The plight of displaced people has become a global crisis. The vast majority of refugees have fled war, terror and persecution in their home countries to seek shelter in neighboring ones. These host states often struggle to provide bare necessities, let alone the protection and opportunity that the 1951 Convention on Refugees envisions. The protracted nature of many crises exacerbates the difficulties.
The dynamics of the crisis – and the response to it – are complex and interrelated. They range from the emergence of political conflicts between the host state and refugee populations to the manipulation of displaced communities for a variety of reasons. This manipulation can take many forms:
For example, if the refugee population shares an ethnic or religious identity with local populations that have been involved in conflict with each other, the host government may fear destabilization and curtail refugee protection measures. This is especially true if the conflict is rooted in communal differences and the refugee influx disturbs the demographic balance of the host state.
Humanitarian agencies must work to prevent the commodification and politicization of refugees. This includes fighting all kinds of xenophobia and racial discrimination, which not only dehumanizes people, but also undermines efforts to address the root causes of displacement. It is essential that refugees have freedom of movement and the right to work legally (not through distorted informal markets), education for their children, and access to health care. This can help reduce tensions and promote social cohesion.