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Refugees in South Asia and Impact on Regional Security

Explore the historical context, impact on regional security, and refugee situations in South Asia with a focus on migration patterns, labor destinations, remittances, conflicts, and the refugee definition and protocols. The text delves into specific case studies like Afghan refugees in Pakistan, Sri Lankan refugees and IDPs, Rohingyas in Bangladesh, Tibetans in India and Nepal, and Bhutanese refugees in Nepal. Discusses the complexities, implications, and future implications of migration and refugee issues in the region.

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Refugees in South Asia and Impact on Regional Security

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  1. Refugees in South Asia and Impact on Regional Security Dr. Nishchal N. Pandey Director, Centre for South Asian Studies, Kathmandu www.csas.org.np

  2. Human Migration • History of migration is the history of mankind. • Movement was Nomadic, often with conflicts with the indigenous population • No. of international migrants was estimated as 214 mln. in (2010). It could reach 405 mln. by 2050. • Both voluntary & involuntary migration • Involuntary includes- slave trade, trafficking, ethnic cleansing, refugees

  3. Types of Migrants • Seasonal • Rural to Urban • Urban to rural • Modern migration also due to wars and famine • Areas of shortage of labor but excess of capital have high-relative wage

  4. Main Destinations of South Asian Labor - Gulf & Malaysia • Construction & domestic sectors are main areas of international migration • 37 % of the total pop. of GCC is foreign workers and families • In UAE, foreign workers are 80 % of the total pop.

  5. Role of Remittance in Developing Economies • According to WB- remittances totaled US $ 414 bln. in 2009 of which $ 316 went to developing countries • Daily consumption, re-payment of loans, purchase of property, investment are the main areas of family spending • Remittance makes 23 % share of Nepal’s total GDP, standing 5th in the world

  6. Positive and Negative Features • Contributes to economy • Brings in goods, new skills and technologies • Reduces problems of un-employment in host countries • Host country in shortage of young & able manpower • Societal and family problems due to long absence of young people • Labor-Management rows affecting state to state relations

  7. Refugee Definition and Protocols • Person outside his/her country suffering prosecution due to race, religion, nationality or political opinion. • UN Convention on Status of Refugees-1951 • Protocol of 1967 expanded the concept of ‘refugee’. • UN Declaration on Protection of women, children in emergency and armed conflicts-1974

  8. History Since World War-II • By the end of the WW-II there was massive enforced migration, expulsion. • Europe had more than 40 mln. Refugees • Millions of Germans fled eastern Europe • Jews were also targeted.

  9. Main Sources of Refugees Afghanistan Iraq Sierra Leone Myanmar Somalia South Sudan Palestine

  10. Refugee Cases in South Asia • Partition of India in 1947 led to one of the largest human movement in mankind’s history • 7 mln. Hindus & Sikhs from Pakistan moved to India and 7 mln. Muslims from India crossed to Pakistan • One mln. died

  11. Bangladesh Liberation Movement 10 mln. Bangladeshis fled to India during the Independence movement in 1971 Mostly West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura had to harbour them. Amartya Sen, Bimal Roy are some Bengalis of East Bengal origin

  12. Afghan Refugees in Pakistan • Since the Soviet invasion to the U.S. campaign against terror, 6 mln. Afghans have fled to Pakistan • As of 2009, some 1.7 mln. Afghans still live inside Pakistan • 9,00,000 Afghans are in Iran.

  13. Post Return Complications • Property is not there • Ownership is unclear • Competing claims over ownership • Taliban & other militant groups recruit them • Unemployment, prostitution & drugs is rampant

  14. Sri Lankan refugees & IDPs • (1983-87) a total of 1,34,000 Tamils came to Tamil Nadu • 1989-1,22,000 Tamils fled Sri Lanka and were in Tamil Nadu • (1995-2002) 23,000 fled SL • After May 2009, 1,25,000 became IDPs

  15. Rohingyas in Bangladesh • 2,50,000 Muslim Rohingyas fled Burma & came to Bangladesh in 1991-92 • 100,000 Rohingyas from Rakhine state in Burma have been displaced in sectarian violence with Buddhists in 2012. • Dhaka says “it is not in the best interest of Bangladesh to allow more refugees into the country” • 3,00,000 Rohingyas are in camps in Cox Bazaar

  16. Tibetans in India & Nepal • 1,50,000 Tibetans live in India • 21,000 live & run businesses in Nepal • Highly politicized and controversial issue • Nepal is constantly at pressure from all sides.

  17. Conflict IDPs in Nepal • GTZ/UNDP study in 2003 said that there are 2,00,000 IDPs in Nepal • Return, resettlement, reintegration has not happenned even after the end of war • Confiscated property is yet to be returned

  18. Bhutanese Refugee in Nepal Bhutan has 75 % Buddhists and 25 % Hindus 1,05,000 Nepalese were booted out in 1991 They lived in 7 camps in eastern Nepal for 2 decades U.S. has re-settled 60,000

  19. Conclusion • Migration and Refugees are going to be critical issues of the contemporary world with regional and global consequences • There have been tremendous failures of policy, strategy and assessments • Very little work being done and poor coordination on South Asian migrant labor in the Middle East • Political upheaval in the middle east could have negative fall-outs for South Asian labor force.

  20. Dreamed I saw a building with a thousand floors,A thousand windows and a thousand doors,Not one of them was ours, my dear, not one of them was ours. -W.H. Auden

  21. Thank You!

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