Protracted Encampment
• Protracted refugee situations
• Refugee camps
• Governance and justice in situations of longterm encampment
Protracted Refugee Situations
• Quantitative definition: A situation in which at
least 25,000 refugees have been in exile for a
minimum of 5 years.
• Qualitative definition: A PRS is “one in which
refugees find themselves in a long-standing and
intractable state of limbo. Their lives may not be
at risk, but their basic rights and essential
economic, social and psychological needs remain
unfulfilled after years of exile.”
UNHCR
Refugee Warehousing:
Long-term Encampment
• What defines a refugee camp?
• What are the potential benefits of
encampment?
• Why are refugee camps problematic?
Amari refugee camp in Ramallah
Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan (pop over 120,000)
Syrian refugee camp in Turkey
Refugee camp for Rohingyas in Bangladesh
Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya (pop. 173,468)
Dadaab refugee camps, Kenya
(est. pop. 356,101 -UNHCR)
Dadaab refugee camps, Kenya
Dadaab refugee camp, Kenya
Dadaab refugee camp, Kenya
Umpiem Mai refugee camp, Thailand (pop.
12,849)
Total refugee population:
120,139
Mae La refugee
camp, Thailand
(pop. 44,824)
Organizational Responsibilities
• Thai authorities: (Ministry of the Interior)
– Ultimate authority  Camp commander (Palat)
– Camp administration and status determination
– Security (paramilitary rangers and border patrol police)
• Refugee Committee:
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Control and development of policies for all camps
Oversight of camps
Liaison with UNHCR, Royal Thai Government
Quasi-democratic
• Camp Committee
– Day-to-day running of the camp
– Sub-committees on health, justice, education, security…
– Women’s and Youth Committees
Service Delivery:
Organization
Responsibilities
UNHCR
Protection
The Border Consortium
Food, shelter, non-food items
Aide Medicale Internationale
Health and sanitation
ZOA Refugee Care and ICS-Asia
Primary and secondary education
World Education
Special (post-ten) education
Handicap international
Mine risk education and rehabilitation
Catholic Office for Emergency
Social Services (child protection, assistance for
Relief and Refugees and the Taipei vulnerable individuals)
Overseas Peace Service
International Rescue Committee
Legal Assistance, resettlement support, women’s
protection
Warehousing?
Repatriation?
Resettlement?
Local Integration?
Why Legal Empowerment?
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•
•
•
•
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Voice
The Rule of Law
Accountability
The administration of justice and governance
Integration/resettlement
Transitional justice/repatriation