Yes, another Haiti thread. In DR Debates as a vote of confidence for a good forum, and to deter those who just vent their mindless hatred against Haiti and Haitians from ruining a constructive discussion.
One of the items in today's news is about the possibility - or likelihood - of a mass influx of refugees. The options for the DR authorities are:
A - hide head in sand and let refugees flood in unchecked, which is what happens when you have an insecure border policed by bribeable guards
B - work with international humanitarian organisations, some of which have already expressed willingness, to set up organised refugee camps in the border region.
There is a third option, which is that those camps could be set up in Haiti, which would be the best option for the DR, but there is a technicality in international humanitarian law which (IIRC) prevents major organisations like UNHCR from working with displaced people (the term for refugees who have not crossed an international border).
At the moment, unfortunately, the government here seems to be going for option A. I believe, that unless we are lucky and the situation calms down (fat chance) or the international community opts for the third option, we should be working towards B.
Not to say there are not drawbacks. The installation of refugee camps is likely to encourage more people to cross, motivated simply by hunger rather than political persecution. But at least the problem would be contained, the cost of feeding, clothing, housing and providing health and education would be footed by the international community. The refugees, if all is managed well, would be given incentives to return home once the situation has stabilised, rather than to trickle into the DR proper, with all the problems that implies.
There are even some positive aspects for the DR, in that the presence of camps and international aid workers can inject some dynamism into the local economy, much needed in those desolate and poverty stricken frontier zones. Many agencies have a policy of purchasing as many supplies and equipment as possible locally, and providing employment for locals on both the menial and professional level.
I am thinking aloud here, drawing knowledge on several refugee experiences I am familiar with, from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Peru, Sudan, Zaire (now DRC) and Tanzania. Some though not all these experiences were positive, but the organisations involved came out of these situations with some lessons, which ought to be applied to the current crisis.
My question is - how do people think this could be best managed? How much chance is there of getting the international community to take the third option?
Chiri
One of the items in today's news is about the possibility - or likelihood - of a mass influx of refugees. The options for the DR authorities are:
A - hide head in sand and let refugees flood in unchecked, which is what happens when you have an insecure border policed by bribeable guards
B - work with international humanitarian organisations, some of which have already expressed willingness, to set up organised refugee camps in the border region.
There is a third option, which is that those camps could be set up in Haiti, which would be the best option for the DR, but there is a technicality in international humanitarian law which (IIRC) prevents major organisations like UNHCR from working with displaced people (the term for refugees who have not crossed an international border).
At the moment, unfortunately, the government here seems to be going for option A. I believe, that unless we are lucky and the situation calms down (fat chance) or the international community opts for the third option, we should be working towards B.
Not to say there are not drawbacks. The installation of refugee camps is likely to encourage more people to cross, motivated simply by hunger rather than political persecution. But at least the problem would be contained, the cost of feeding, clothing, housing and providing health and education would be footed by the international community. The refugees, if all is managed well, would be given incentives to return home once the situation has stabilised, rather than to trickle into the DR proper, with all the problems that implies.
There are even some positive aspects for the DR, in that the presence of camps and international aid workers can inject some dynamism into the local economy, much needed in those desolate and poverty stricken frontier zones. Many agencies have a policy of purchasing as many supplies and equipment as possible locally, and providing employment for locals on both the menial and professional level.
I am thinking aloud here, drawing knowledge on several refugee experiences I am familiar with, from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Peru, Sudan, Zaire (now DRC) and Tanzania. Some though not all these experiences were positive, but the organisations involved came out of these situations with some lessons, which ought to be applied to the current crisis.
My question is - how do people think this could be best managed? How much chance is there of getting the international community to take the third option?
Chiri