UNHCR

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

(Here you can find the complete guide)

Topic: Russian invasion of Ukraine refugee crisis

Since the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces on 24th February, 2022, at least 12 million Ukrainians have been displaced from their homes. There have been a recorded 7.3 million refugees from Ukraine across neighbouring European countries. Many countries have taken in Ukrainian refugees with Poland being one of the most accommodating. The UN along with NGOs are focusing on ensuring human treatment for refugees in the host countries as well as proper living conditions for them. Many argue the limit of the number of refugees and is something of great importance. There is also cases of discrimination of refugees. 

Introduction

The United Nations Refugee Agency is in charge of giving aid and protection to refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced people and stateless people. They help with local integration or resettlement in a different country and assists with voluntary return of refugees. Aid consists of shelter, food, legal help, basic necessities, reemployment, etc. Refugees are people who have been forced to flee their land due to many reasons. Asylum seekers are people who have had to flee their country and are seeking protection from persecution but haven’t yet been granted refugee status. Internally displaced people are those who have had to leave their home but are within the country and stateless people do not hold citizenship in any country due to many complicated reasons. The term ‘refugee’ is often  used to refer to all the categories but can only be done to generalise, for specifying, however, it is incorrect.

Reasons refugees have to flee their country

War

War and conflict is one of the leading causes of people fleeing. War with modern technology causes severe destruction to infrastructure. This leads to a poorly functioning society with little to no quality of life. Along with this, the economy is negatively impacted. Worse of all, war brings an impending threat to one’s life. Due to the civil unrest in countries or regions whether it is political or social, people are left with no choice other than to flee their country to protect their lives.

Natural Disasters

Natural disasters are very unfortunate and can destroy infrastructure. Although natural disasters do not always lead to international immigration, it does however lead to displacement within the country. Climate change and global warming has been major causes of the increase of refugees. 

Violence

War and conflicts often lead to violence. Political, social and economic inequalities are root causes as well as poverty and lack of justice. Violent protests, uprisings, criminal organisations, and corrupt governments are often the reasons for violence within a country. 

Persecution

Hostile treatment towards people due to their race, political or religious beliefs is a form of oppression that can escalate. People might have to seek refuge after facing persecution in their country. 

Convention

The 1951 Refugee Convention is an important document created to ensure the rights of refugees. The main value of it is to guarantee that people who have fled their countries due to various reasons are allowed to seek asylum and that they should not be returned to a country where they would face danger to their life or freedom. 1967 Protocol is related to the status of refugees and what makes someone a refugee. UN member states have all their views on refugee rights and status written in these documents and UNHCR is the ‘guardian’ for these conventions.