Veronica Fynn

The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that there are 50 million displaced people and refugees (including asylum seekers, refugees, internally displaced and repatriated persons and non-displaced populations affected by war and organised violence) around the world. Of these, only 23 million people are protected and assisted by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. The remaining 27 million people are deprived of receiving similar support due to the lack of an international agreement over legal classifications of refugees.

About 50% of refugees are reported to have mental health problems ranging from chronic mental disorders to trauma, distress and a great deal of suffering. Refugee women and children experience numerous physical, social and health problems. Children are particularly vulnerable to violence, displacement, hunger, disease, abuse and exploitation that is prevalent in conflict areas. Among the enormous burden and trauma women and children carry as a result of civil upheavals, mental health problems are of much concern for refugee women and children. Refugees often loose their loved ones, friends, homes, and in certain cases, everything they ever owned or had.

A woman and her malnourished child, West Dafur

How it affects young people

About half of all refugees are women and children from low-income countries. These people are generally the most vulnerable among the refugee population, and are often exposed to immense physical and emotional cruelty, such as torture and sexual abuse. In a world that is becoming more like a global village where international boundaries are becoming more polarized it is harder for us to avoid or ignore the plight of refugee mothers and children. This unique group of people migrate to places like Canada, the United States of America and other developed countries around the world seeking peace, protection and restoration of their lives. They can be found in our schools, our play grounds, community centres and other work places. As young people, we are often exposed to various environments which may or may not affect our physical, psychological and aesthetic state. For example, a young refugee student who has been traumatized by war may be afraid to make new friends in school which could lead to discrimination against him by other students who may not understand his mental state of mind.

Liberian Refugees

Where it is happening

The last decade of the 90’s saw the world in great turmoil of political instability especially in Africa. From 1990 to 2000, a series of wars took place in Africa that resulted in the creation of a large number of refugees across the globe. In 1989, a civil war broke out in Liberia. By the end of 2004 some 200,000 people were killed during the civil war and more than 750,000, out of a total population of 3.3 million, fled their homes and became stateless people. During a period of 100 days in 1994, more than 800,000 Tutsis people were slaughtered in the Rwanda Genocide generating another 400,000 refugees from Rwanda and Burundi. Most recently, the Darfur region in Sudan has fallen among the unfortunate. The estimated death toll by April 2005 in Darfur hiked up to 400,000 creating another 200,000 Sudanese refugees in Chad by early 2003. Approximately 1.7 million affected in the Darfur conflict are children under 18 years of age – while close to 600,000 are children under five years of age.

Victim skulls of Rwandan Genocide

Why it is happening

Usually, political upheaval intentionally involves innocent and helpless civilian populations by violating basic human rights and imposing serious risks on millions of people. Due to the complexity of war and why it evolves, it is difficult to pin-point the real cause of continuously increasing refugee populations. However it is safe to say that generally, refugees are the result of political conflict which stems from engrained selfishness, greed, hatred, tribalism, discrimination, power-hunger, pride and injustice from both local and international forces.

What is being done about it

There are several campaigns going on around the world to address refugee problems. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) developed a 120-Day Plan (September-December 2005) targeting food and nutrition, water and sanitation, and child protection in Darfur. Unfortunately, the situation in Darfur is becoming worse by the minute. Liberia, recently had an election giving way to the first female president in Liberia. Rwanda is also picking up the broken pieces. Today, Rwanda is the only country in the world with the highest number of women holding government positions.

How young Canadians can help and get involved

Globalization is making our world a small village today so that problems of refugees are no longer seen as not affecting Canadians. Canada is one of very few countries in the world who emigrate lots of refugees. Refugees coming into Canada do not leave their emotional, physical and social problems behind. In fact, the problems of refugees now become the problems of everyone in Canada because a refugee in Canada needs job, education, food and new friends. Three of the numerous ways that young Canadians can help address the problem of Refugees around the world are:

1. Write to the Prime Minister Stephen Harper to push the Darfur Agenda on the priority list of the United Nations.
2. Write to the provincial education ministers to include lessons on refugee women and children in the academic curriculum.
3. Engage in a letter writing project with refugees around the world for the purpose of learning, promoting and appreciating the culture of peace and opportunity in Canada.