The refugee problem

South Sudan Nuba refugees. Image credit Huffingtonpost.com

ZIMSEC O Level Geography Notes:Refugees: The refugee problem

Between 1963-1979 nationalist movements waged a war of liberation in Zimbabwe, which caused a lot of hardships for the population
The intensification of the political oppression and persecution in the country forced many people to flee the country into other neighboring countries as refugees
In recent years civil across Africa in countries such as Sudan, South Sudan, the DRC, Congo and Somalia have led to floods of refugees fleeing conflict into neighboring countries
The rise of terrorist groups such as Boko Haram, ISIS (sometimes known as ISIL or Daesh), Al Shebab, The Lord’s Resistant Army has also led to displacement of people
Enthnic violence such as in South Sudan, Rwanda, South Africa has also led to some enthic groups becoming internal refugees in their countries
The establishment of the refugee camps is meant to stop the refugees from roaming about and causing conflicts in the host country
It is also meant to organize them so that they can be fed, clothed, get shelter, be trained and educated as well as engaging them in productive activities
Although refugee camps offer protection this might not always be the case as can be seen by the Zimbabwean refugees at Chimoio and Nyadzonya in Mozambique who were attacked by the Rhodesian soldiers
Or the constant onslaught of attacks by Al Shabab on Kenyan refugees
Refugees cause a lot of problems in the host country as their movement is not carefully planned and controlled
Most of them are unskilled and thus have little to offer to the host country
As the refugees migrate in large numbers this puts a lot of strain on the resources of the host country
For example land, water and food.
This may further cause conflicts with the host communities.
For example Xenophobic attacks in South Africa, Zambia, the United States and Germany are on the rise against refugees
Refugees can also put pressure on social services such as education, health and transport thus depriving the host communities of these services
They can also cause deforestation as they clear land to stay, fetch firewood, source of building materials for shelter
Some may engage into prostitution and theft as they try to make a living
Refugee camps can be a source of communicable diseases such as cholera, dysentery and typhoid.
Refugees may be a source of unrest in the host country as enemies pose as refugees and use the refugee camps as their military base
Although there is little proof refugees are often blamed for causing terrorist attacks on the host countries e.g. The United States government often blames terror attacks on refugees and have used it as a pretext to pass divisive immigration laws
They also strain the host government budget as it tries to look after them
They may also sour relations between the source country and the host country for example Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) with Mozambique during the liberation war