Migration Studies Commons^™

Socioeconomic Rights Of Refugees: The Case Of Palestinian Refugees In Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, And Syria, Asem Khalil

Faculty Journal Articles

This paper is a contribution to discussions on the possible impact of global crises, especially the current financial crisis, on the economic and social rights of Palestinian refugees in host Arab countries. This paper will be limited to discussing the case of Palestinian refugees in Arab states that host the majority of Palestinian refugees (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria Palestinian refugees constitute a unique case study. ), but recognizes that the impact of such crises reaches beyond refugees, to citizens and other legal and illegal migrants.

Divided At The Margins: A Study Of Young Southern Sudanese Refugee Men In Cairo, Egypt, Natalie I. Forcier

Faculty Journal Articles

This report details a selection of findings on the situation of Southern Sudanese refugee youth at-risk for engaging in violence. Acknowledging that youth violence is not the problem but rather the symptom of underlying social and economic problems, the primary aim of this work was to explore the root causes for young Sudanese men to engage in violence.

Ethnographic data was collected through participant observation from 4 June 2008 to 17 December 2008. Using a series of community entry points, participant observation took place in public or semi-public settings with young men, adult men, young women, and the sisters, mothers …

Iraqis In Egypt A Statistical Survey In 2008, Philippe Fargues, Saeed El-Masry, Sara Sadek, Azza Shaban

Faculty Journal Articles

Emigration from Iraq has been occurring since the 1970s. The Iran-Iraq War, Gulf War and the subsequent international sanctions placed on the Iraqi regime have all produced waves of emigration. After US occupation of Iraq, however, and particularly since 2005, the country has witnessed unprecedented levels of out-migration. Since the US led war on Iraq in 2003, massive numbers of Iraqis have been displaced from their homes causing the largest influx of refugees into the region. The situation of Iraqi refugees in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon has received the attention of academics. In comparison, the picture of Iraqis in Egypt …

Palestinians In Lebanon: Chains Of Misery (Bound By The Law And The Market), Hoda Baraka

Faculty Journal Articles

Insecurity and instability could be general characteristics attributable to a large part of the Palestinian Diaspora, but the unique situation prevailing in Lebanon deserves to be given particular attention. This is because the degree of political, economic and social exclusion towards Palestinians is unique in its extent which in turn creates an ambiguous status quo for Palestinians; from which the present difficulties arise. This ambiguity serves to create a legislative vacuum, which in turn leads to the absence of a foundation for a clear relationship between both the Palestinians and the Lebanese. By discussing the current status of Palestinian refugees …

Pandemic Preparedness Among Sudanese Migrants In Greater Cairo, Yasmine Ahmed, Rebecca Dibb

Faculty Journal Articles

This study looked at the perceptions and vulnerabilities of Sudanese migrants to an influenza pandemic in Egypt. Migrants’ limited access to health and non-health public services in Egypt and the absence of a specific migrants’ component in the Egyptian National Pandemic Preparedness Plan provide indication of the vulnerability of migrants, both in terms of prevention and actual protection during a pandemic. This research project, commissioned by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and conducted by the Centre for Migration and Refugee Studies (CMRS) at the American University in Cairo, aimed to provide a situational analysis of pandemic preparedness among the …

Refugees, Migrants And Law In Palestine, Asem Khalil

Faculty Journal Articles

The topic of this paper is problematic due to the lack of shared understanding of its terms (refugees, migrants, law and Palestine). Research of such a topic, therefore, must be delimited as to prevent misunderstanding, misanalysis and misjudgement. The definition of one of these terms shall delimit and define the content of the others. Unless specified differently, in this paper “Palestine” refers to the territories known as the Occupied Palestinian Territories (oPt), covering what was called before 1967 as the West Bank (including East Jerusalem)1 and the Gaza Strip (for many Palestinians, this definition forms the territorial basis of a …

Relations Between Palestinian Diaspora (Al-Shatat), Palestinian Communities In The West Bank, And Gaza Strip, Jamil Hilal

Faculty Journal Articles

The following paper addresses the issue concerning relations between the Palestinian diasporas (al-shatat) and Palestinian society in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, within the historical context in which diasporas were formed (ethnic cleansing, military colonial occupation, statelessness, etc). It situates relations between the shatat communities and communities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip within their regional and international socio-economic and power relations. The paper formulates preliminary hypotheseis on the political, economic and cultural impact of relations of the diaspora and immigrant communities on the home society.

Refugees And Migrants From Eritrea To The Arab World: The Cases Of Sudan, Yemen And Saudi Arabia 1991-2007, Hélène Thiollet

Faculty Journal Articles

Since the early 1960s, exiles have been fleeing from Eritrea to neighbouring Sudan, the Arab world, and more recently to the West. The independence war that saw Eritreans rise against the Ethiopian state after the annexation of the former Italian colony in 1962, raged until 1991 and caused massive population displacement. Ongoing violence and poverty created over one million refugees in the 1980s and continuous flows of emigrants until the beginning of the 1990s. Eritrean independence, established in 1993, was expected to put refugees on their way back home. With the outbreak of a new war in 1998 and the …

Iraqi Refugees In Syria, Mohamed Kamel Dorai

Faculty Journal Articles

Since the beginning of the 20th century, Syria has hosted different refugee groups in large numbers such as Armenians, Palestinians and more recently Lebanese escaping the last war during the summer 2006. Since 2003, Syria hosts a large Iraqi community. It is important to note that despite the reception of different waves of refugees, Syria, like most countries in the region, is neither part of the 1951 Convention nor the 1967 Protocol, and there is no specific memorandum of understanding between UNHCR and the Syrian authorities. Syria is, along with Jordan, one of the main host countries for Iraqis fleeing …

Migration Policies And Challenges In The Kingdom Of Bahrain, Mohammed Dito

Faculty Journal Articles

Although small in terms of land area,1 Bahrain has long and rich traditions in terms of human migration throughout its ancient and modern history. Several natural, socio-economic and political factors have contributed toward making Bahrain a destination of regional as well overseas migration. Archeological evidences from the ancient civilization of Dilmun 4000 years ago are witness to dynamic trade relations between Bahrain and its neighboring regions, and human migration was an active force strengthening the role of cultural and economic interactions between the people of the Gulf and other civilizations. In the last century until the mid of the 20th …

Refugees From And To Sudan, Munzoul A. M. Assal

Faculty Journal Articles

This paper attempts to provide an overview of refugees to and from Sudan. It is a preliminary contribution that seeks to highlight the question of refugees coming to Sudan (with focus on Eritrean and Ethiopian refugees), and Sudanese refugees fleeing Sudan to neighbouring countries and further a field. The paper is an overview and is based on the existing knowledge on the subject. It does not represent research findings and aims at initiating debate around the question of refugees. It also seeks to highlight possible future research areas. In addition to the sources consulted, the author also uses his own …

Migration To Kuwait: Trends, Patterns And Policies, Nasra M. Shah

Faculty Journal Articles

This paper outlines the major trends in migration to Kuwait and describes the salient characteristics of the foreign population in comparison with the nationals. It also highlights the past and current policies of the country to manage and regulate migration. The paper is organized as follows. It begins with an overview of the population growth disaggregated by nationality, focusing especially on the growth in trends of Arabs vs. Asians. This section also describes the demographic structure of the population in terms of age, sex, and educational characteristics. The second section looks at the trends in the contribution of non-Kuwaitis to …

Aspects Of Migration And Development In Jordan, Riad Al Khouri

Faculty Journal Articles

Due to expansion of the public sector, high rates of economic growth, and demand for Jordanian workers in regional labor markets, Jordan enjoyed almost full employment from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s. This resulted in labor shortages in some job categories and paved the way for importing migrant laborers, particularly Arabs, to work mainly in unskilled and semi-skilled occupations. That prosperity did not last long, however, and unemployment began to rise in the mid-1980s due to slow growth of the regional labor market and the gradual return of Jordanian expatriates from the Gulf countries (though there was no parallel …

Contemporary Migration And Transnational Families: The Case Of Somali Diaspora(S), Mulki Al-Sharmani

Faculty Journal Articles

In this paper, I argue that a central feature of Somali contemporary migration is a transnational way of life, which an increasing number of diasporic Somalis and their families are leading. Transnational families become an important space in which Somalis strategize with their relatives, pool resources, share obligations, and arrange for the movements of individual family members. This kind of transnational way of life becomes a fairly effective mechanism through which diasporic Somalis seek security, protection, opportunities for a better life, and different forms of capital for themselves and their relatives in the homeland and elsewhere. However, living transnationally is …

Lebanese Diaspora And Homeland Relations, Guita Hourani

Faculty Journal Articles

Although Lebanese emigrants have always been part of Lebanon’s life, Lebanon has not actually had a specific diaspora policy. This discussion paper will not deal with the migration process, or the motives for migration. It will focus, instead, on some selected aspects of the Lebanese diaspora and homeland relations. It will draw attention to some of the important networks connecting the Lebanese diaspora with Lebanon and will review courses of action undertaken by the Lebanese government to strengthen ties with its diaspora.

State Policies On Migration And Refugees In Jordan, Francoise De Bel-Air

Faculty Journal Articles

Jordan has historically acted as a regional cross-road for migration. This role can be attributed to regional political instability forcing migrants to the country, as much as due to Jordan’s policy of openness to Arab migrants, an openness which has sustained the pan-Arabist claims of the ruling Hashemite dynasty. In recent years, however, Jordan has progressively restrained its open-door policy. The country is hosting today some 900,000 work migrants of various nationalities, some 750,000 Iraqi refugees and numerous Syrians, Lebanese, West Bank Palestinians, while an estimated 50% of the population is descendent of the naturalised Palestinian refugees of 1948 and …

Egyptian Workers In Paris: An Ethnographic Account, Reem Saad

Faculty Journal Articles

On both sides of the Mediterranean, labour migration from North Africa to Europe is seen as a problem. At the official levels, this problem is mainly treated from a security perspective with the greatest efforts directed at closing the loopholes through which migrant labour manages to reach Northern shores. Young men from many parts of the “South” go to extreme lengths and bear great risks to get to Europe. This paper addresses the case of Egyptian labour migrants in France. This research attempts to understand this issue from the point of view of the migrants themselves, and in the context …

The Decline Of Palestinian Exceptionalism: Observation Of A Trend And Its Consequences For Refugee Studies In The Middle East, Michael Kagan

Faculty Journal Articles

There has historically been a great divide at the heart of refugee policy and scholarship in the Middle East, between Palestinian refugees and all others. This intellectual and policy divide runs throughout political discourse, governmental and United Nations administration, and civil society activism. It poses a challenge to the coherency of forced migration studies in the Middle East. There is now a significant and growing inter-disciplinary literature about refugees of many nationalities in the region, but the largest and most visible refugee group in the region has been traditionally treated as “a case apart,” to borrow a phrase used recently …

From Internal To International Displacement In Sudan, Agnes De Geoffroy

Faculty Journal Articles

In the field of forced migration and refugees studies, forced internal displacement cannot be excluded as an area of interest. Internal displacement is challenging for peace construction, urban development and stability in many countries. The growing number of displaced persons is the reverse side of the international community new strategy, consisting in preventing cross-border displacement, aiming to prevent the regional spreading of instability and reducing the number of refugees. The country with the greatest number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the world is Sudan. It has more than 5 million IDPs, of which about 2 million were recently displaced …

The Legal Framework Of Forced Migration And Refugee Movements In Jordan, Mohamed Y. Olwan

Faculty Journal Articles

Jordan is a country of both immigration and emigration. It is a destination country for migrant Arab workers, especially Egyptians who work in occupations shunned by Jordanian citizens such as construction and agriculture, foreign domestic workers from different countries, particularly from Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Philippines, and migrant workers in Jordan's qualified industrial zones (QIZs) who come from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, and China. Jordan also serves as a transit country for South East Asians recruited with fraudulent job offers in Jordan who are trafficked to work involuntarily in Iraq.

Demographic Profile Of Palestinian Migration, Ismail Lubbad

Faculty Journal Articles

This working paper was prepared for the Centre of Forced Migration and Refugee Studies (FMRS) at the American University in Cairo (AUC) within the overall framework of the creation of a Middle Eastern and African Center for migration and refugee studies. The lack of available border registration data - Palestinian borders in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) are controlled by Israel - has restricted research on the demography of Palestinian migration. Furthermore, demographic statistics have been a political issue in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict since the beginning of the 20th century. A number of research studies, however, have been conducted on …

Migration To And Through Yemen: The Case Of Migrant Domestic Workers, Marina De Regt

Faculty Journal Articles

Regarding migration, Yemen is primarily known as a sending country. Large numbers of Yemenis have migrated abroad in different periods of Yemen’s history, and labour migration was one of the main sources of income since the oil boom in the 1970s. Since 1990, however, Yemen has turned into a receiving country. Not only were hundreds of thousands of Yemeni migrants expelled from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States after Iraq’s invasion in Kuwait in 1990, but the political changes that took place in the Horn of Africa, in particular in Ethiopia and Somalia, in the early 1990s led to the …

Refugee Diet In A Context Of Urban Displacement Part Two: Selecting And Incorporating Food: Diet And Perceptions Of Risk Among Southern Sudanese Refugees Living In Cairo, Peroline Ainsworth

Faculty Journal Articles

The changes in diet and food consumption practices experienced after displacement can have serious implications for the physiological health of forced migrants and refugees, as noted in Part One.1 These changes can also express cultural loss and social dislocation; the exchange, sharing, preparation and consumption of foods carry important social and cultural values and significances that often reflect and reinforce the very modes of social organization and codes of conduct which become undermined and fractured during displacement (Counihan et al. 1997:3, see also Levi-Strauss 1978, Mead 1970, Appadurai 1981). Altering and reconstructing food consumption habits and feeding practices is therefore …

Refugee Diet In A Context Of Urban Displacement Part One: Some Notes On The Food Consumption Of Southern Sudanese Refugees Living In Cairo, Peroline Ainsworth

Faculty Journal Articles

The changes in food consumption practices experienced after displacement can have serious implications for the health of refugees. These changes can also reflect and express cultural loss and shifts in social structures and habits. Altering and reconstructing food consumption habits and feeding practices is integral to people’s adjustment to and experience of displacement. However, research on the nature and impacts of changing food consumption practices among displaced populations, particularly those living in urban areas in the developing world, is scarce. The following report describes the findings of a 12-month exploratory study that aimed to document changes in food consumption among …

Refugees And Asylum Seekers From Mixed Eritrean­Ethiopian Families In Cairo, Louise Thomas

Faculty Journal Articles

People from mixed Eritrean­Ethiopian families have been caught on the ‘front line’ of hostile relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia, especially since the outbreak of the 1998­2000 war between the two countries. This report, based on interviews conducted with refugees from mixed Eritrean­Ethiopian families in Egypt, seeks to explain the uniquely difficult situation still faced by this group. It contends that because of their family relations with both Eritrea and Ethiopia, people from mixed families find themselves in limbo legally, socially and psychologically, and should therefore be of concern to UNHCR’s international protection regime. This report has three aims. The first …

A Tragedy Of Failures And False Expectations Report On The Events Surrounding The Three­Month Sit­In And Forced Removal Of Sudanese Refugees In Cairo, September–December 2005, Fateh Azzam, Maisaa Youssef, Andrew Woods, Nora Danielson, Themba Lewis, Laura Maxwell, James Pearce, Sarah Sedak

Faculty Journal Articles

On September 29, 2005, dozens of Sudanese asylum seekers and refugees initiated a sit­in near the offices of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Cairo to protest UNHCR’s ongoing suspension of refugee status determination procedures as well as their conditions in Cairo, a situation they considered unbearable. Their number quickly grew to an average of 1,800 to 2,500 and remained at those levels throughout the following three months. Periodic meetings and negotiations among the sit­in leadership, UNHCR, and a number of other parties failed to meet the demonstrators’ demands or to result in a satisfactory end to the …

Solace And Security At The Cairo Refugee Demonstration, Stacy Schafer

Faculty Journal Articles

Over the course of a 92 day sit-in, Sudanese refugees demonstrating in a park in downtown Cairo formed a close-knit community. They preferred to remain outside in a public park indefinitely to other options available to them. Who these protestors were and the reasons for their prolonged stay were a matter of contention from the first days of their demonstration. This paper incorporates my research conducted during the demonstration in order to understand the factors that drew these refugees to protest for such an extended period of time. While consistently demanding that the UNHCR and international community give them ‘their …

Nothing Left To Lose? An Examination Of The Dynamics And Recent History Of Refugee Resistance And Protest, Matthew Themba Lewis

Faculty Journal Articles

Refugee protest is some of the most desperate, dramatic and spectacular. Instances of self-immolation, slow public starvation, and riotous violence are not rare, but public response and research has been limited at best. Simultaneously, it can be quiet, unnoticed, isolated, lonely - late night solitary suicides and disappearance from institutional routine. Coping with the harsh conditions of life in exile, institutional and otherwise, is an inherent component of the refugee experience - and a component that, as trends toward restrictive asylum policy grow, increasingly incorporates protest. Resistance in exile has become a tool of refugee identity, a vehicle through which …

Performance And Representation: Masculinity And Leadership At The Cairo Refugee Demonstration, Martin Rowe

Faculty Journal Articles

In the autumn of 2005, Sudanese refugees staged a protest of UNHCR in Cairo. Demonstration organizers were young, single men who confronted tasks of maintaining control and discipline and negotiating with an international agency. Their attainment of community authority would have been improbable in Sudan. Why did people listen to them, and why were they allowed to represent so many others? This paper evaluates the demonstration leadership in terms of preservation of masculine identity and status attainment. Their roles in the demonstration can be viewed as masculine “performance.” These considerations are developed through an examination of how leaders exercised authority, …

The Prospects Of Assisted Voluntary Return Among The Sudanese Population In Greater Cairo, Yasmine Ahmed

Faculty Journal Articles

This study looked at the prospects of assisted voluntary return among Sudanese migrants currently residing in Greater Cairo, Egypt. Its main objectives were to identify elements affecting the migration choices of Sudanese already residing in Egypt, especially their propensity to stay in Egypt, return to Sudan or move to a neighbouring country and to suggest components of a reinsertion programme that best suits the needs of potential returnees. This research project was commissioned by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and conducted by the Centre for Migration and Refugee Studies Program (CMRS) at the American University in Cairo. The project …