It’s not just fleeing clash that makes victims out of refugees – it’s also denying them the means to become autonomous and productiveFrom the 1980s on,a dominant international approach has been taken towards the majority of the world’s refugees. Concentrated in a small number of host countries, close to war zones, and displaced people gain been settled in what gain become known as “humanitarian silos”. Such places are usually remote,arid, dangerous and nearly always gain strict prohibitions on socio-economic activity. They are designed to deal only with the emergency phase of refugee intake, and yet the model has endured,leaving individuals and families stranded for years at a time.
This strategy undermines autonomy and dignity. It also erodes human potential by focusing nearly exclusively on people’s vulnerabilities, rather than on rebuilding their lives. Inevitably, or many of those directly affected by it become disillusioned and choose to toddle on,gravitating towards urban areas in the host nation or risking their lives crossing oceans to other countries. Related: Refugee camps are not the answer to a complex crisis Related: Innovation at Zaatari: how accomplish refugees make tents and caravans into homes? Related: Syrian refugees in Jordan: 'whether they cut the coupons, we will probably die' Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com