cheaper too, provided that environmental costs have been internalised by UNHCR.

SAP, a German software company, started providing internships and employment opportunities for refugees in When a declining national workforce is balanced out by young refugees, the economy can remain strong and provide necessary social services to an aging population.

By participating in the workforce and creating new jobs, refugees have raised the median income of many host countries. Higher incomes allow more money to go into taxes and businesses, benefiting the economy as a whole. In addition to the economic benefits provided by an increase in refugee income, it also gives refugees a sense of purpose and financial independence.

By improving their own lives, refugees can create economic benefits that also improve the lives of residents of their new country. Therefore, hosting refugees benefits everyone involved. Taking in large numbers of refugees is often costly at first. Research shows that it results in a net gain to the economy. A study of the economic impact of refugees in Europe between and showed that in just two years of an increased inflow of refugees, the economy in the 15 countries studied became healthier and unemployment decreased.

Refugees generated demand for goods, created jobs, and paid taxes. They were thus able to offset the cost of the government support they needed on arrival. Similarly, a Tent Foundation report found that in the European Union, each euro invested in refugee support programs produced two euros of return in economic benefits. When a country invests in welcoming refugees, it not only does the right thing morally, i.

In order for countries to receive these economic benefits, they obviously need to make sure that refugees are accepted, welcomed and integrated. Many organizations and communities have understood this and have mobilized to make this happen. The network trains and prepares communities to welcome refugees and help them better adjust to their new homes.