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From DRC, Unfiltered: What's Next?
Mon, 08/30/2010 - 10:34
I am just getting back to the U.S. after several weeks traveling around the eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Matt and I set out at the end of July to identify the priority issues that need to be addressed in the DRC before the UN peacekeeping mission (formerly called MONUC, and now re-named MONUSCO) begins to withdraw.
The peacekeeping mission has – in one form or another- been present in DRC for over a decade. The peacekeepers – military, police and civilians – have been tasked with protecting civilians, supporting the rag-tag Congolese military, developing good governance structures and state authority, and generally bringing stability, security and democracy to a place where all of these things are unfamiliar in the extreme.
The peacekeeping mission has – in one form or another- been present in DRC for over a decade. The peacekeepers – military, police and civilians – have been tasked with protecting civilians, supporting the rag-tag Congolese military, developing good governance structures and state authority, and generally bringing stability, security and democracy to a place where all of these things are unfamiliar in the extreme.
Rising from the Floods: Lessons from Katrina in Pakistan
Thu, 08/26/2010 - 14:23Five years after Hurricane Katrina tore through the Gulf Coast, destroying homes and leaving people desperate for food and shelter, we are witnessing similar scenes of destruction coming out of Pakistan. Floods caused by torrential monsoon rains have affected an estimated 17 million Pakistanis while humanitarian agencies, local relief organizations, and the Pakistani government and military, struggle to provide desperately needed assistance and to reach over one million stranded victims.
Washington D.C. buzzes as Sudanese Referenda Approaches
Tue, 08/24/2010 - 10:19by Agostine Ndung'u
With the clock ticking towards the historic January 2011 referenda in South Sudan and Abyei, concerns are rising among the international community that preparations on the ground are moving at a dangerously slow pace. Unless precautions are taken immediately, Sudan might just slip back into civil war. To avert this looming danger, humanitarian and advocacy organizations, like Refugees International are abuzz with activity in Washington, D.C. As an intern at RI I attended several events about Sudan this summer that give a glimpse into the concerns felt by the policy community here in Washington.
A Flower Still Blooms: Personal Reflections on Kyrgyzstan and Kosovo on World Humanitarian Day
Thu, 08/19/2010 - 12:04
At the end of June, Refugees International’s Senior Advisor Dawn Calabia and I headed to the Fergana Valley, to southern Kyrgyzstan where from June 10 to 14, attacks by unknown assailants triggered violence between majority Kyrgyz and minority Uzbek communities, particularly in the urban centers of Osh, Jalal-Abad and Bazarkorgon. More than 300 people died, scores of others were injured, several thousand homes and businesses were burnt to the ground, and an estimated 400,000 people were displaced, about a quarter of who crossed into Uzbekistan as refugees but later returned. A crisis.
Ready or not, climate change, and climate displacement, is happening
Wed, 08/18/2010 - 10:57
This blog was originally posted in The Hill's Congress Blog on Wednesday, August 18.
The devastating floods in Pakistan have claimed the lives of at least 1,500 people and rendered millions more homeless and displaced. According to the United Nations, the deluge’s human toll, which has reportedly affected 14 million Pakistanis, is worse than the 2004 tsunami, the January earthquake in Haiti, and the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan combined. The record-breaking floods – along with other recent unprecedented climate-related catastrophes such as the heat wave in Russia and torrential rains and subsequent mudslides in China – are in line with the predictions of climate scientists that global warming will cause an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.
The devastating floods in Pakistan have claimed the lives of at least 1,500 people and rendered millions more homeless and displaced. According to the United Nations, the deluge’s human toll, which has reportedly affected 14 million Pakistanis, is worse than the 2004 tsunami, the January earthquake in Haiti, and the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan combined. The record-breaking floods – along with other recent unprecedented climate-related catastrophes such as the heat wave in Russia and torrential rains and subsequent mudslides in China – are in line with the predictions of climate scientists that global warming will cause an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.
Guest Blogger Emily Putze Writes About RI's Summer Event by the Sea
Wed, 08/18/2010 - 00:00Friends of Refugees International came together last Wednesday, in the beautiful beach-side setting of Nantucket. Around eighty people joined together that night, to learn more about refugee crises around the world, with a particular focus on the current situation in Sudan, and RIs advocacy efforts.
From DRC, Unfiltered: The Voiceless?
Mon, 08/16/2010 - 12:46
When was the last time you heard someone refer to the “voiceless,” either in the context of their work, (e.g., “I am an advocate for the “voiceless”) or in reference to the plight of a specific group of people, likely in a developing country?
I remember hearing the “voiceless” narrative as a kid and thinking (if I’m being honest here) of African refugees, sitting in camps, waiting around silently and helplessly for someone to rescue them, without capacity to speak up for themselves.
And in my time working in the policy and advocacy fields in Washington, I have heard this portrayal repeatedly. Certainly not from ill-intentioned people. Heck, I’m sure I myself have been guilty of this sort of talk before. But I think it’s time that we – particularly those of us working to influence humanitarian policy issues in Washington –disassociate ourselves from this type of language and way of thinking.
Why, you ask?
From DRC, Unfiltered: A place that defies simplification
Thu, 08/12/2010 - 15:59
When people think of violence, chaos and suffering, there is a tendency to oversimplify, to make firm distinctions between “perpetrators,” “victims” and “heroes”. But reality is never that cut and dry. Conflict is messy, and the people involved often defy easy categorization.
On Saturday, Matt and I set out to visit a community of displaced people south of Bunia town in Oriental province (eastern DR Congo). It is a community that muddies each of these categorizes.
To the naked eye these people – currently numbering about 475 in all – fit the popular definition of “victim”. After years spent surviving in brutal forest conditions they took advantage of a humanitarian corridor created by the Congolese military to come out of the woods and seek assistance. Most of the new arrivals at the makeshift displacement camp are suffering from ailments like malaria, parasites and diarrhea. Almost all of the new arrivals are malnourished and while they have received pots and utensils, as well as some blankets, plastic sheeting, and other “non-food items” from an international aid organization, they have not yet received food. Even the emergency rations – delivered to the weakest among them - have already run out.
On Saturday, Matt and I set out to visit a community of displaced people south of Bunia town in Oriental province (eastern DR Congo). It is a community that muddies each of these categorizes.
To the naked eye these people – currently numbering about 475 in all – fit the popular definition of “victim”. After years spent surviving in brutal forest conditions they took advantage of a humanitarian corridor created by the Congolese military to come out of the woods and seek assistance. Most of the new arrivals at the makeshift displacement camp are suffering from ailments like malaria, parasites and diarrhea. Almost all of the new arrivals are malnourished and while they have received pots and utensils, as well as some blankets, plastic sheeting, and other “non-food items” from an international aid organization, they have not yet received food. Even the emergency rations – delivered to the weakest among them - have already run out.
From DRC, Unfiltered: Not an Easy Set of Tasks
Tue, 08/10/2010 - 15:36
Hi folks, sorry for the delay in posts. We’ve been running all around the eastern Congo for the last several days and haven’t really had access to reliable internet. We’re now in Goma, where we’ll be staying for the next 6 days, so I’ll be posting with a bit more regularity.
Much has transpired since I last wrote you from Kinshasa. We finally made it out on the UN flight to Kisangani, and arrived there in the early afternoon on Wednesday. In Kisangani, we met with representatives from MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping mission, UN agencies (UNICEF, OCHA, and UNDP), and an NGO to discuss the latest changes to MONUSCO’s mandate and the future of the mission in DR Congo, and also to get a read on the current humanitarian and security conditions facing civilians in the area.
Visiting the homes of Kyrgyzstan’s Displaced: Next time I’ll make you tea
Fri, 08/06/2010 - 09:00
Like many businessmen in Jalal-Abad, Ilias* had invested his savings in his home. He had an indoor jacuzzi, a full modern-style kitchen and a personal library of over 2000 volumes, largely religious books. Today the only evidence of where the library once stood is a charred space that has more ash then other parts of Ilias’ burned out house.
From DRC, Unfiltered: Notes from Kinshasa
Wed, 08/04/2010 - 10:59I'm writing to you from our hotel lobby, running on three hours of sleep, with my second Nescafé of the afternoon in hand. So forgive me if I sound tired. Why only three hours of sleep, you ask? Well, my colleague, Erin, and I had to get to the airport by 5:00am this morning in order to attempt to board a UN flight to eastern Congo. Unfortunately, due to the limited number of outbound flights and the overwhelming demand for an extremely limited number of seats, we were unable to make it on board. However, we were lucky enough to get tickets for the flight out tomorrow. Although getting "lucky" means we'll have to endure another 4:00 am wakeup call. C'est la vie.
We've taken advantage of the extra time here in Kinshasa (we've now been here for five full days) to primarily meet with UN officials to discuss the latest changes to the UN's peacekeeping mandate here in DRC, and the impact of those changes on Congolese civilians. While I have enjoyed my time in Kinshasa, I have to admit, I am looking forward to heading east to carry out our meetings and field interviews with humanitarian organizations, displaced Congolese people, local NGOs, UN field staff, and other members of the so-called international community.
A Step in the Right Direction
Mon, 08/02/2010 - 15:09Torrential rains leading to floods in Pakistan have displaced hundreds of thousands of people. This new emergency has just occurred a week after the United States Congress passed the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010, which, amongst other initiatives, gives funding to refugees and displaced people in Pakistan and elsewhere. This money will make a real difference to victims in humanitarian crises.
