In The News

UN Makes Record Funding Appeal for Syrian Refugees

Barbara Surk December 18, 2013
The UN hopes to raise $6.5 billion to assist as many as 9 million refugees who have fled the civil war in Syria, many of whom live in massive camps and tents hastily set up in bordering states. “The conflict in Syria, now in its third year, has defied all attempts at peace,” explains Barbara Surk for the Associated Press. “A biting cold spell marking the beginning of winter has added another...

The Dilemma of Desperation Migration

Joseph Chamie November 14, 2013
Poverty, conflict and overpopulation have historically forced migrants to pursue opportunity in wealthier nations. Modern migrants have more options for low-cost travel, yet nations have more organized registration, border surveillance and enforcement tools, explains Joseph Chamie, former director of the UN Population Division. Thus, transit countries face new pressures. The desperate in North...

Bad Policies Caused the Lampedusa Tragedy

Hans-Jürgen Schlamp October 10, 2013
A boat carrying 500 refugees sank just within sight of the Italian island of Lampedusa. More than 250 died and more are missing. The refugees from Somalia, Eritrea and other hopeless states took off from African coast just 160 kilometers away. Europe has failed to offer a political solution to the refugee crisis. More than 200,000 refugees have landed in Lampedusa since 1999 with up to 20,000...

South Korea: New Beacon for Refugees

Steven Borowiec September 12, 2013
Countries that attract refugees tend to be prosperous and demonstrate respect for human rights. Such nations process refugee applications with care, determining that newcomers are not spies or troublemakers. South Korea stands out as a beacon for refugees. The country borders dysfunctional and impoverished North Korea, with its repressive regime, and is the first among East Asian nations to...

Africa and Pakistan Face Polio Outbreaks

Donald G. McNeil, Jr. September 4, 2013
New polio cases are emerging in some of the world’s most unstable places – North Waziristan, Somalia and a Kenya refugee camp. The world had about 350,000 cases in 1988 and 223 cases in 2012, a 99 percent decrease, but polio can spread quickly, especially among children under the age of five, reports the World Health Organization. Poverty and rumors add to the challenges of health care workers....

Refugees in the MENA Region: What Geopolitical Consequences?

Barah Mikail August 7, 2013
Economic chaos, corruption and outright conflict in North Africa and the Middle East have triggered a new wave of refugees – some of whom travel and seek shelter as far away as Australia. More than 1.5 million may have fled just Syria, with another 2.5 million Syrians thought to be displaced inside the country. Failure to address the latest refugee crisis could present serious long-term security...

Syria Crisis: Russia “Sends Sophisticated Weapons”

May 20, 2013
Russia has delivered highly advanced anti-ship missiles to Syria, reports the New York Times. The BBC News points out that the news arrived the same day as a UN report said the number of refugees from Syria had passed 1.5 million mark. Following a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon cautioned against a loss of momentum for holding a peace...