humanitarian-assistance-to-internally-displaced-persons-in-south-africa-report-nov-13-2009-29pp

Author(s):  
Shedrack Ekpa ◽  
Nuarrual Hilal Md Dahlan

The end of the cold war and the beginning of the new millennium brought with it a new phase in state relations in Africa as more persons became forcefully uprooted from their homes and their rights violated with impunity due to intractable internal conflicts amidst the Westphalian notion of sovereignty which frowns at interference in the internal affairs of any state which was the fulcrum upon which the United Nations (UN) and Organization of African Unity (OAU) was founded. This new awakening has increasingly made perception of sovereignty to be people oriented. In the case of the Africa which is the crux of this paper, the eventual change from OAU to AU was significant as the coming into force of African Union’s Constitutive Act and the Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons climaxed major twist in the Africa’s perception of sovereignty and the right of intervention in relation to internally displaced persons (IDPs) within the continent. This article examines briefly the historical evolution of the concept of sovereignty and the right of intervention and their implications in the African context, and being conceptual and doctrinal in approach it analyses the context and legality of the African Union’s right of intervention arising from the regional treaties vis-à-vis the United Nations Charter with a view to vindicating the much celebrated ‘decisive break from the past’. It concludes that African Union’s current stance represents a bold and grandiose expression that is sincerely tailored towards ensuring effective human rights protection and humanitarian assistance for over 13 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Africa. Finally, the article contributes significantly to the scholarly debates surrounding right of intervention in relation to internal displacement as its resolution will in one or the other helps government and other stakeholders in their quest to curtail the scourge of intra and inter-state violence in Africa. Keywords: African Union, Sovereignty, Intervention, Internally Displaced Persons, State Responsibility


Author(s):  
A. Lyovochkina

he article analyzes the socio-psychological problems of the re-socialization of internally displaced persons. Among the main problems of this category of residents of Ukraine is the problem of reducing social activity. The lack of social activity, in turn, complicates the processes of adaptation to a new place of residence and re-socialization. The psychological symptoms characteristic of migrants that make up "Migrant syndrome" are considered. "Migrant syndrome" consists of the following symptoms: rental units; the position of the "victim"; symptom evacuation; symptom of missed opportunities; symptom of exclusivity; a symptom of a lost future; a symptom of lost happiness, and also a symptom of learned helplessness. Rental installations of internally displaced persons depended on the constant humanitarian assistance of the Center and citizens. The position of the "victim" was that migrants considered themselves to be a victim of circumstances and did not consider themselves to be the subject of their life. The symptom of the evacuation was that the settlers considered the new place of residence temporary and did not try to change it according to their needs. The symptom of missed opportunities was due to the fact that the settlers left their housing, work, business and did not see an opportunity to materialize in a new place. The symptom of the exclusivity of migrants manifested itself in the fact that they did not accept their life difficulties and did not want to make efforts to overcome them, but only required external support. The symptom of a lost future was that this contingent believed that all achievements were in the past, and nothing was waiting for them ahead. The symptom of lost happiness is associated with previous symptoms and is that these people are sure that they will never be able to become happy because they have suffered irreparable losses. The symptom of learned helplessness among the immigrants was developed when they endlessly faced insurmountable obstacles and they had the impression that they could do nothing. Ways of overcoming the indicated syndrome and methods for the formation of social interest and social activity of immigrants by introducing them to volunteer activities, which, in turn, contribute to the process of re-socialization, are proposed. We have offered volunteer trainings on the basis of the Kiev Centre for Assistance to Refugees and Migrants. The training suggested the formation of ideas about the possibilities of volunteering and its role in the personal growth of a volunteer. The objectives of the trainings included: the development of social activity; development of skills in the field of volunteer management, as well as assistance in building life plans. The trainings contributed to the reorientation of migrants from the objects of volunteer assistance to the subjects. Presents the results of the overcoming the "Migrant Syndrome", which was achieved by volunteers. As shown by our research conducted at the Center, immigrants who are actively involved in volunteer's work have largely lost the symptoms that make up the "Immigrant Syndrome". Active citizenship and social activity, which was formed in this category of persons was the key to their re-socialization and further personal growth.


Author(s):  
Vira Nikitina

The article deals with basing of the necessity of social work with internally displaced persons (IDPs) in modern Ukraine, as not all of the problems of these people that have arisen as a result of forced resettlement have been resolved. The problem is in difference of the life trajectories of IDPs: some of migrants are in higher levels of income in the social hierarchy than residents of host communities, while others still live in collective housing in need of humanitarian assistance. Social differentiation within IDPs raises debates about the need to maintain common approaches to their social protection and social work with them. The purpose of this article is to prove the presence of signs of vulnerability in internally displaced persons, which necessitates the provision of social support by specialists working in the field of social work. To achieve this goal, the method of theoretical generalization and the method of deduction were used. The results of the study are the identification of such features of the social position of IDPs in Ukraine and features of their socio-psychological state, which evidence the presence of indicators of vulnerability, and therefore are the reason of social work with them in different areas. The presence of dual vulnerabilities in IDPs (the status of an orphan or a child deprived of parental care, a child or a person with a disability, a member of a family with many children, etc.) increases the need for social support from social services professionals.


2019 ◽  
Vol 101 (911) ◽  
pp. 685-713
Author(s):  
Julie Freccero ◽  
Audrey Taylor ◽  
Joanna Ortega ◽  
Zabihullah Buda ◽  
Paschal Kum Awah ◽  
...  

AbstractAs cash increasingly becomes an essential part of humanitarian assistance, it is critical that practitioners are aware of, and work to mitigate, exposure to protection risks among the most vulnerable recipients. This article presents findings from qualitative research exploring protection risks and barriers that arise in cash programming for internally displaced persons at high risk of violence and exploitation in Cameroon and Afghanistan. The authors conclude with recommendations for mainstreaming global protection principles into cash programmes, as well as key considerations for designing and implementing cash programmes in ways that minimize existing risks of harm and avoid creating new ones.


2001 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 116-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier Leus ◽  
Jane Wallace ◽  
Alessandro Loretti

AbstractThere were estimated to be over 20 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) at the end of 1999, a number that surpasses global estimates of refugees. Displacement exposes IDPs to new hazards and accrued vulnerability. These dynamics result in greater risk for the development of illness and death. Often, access of IDPs to health care and humanitarian assistance is excluded deliberately by conflicting parties. Furthermore, the arrival of IDPs into another community or region strains local health systems, and the host population ends up sharing the sufferings of the internally displaced. Health outcomes are dismaying.From a health perspective, the best option is to avoid human displacement. WHO contributes to the prevention of displacement by working for sustainable development. Placing health high on the political agenda helps maintain stability, and thereby, reduce the likelihood for displacement.Primary responsibility for assisting IDPs, irrespective of the cause, rests with the national government. However, where the government is unwilling or unable to provide the necessary aid, the international humanitarian community must step in, with WHO playing a major role in the health sector.There is consensus among the partners of the World Health Organization (WHO) that, in emergencies, the WHO must: 1) take the lead in rapid health assessment, epidemiological and nutritional surveillance, epidemic preparedness, essential drugs management, control of communicable diseases, and physical and psychosocial rehabilitation; and 2) provide guidelines and advice on nutritional requirements and rehabilitation, immunisation, medical relief items, and reproductive health.If the vital health needs of IDPs—security, food, water, shelter, sanitation and household items—are not satisfied, the provision of health services alone cannot save lives. Community participation is essential, and community participation implies bolstering the assets and capacities of the beneficiaries.


Refuge ◽  
1992 ◽  
pp. 18-26
Author(s):  
Ogenga Otunnu

Africa is being annihilated by wars, gross violations of human rights, economic ruin and ecological disasters. Events in Somalia, Liberia, Mozambique, Angola, Zaire, Uganda,the Sudan,Chad, Aigeria, South Africa, Malawi and Kenya demonstrate the enormity of this tragedy. Indeed, many African states are disintegrating in the wake of these problems, thus exacerbating the refugee crisis on the continent. What factors are responsible for uprooting millions of refugees and internally displaced persons from their communities? Why does the African refugee crisis persist? Why have the traditional permanent/ durable solutions of voluntary repatriation, local integration and resettlement in third countries failed to address the plights oftoo many refugees for too long?


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Godwin Akper

Of the view that “in the land full of enmity, God is in a special way the God of the destitute and the wronged”, the essay explores the challenge of confessing the third article in the Confession of Belhar in Nigeria today. Nigeria has recorded a high number of displaced persons in the years between 1982 and 2016, who have been dispossessed of their lands and their hopes for better living standards. This situation has often been caused by the activities of radical religious activists. Also, a number of communal crises among ethnic nationalities especially in some parts of what can be described as northern Nigeria have added to the statistics of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). These destitute, many of whom are Christians, continuously cry out, hoping that God may intervene, and change their situations for the better, but seemingly to no avail. For some of them, it seems like all hope is lost. With such agonising situations among Christians, what sense will it make, “to preach” to them that “God is in a special way” their God? The essay examines this question by juxtaposing the Nigerian situation with South Africa’s past, when the Christians in South Africa confessed that God was still on their side amidst a seemingly hopeless situation. It also explores whether some lessons from the South African experience can be of any assistance or relevance to the Christians in Nigeria today.


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