With all this talk of refugees in the news, perhaps knowing the definition of what a refugee actually is would be useful. The 1951 Refugee Convention defines a refugee as, “[A]ny person who: owing to a 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 to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country.” Another category of person related to refugees, but less discussed, most likely due to the fact that they aren’t as immediately relevant to us in western countries, is an internally displaced person. A document from the United Nations, Guiding Principles
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They have no latrines so they are forced to defecate in bushes. They are also lacking in access to clean water. All of this and overcrowding are causing very unsanitary conditions, which can lead to a disease outbreak. The efforts made by humanitarian agencies, while not insignificant, are unable to keep up with the needs of the growing internally displaced population (Thomas & Yarnell, 2017). The governance in Somalia is remarkably complicated. The Federal Government of Somalia was established in 2012, but this government is far from holding complete power over the country. The country is effectively under six different governments (Drumtra, 2014). Clan warfare further complicates the issue of who exactly is in power. Along with that, Al-Shabab holds a significant amount of power over the country, having control over supply routes and certain areas in the country, making Somalia almost appear like a chaotic place of total …show more content…
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) provides a variety of services such as a home, help with rent, food, english classes, skill teaching for jobs, education for children, and legal services. Essentially everything needed for living within their new country. There are also quite a few opportunities for volunteers to help newly arrived refugees. The IRC provides refugees with a resettlement store, which distributes donations to refugees. If I were providing donated food to a Somali family, I would ensure it was halal, considering the majority of Somalis are Muslim. I would also ensure that, while around them, I was using their etiquette, being extra careful to use my right hand when greeting them, as the right hand is seen as “clean and polite” (Lewis, 1996). Another service that I as a volunteer could provide to refugees is as a helper to the employees of the IRC to help ensure that the refugees become self-reliant, by doing mock interviews with them and helping them with job applications and assisting their cultural
They have no latrines so they are forced to defecate in bushes. They are also lacking in access to clean water. All of this and overcrowding are causing very unsanitary conditions, which can lead to a disease outbreak. The efforts made by humanitarian agencies, while not insignificant, are unable to keep up with the needs of the growing internally displaced population (Thomas & Yarnell, 2017). The governance in Somalia is remarkably complicated. The Federal Government of Somalia was established in 2012, but this government is far from holding complete power over the country. The country is effectively under six different governments (Drumtra, 2014). Clan warfare further complicates the issue of who exactly is in power. Along with that, Al-Shabab holds a significant amount of power over the country, having control over supply routes and certain areas in the country, making Somalia almost appear like a chaotic place of total …show more content…
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) provides a variety of services such as a home, help with rent, food, english classes, skill teaching for jobs, education for children, and legal services. Essentially everything needed for living within their new country. There are also quite a few opportunities for volunteers to help newly arrived refugees. The IRC provides refugees with a resettlement store, which distributes donations to refugees. If I were providing donated food to a Somali family, I would ensure it was halal, considering the majority of Somalis are Muslim. I would also ensure that, while around them, I was using their etiquette, being extra careful to use my right hand when greeting them, as the right hand is seen as “clean and polite” (Lewis, 1996). Another service that I as a volunteer could provide to refugees is as a helper to the employees of the IRC to help ensure that the refugees become self-reliant, by doing mock interviews with them and helping them with job applications and assisting their cultural