What countries do refugees come from?

Refugees come from different countries at different times for different reasons. Each of us is a potential refugee. If politics suddenly change in a country, or a natural disaster occurs, citizens can find themselves facing persecution or destitution without a government who is willing or able to protect them.

At the end of 2005 there were 20.8 million persons of concern to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), including refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons (IDPs). 

However, representing refugees as a mass society who migrate for a common purpose would be simplistic. Refugees flee their countries for countless reasons, each has a story to tell, and often these stories include violence, rape, hunger, torture and physical threats to themselves and their families. The only thread common among all refugees is the search for protection.

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

An asylum seeker is a person who flees his/her country seeking asylum within another nation, and protection from refoulment forced return to a place where life or freedom is in danger. An asylum seeker could have any number of reasons for departing their home country, and these reasons may or may not qualify them as a refugee under one of the international conventions for the protection of refugees. The term 'asylum seeker' is used to define those who apply for refugee status from either a state or the UNHCR but who have not yet gained this recognition. In short, all refugees could have been classified as asylum seekers at one time, but not all asylum seekers would be officially recognised as refugees.

The term refugee has been defined by the 1951 Convention as persons who are outside their country and cannot return owing to a well-founded fear of persecution due to their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group. Later conventions extended this definition to include those who fled their countries due to war or civil conflict.

How do refugees contribute to their host societies?

The media often focuses on the burdens refugee populations can bring to a society, but rarely explores the gifts refugees continue to offer to society. Refugees can bring diversity, culture, art, language, stories, skills, ideas, training, education and wisdom into any community they enter. Often they do so with a heightened belief in community contribution and unity due to their past experiences.

In countries all over the world refugees have been responsible for starting support groups, writing books and articles, forming community centers, starting web organisations and daycares. Not to mention those who join the labour force and provide valuable services to their new homeland. Many refugees were doctors, teachers, scientists and politicians in their home counties, and they can offer skills, knowledge and new perspectives to their host country.

What are the rights of a refugee?

In general refugees have the right to international protection in their host country, if that country has signed as a member of one of the refugee conventions. Refugees should also enjoy a range of civil, political, social and econimic rights.

What is the 1951 Convention? 

The most important legal document pertaining to the status and rights of refugees in the world is the 1951 UN Refugee Convention. This document contains the definition of a refugee, outlines the rights of refugees and defines the obligations of the 145 member states.

What is the OAU Convention?

The Organisation of African Unity Convention was finalized in 1969 in Addis Ababa. This convention adapted the 1951 Convention covering the spacific aspects of refugee problems in africa to include asylum seekers who fled their countries due to war, civil conflict or other “events seriously disturbing public order” into the definition of refugee.

What can I do to help?

Learn. Refuse to de-humanise refugees by viewing them as a faceless, foreign, mass of persons. Remember each person has a history, and reason for seeking asylum. Learn(suggested reading) as much as you can.

Meet some refugees, help them to integrate. Most countries which host refugees also have a variety of organisations which assist them in material, legal or social ways. Join an organisation, volunteer time, or link with one of the international organisations mentioned on our links page.

Intern with AMERA-Egypt. If you have a legal, social work, or psychology background, apply for a six-month internship(AMERA-Egypt interns' page) in Cairo.

Donate. Consider making a tax deductible donation to AMERA-UK or one of our partners(links page).