Refugee definitions and global refugee crisis

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Select the correct three answers to this statement: Refugees are persons who have left their country of origin because…

Please select 3 correct answers

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A refugee is someone owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it. (The 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees). Financial challenges or lifestyle are not a basis for seeking asylum. If someone has moved to another country to find work they would be classified as an ‘economic migrant’, not a refugee.

What is the definition of the term ‘asylum’?

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‘Asylum’ means “when someone is allowed to stay somewhere because they are escaping danger in another country.” Therefore, an asylum-seeker is an individual who is seeking international protection and whose claim has not yet been finally decided on by the country in which the claim is submitted.

What is the difference between being a refugee and an asylum seeker?

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An asylum seeker is someone seeking status as a refugee in a host country, but who has not yet been legally recognised as a refugee. In order to be recognized as a refugee, a person must be outside of their country of origin when they apply to be legally accepted as a refugee and this must be due to their “well-founded fear of being persecuted” in case of return.

What is the meaning of an ‘internally displaced person’ (or ‘IDP’)?

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An internally displaced person (IDP) are persons or groups of persons who have been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their homes or places of habitual residence, in particular as a result of or in order to avoid the effects of armed conflict, situations of generalized violence, violations of human rights or natural or human-made disasters, and who have not crossed an internationally recognized State border.

Over the last few years, what do you think has happened to the number of refugees globally?

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At least 100 million people were forced to flee their homes during the last 10 years, seeking refuge either within or outside the borders of their country. Forced displacement and statelessness remained high on the international agenda in recent years and continued to generate dramatic headlines in every part of the world. Source: https://www.unhcr.org/statistics/unhcrstats/5ee200e37/unhcr-global-trends-2019.html

What could be the main reason for the marked increase in the number of refugees globally?

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Overall it is hard to calculate the biggest cause of people becoming refugees. Each individual person’s case is different, and the causes may be complex. However, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) say the rise in the number of displaced people globally over recent years has been driven by increasing war and conflict; for instance in countries like Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Which countries have accepted the most refugees globally?

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Turkey hosted the highest number of people displaced across borders, 3.9 million, most of whom were Syrian refugees (92%). Colombia followed, hosting nearly 1.8 million displaced Venezuelans. Germany hosted the third largest number, almost 1.5 million, with Syrian refugees and asylum-seekers constituting the largest groups (42%). Pakistan and Uganda hosted the 4th and 5th largest number, with about 1.4 million each. Source : https://www.unhcr.org/statistics/unhcrstats/5ee200e37/unhcr-global-trends-2019.html

What are the main reasons for people crossing the Mediterranean to reach Europe?

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According to UNHCR ‘large majority’ of people crossing the Mediterranean Sea into Europe were either fleeing persecution, conflicts or human rights violations that continue to force them face danger and sometimes death to seek safety in Europe. Source : https://www.unhcr.org/europe-emergency.html

Who is the largest group of refugees?

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Children, 40%. An estimated 30 – 34 million of the 79.5 million forcibly displaced persons were children below 18 years of age. Source : https://www.unhcr.org/statistics/unhcrstats/5ee200e37/unhcr-global-trends-2019.html

There are costs and benefits for countries hosting refugees?

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While it is very hard to work out the exact costs and benefits of refugees for a host country - it is clear that there are both. Refugees can make huge positive contributions to society though, taking examples from our past: Einstein, Anne Frank and Rita Ora were refugees, and once integrated into society, they would get jobs, better opportunities, as well as they, often contribute in paying taxes.

Refugee definitions and global refugee crisis
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