Protracted Encampment

• Protracted refugee situations• Refugee camps• Governance and justice in situations of long-

term 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: – 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 Relief and Refugees and the Taipei Overseas Peace Service

Social Services (child protection, assistance for vulnerable individuals)

International Rescue Committee Legal Assistance, resettlement support, women’s protection

Repatriation?

Local Integration?

Resettlement?

Warehousing?

What happens next?

Why Legal Empowerment?

• Voice• The Rule of Law• Accountability• The administration of justice and governance• Integration/resettlement• Transitional justice/repatriation