Blog Posts by Refugees International

by 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.

Friends 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.

Last Thursday, young professionals in DC gathered at Hudson Restaurant & Lounge for the launching of Refugees International’s newest offset, the Young Humanitarian Circle. Initially, we were shooting for 30 guests but young humanitarians in DC showed us that a good cause coupled with an RI advocate reporting on a recent trip to the Congo, can reel in many interesting, compassionate, and involved individuals! At 7 pm, guests started filtering in and by the end of the night, there were about 150 people showing their enthusiasm for the new group within RI.

While conducting a humanitarian assessment with Refugees International, I spoke with an eighty-year-old woman who had recently fled violent reprisal killings near the village of Lukweti in Masisi territory.  In December of last year, when a local self-defense force, defeated a Congolese army unit primarily made up of former members of the Laurent Nkunda’s CNDP rebel group, the soldiers turned on the local population.

Danish photographer John Grarup beautifully documents communities in Eastern Africa that have been displaced as a result of climate change. New York Times use of the technically-incorrect term, “climate refugees” duly noted. (They aren't allowed to get refugee status!)

The following statement was made by Acting President, Joel Charny, in response to the devastation created by the earthquake in Haiti on January 12.

Last week, Refugees International worked with the Netherlands-based Transnational Institute (TNI)  to raise awareness around issues of ethnic minorities among Washington policy makers. Both TNI and RI have long believed that in order to truly address conflict and displacement in Burma, the state must come to permanent peace arrangements with the wide range of ethnic minorities in the country.  Though it is still premature to discuss substantive negotiations between the various parties at this stage, the likelihood of elections in Burma in 2010 could open some possibility for progress on this issue.  TNI has an excellent report on the future of cease-fire agreements in Burma that provides a good look at this issue.  

Imagine being sexually harassed each time you step out your front door. -  on the street, on the bus to work, at your job, on your way home.  Imagine not knowing how you’ll earn enough money to feed your children, when your husband is in prison back home and you’re living on your own in a foreign country that does not recognize you as a refugee.