Millions of people worldwide have been forced to flee their homes due to war, violence and natural disasters. These people rely on the international humanitarian community to support them, providing them with food, water, shelter and medical care. Oxfam supports these families in Ukraine, Myanmar, the Horn of Africa and Syria – among many other places of displacement. We advocate for their rights, as well as for the global systems that deliver on their expectations of sanctuary.
At the heart of refugee crises is a conflict between the needs of refugees and their host states. The latter are often resentful of the burden they shoulder, and their governments may view refugee populations in strategic terms, rather than in humanitarian ones. This can result in host states using refugee return as bargaining chips in negotiations with third countries, and may lead to scapegoating of refugees or their communities. It also increases the risk of destabilization and the emergence of refugee-led armed groups, including gangs that traffic in human beings.
In many cases, the root cause of a refugee crisis lies in the conflict that has driven people from their home. A resolution to this conflict is crucial for refugee stability and protection. The organization of refugee settlements, and the conditions under which they are inhabited, can also affect the likelihood of conflict. Giving refugee people freedom of movement and the right to work, for example, reduces the risk of destabilization and can allow them to build self-reliance. However, in the short term it can also increase competition for labour markets, which may result in exploitation and criminal networking.