4.2.2 International Rescue Committee

Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. The International Rescue Committee condemned the recent indiscriminate and inhumane attacks on the city of Paris on Friday, November 13, which have left over 125 people dead. The attack echoed the horrors experienced by millions of refugees from Syria and beyond. The International Rescue Committee is providing relief to millions of uprooted people in Syria, also in neighboring countries such as Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Afghanistan, and on the shores of Greece. It also manages 26 resettlement offices in United States.

"More than 3,000 IRC aid workers and local volunteers operating inside Syria and in four neighboring countries have reached more than 3.3 million Syrians fleeing violence with emergency relief and long-term support. The IRC is focusing on health care, protection of vulnerable women and children, education, and economic recovery."

4.2.3 Refugee International

Founded in 1979, Refugees International (RI) is a global, independent advocacy organization that delivers the voices of refugees around the world to governments, policy makers, and administrations to improve the lives of displaced people around the world. It has used its independent advocacy to improve the way aid is delivered and to ensure that the rights of all displaced people are respected. They have made several attempts to help the refugees in all parts of the world through providing financial aids and also raising awareness to the world. ¹⁰ Some successful work done by RI include:

The UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) announced in July, 2015, that an additional amount of $6 million would be funded for the aid of Sudanese refugees in Chad. This was a key recommendation from RI’s July report “Sudanese Refugees in Chad: Passing the baton to no one”

Democratic Republic of Congo: Treat Every Camp Equally

In 2013, RI found that the UN was not providing adequate level of aid to 200,000 Congolese refugees, for they lived in so-called “spontaneous sites” instead of official camps. Following RI’s request, the UN revamped its approach to camp management and pledged to assist all Congolese IDPs on the basis of need.

Internally Displaced People: a Commitment to Protect

RI played a leading role in encouraging the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to focus on internally displaced people during its December 2013 Protection Dialogue. RI also helped to shape the NGO community’s position in the Dialogue, ensuring that UNHCR made specific and tangible commitments for the refugees. RI is cooperating with both UNHCR and the U.S. State Department to ensure that refugees are provided with as much economic and social support as possible.

5. Issues to Address

Delegates are advised to bear in mind the following considerations while drafting their own resolutions:

• Why do some countries deport refugees or even set up restrictions on accepting refugees? If it is because refugee floods have negative impact on their domestic situation, how can we minimize those negative effects?

• How is it possible to distinguish refugees and other migrants, for example economic migrants, how should the deportation policies towards them be different?

• How can we promote collaborations among countries, especially among countries where refugees are from and countries accepting the refugees, to protect refugees from being harmed or deported?

• How can we implement specific measures for different groups of refugees- such as children, women and the elderly on their vulnerability to deportation? What can measures be?

• Despite previous attempts, what other things UN can do to protect basic human rights of refugees?

Consider both short-term and long-term approaches when crafting solutions to the refugee deportation problem.

References

1 http://www.ucanews.com/story-archive/?post_name=/1988/03/16/high-crime-rate-noted-among-vietnamese-refugees-in-open-camps&post_id=36323

2 http://sputniknews.com/world/20150907/1026677911.html

3 Eiko R. Thielemann and Torun Dewan, The myth of free-riding: refugee protection and implicit burden sharing, Western European Politics, Vol.29, March 2006

4 Faiola, Anthony. "Germany Unnerved by Scores of Xenophobic Attacks against Refugees." Washington Post. N.p., 16 Aug. 2015. Web. 17 Dec. 2015. <https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/germany-unnerved-by-scores-of-xenophobic-attacks-against-refugees/2015/08/16/eada9284-3fb1-11e5-b2c4-af4c6183b8b4_story.html>.

5 Safdar, Anealla. "Europe Anti-refugee Rhetoric Swells after Paris Attacks." Al Jazeera English. N.p., 16 Nov. 2015. Web. 14 Dec. 2015.

6 "Jordan." UNHCR. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2015.

7 "Thailand." UNHCR News. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2015

8 Terminski, Bogumil. “Development-Induced Displacement and Resettlement: Theoretical Frameworks and Current Challenges”, Indiana University, 2013.

9 (Women’s Refugee Commission, NGO: Working group on women, peace and security, New York 2015

10 Refugee International, Washington,DC, 2001

 Asian International Model United Nations 2016 17 / 19