[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on the topic of refugees, migrants, and IDPs and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Refugees and Migrants Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. It is updated monthly. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each month's roundup to info@jadaliyya.com.]
Latest Developments
Over 100 deaths at sea in one week as European States look away
Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) reported that at least 100 people drowned in the Central Mediterranean during the first week of April, while at least 130 others were forcibly returned to Libya. The organization condemned Italy and Malta’s failure to assist boats in distress and urged other humanitarian vessels in the Mediterranean to redirect their attention towards this region. The MSF vessel Geo Barents rescued 113 people to transport to Europe that week.
إيطاليا ترحل مئات المهاجرين وتدعو "لسياسة أوروبية مشتركة" لمواجهة قضايا الهجرة - مهاجر نيوز
The Italian authorities announced that around 850 migrants have been deported to their countries of origin since the beginning of 2022. The Italian Minister of the Interior, Luciana Lamorgese, described this as an achievement thanks to agreements reached with the Tunisan authorities. Lamorgese stated in the session that there needs to be a single decisive EU policy on the ground to establish strategic partnerships with North African countries.
UNICEF reported that the war in Ukraine has disrupted wheat, edible oils, and fuel supply chains to the Middle East and North Africa, which the agency anticipates will rupture the fragile nutritional status of children in the region and lead to higher rates of malnutrition over the next year. The impact of the war has compounded with the ongoing conflict, COVID, and economic crises in parts of other regions.
Cyprus detains 2 for smuggling after 24 Syrians land in boat
AP News reported that the Greek Cypriot authorities detained two nationals for suspected human trafficking of asylum seekers the last week of April. Government officials claim that 5% of Cyprus’ current population are asylum-seekers — five times the EU average — and the country has the highest number of asylum applications per capita in the bloc.
منظمات حقوقية: سياسة مفوضية اللاجئين في تونس لا تحمي حقوق اللاجئين! - مهاجر نيوز
More than twenty human rights organizations in Tunisia made a joint statement on Tuesday April 26th criticizing the policies of the branch of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Tunisia. The organizations criticized UNHCR’s policies that do not meet minimum living standards for asylum seekers and lack of basic services such as healthcare and education. The criticisms come as dozens of refugees stage a sit-in in front of the UNHCR office to protest the lack of response to refugees’ demands.
Thousands flee after clashes erupt in embattled Iraqi town
On May 1, AP News reported that 3,000 people left the Sinjar region of Iraq bound for the northern Kurdish controlled territory due to conflict escalation between the Iraqi army and the YBS, a militia group with ties to the Turkish insurgent Kurdistan Workers Party. Many of the displaced persons are part of the Yazidi community, a minority group which faced persecution and displacement when ISIS controlled the area in 2014.
https://www.infomigrants.net/ar/post/40139/295-%D9%85%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%85%D8%AA%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%B4%D9%86-%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%8A%D9%83%D9%86%D8%BA-%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%AF-%D8%AA%D9%86%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%B0-%D8%B9%D9%85%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%AA%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B0-%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%AA%D9%8A%D9%86295 مهاجراً على متن "أوشن فايكنغ" بعد تنفيذ عمليتي إنقاذجديدتين - مهاجر نيوز
Ocean Viking rescued a total of 131 migrants in two days at the end of April which brings the total number of migrants on board to 295 migrants, including 132 unaccompanied minors. The first boat that was rescued was at night off the Libyan coast during heavy waves which was described as a difficult operation. The second rescue mission was from a rubber boat in distress as well. The Mediterranean sea is the most dangerous sea route in the world. Around 24,000 people have died or disappeared on the route since 2014. Unfortunately, rescue boats do not patrol the entire Mediterranean and miss many migrants whose boats sink undetected.
Articles
شمال فرنسا: الجمعيات تواجه عمليات تفكيك مخيمات المهاجرين عبر تركيب "صناديق بريد" - مهاجر نيوز
In an effort to prevent and delay the French government;s attempt at dismantling refugee camps in Calais, human rights organizations are installing mailboxes across campsites to force the authorities to issue judicial decisions before carrying out eviction proceedings. By installing mailboxes, it is easier to identify people that live in the area in order for them to defend themselves in court in the case of eviction orders. The government currently does not prosecute immigrants before they are expelled as they visit the site and announce that no immigrants speak French and that they are unrecognizable. This allows for the police to quickly carry out evacuations without judicial procedures.
Migrant boat disaster wrecks a Lebanese family amid crisis
With two thirds of the Lebanese population living in the poverty, Lebanon is becoming a large source of migrant boats journeying across the Mediterranean towards Europe, according to AP News. he Lebanese authorities have ramped up their efforts to prevent illegal immigration to Europe in recent months. The last week of April, a Lebanese Navy collided with a migrant boat and caused the death of 13 Lebanese citizens, while managing to rescue the remaining 47 occupants on board.
محكمة العدل الأوروبية ترفض دعوى ضد فرونتكس وعملياتها في بحر إيجة - مهاجر نيوز
Human rights organizations are accusing the European Protection Agency, Frontex, of violating the rights of refugees and migrants, especially in the Aegean sea. One of the organizations, Front-LEX, accused Frontex of carrying out illegal pushbacks of migrants and other human rights violations. Front-LEX resorted to the European Court of Justice in a lawsuit against Frontex citing Article 265, which allows the possibility of bringing a case against EU agencies if they are failing their duty. The court dismissed the case as inadmissible for procedural reasons.
One year on from Israel’s bombardment, Gazans still await help to rebuild
The New Humanitarian reported that many Palestinians who suffered from shelling and displacement last May during the 11 days of conflict between Gaza-based and Israeli forces have not received humanitarian assistance to rebuild yet. Over 110,000 people were forced to flee their homes due to the conflict, as the Israeli army hit around 1,500 targets in Gaza with airstrikes and shelling. Tensions between Palestinians and Israelis continue to escalate in recent months.
المغرب: خفر السواحل ينقذ 192 مهاجراً من بينهم نساء وأطفال - مهاجر نيوز
The Moroccan Navy announced that the Moroccan Coast Guard rescued 192 migrants which were mostly women and children from sub-Saharan Africa. The migrants encountered difficulties while on rickety boats and some tried to swim towards the European coasts. The navy saved the migrants and provided necessary first aid on the boats before transferring them to the nearest Moroccan port.
What the EU’s policy toward Ukrainians may mean for other refugees
This New Humanitarian article analyzes the differences between the European Union’s treatment of Ukrainian refugees and asylum seekers from the Global South. The article found no indication that this shift in policy would extend to refugees from the Global South, particularly since the EU views the Ukrainian crisis as part of a larger geopolitical power struggle with Russia. The article hypothesizes the emergence of a two-tiered system between European refugees displaced by Russian aggression and the rest of the world.
المفوضية الأوروبية تسعى لتسهيل الهجرة القانونية إلى أوروبا - مهاجر نيوز
The European Commission for Migration submitted a proposal to facilitate legal migration towards Europe as well as obtaining work permits and residence permits. The proposal also urges EU countries to accept migrants from their home countries and allow migrants to change their workplace or lose their job for up to three months without losing their residence. The proposal recommends that migrants can help fill the labor shortage in the EU as well as support economic recovery after the Corona crisis.
Reports
Protection, Saving Lives,& Solutions For Refugees In Dangerous Journeys
UNHCR released a report that over 3,000 people died or went missing while attempting to cross the Central and Western Mediterranean and Atlantic last year to Europe, which is almost a third more lives lost than in 2021. Land routes also continue to be dangerous as well, comparable numbers of people may have died on journeys through the Sahara Desert, in detention centres, or while in the captivity of smugglers. The agency hypothesizes that pandemic travel restrictions may have contributed to more undocumented and dangerous migration methods to Europe.
Bidoons': A Statelessness Plight in Kuwait
This paper published by the Alexandria University School of Law in Egypt analyzes the conflict between international law and the widespread discriminatory culture against Bidoons in Kuwait. The paper discusses the role of UNHCR, civil society, and acculturation in resolving bidoon socio-legal paradox with the goal of ending statelessness for the Bidoon community.
"Human Interest Stories in the Coverage of Syrian Refugees: A Case Study from Turkey,"
Mashriq and Mahjar, NC State University’s Journal of Middle East and North African Migration Studies published an article that investigates the forms of representation of Syrian refugees in a Turkish daily newspaper that was associated with the Gülen movement, between 2011–2015. The paper analyzes contradictory narratives of the victimization and humanization of Syrian refugees.
Mixed Media
IOM, in partnership with the North Africa Mixed Migration Hub (MHUB) and the Center for Migration and Refugee Studies (CMRS) at the American University in Cairo (AUC), interviewed Dr. Ibrahim Awad, Director of the CMRS about the development and significance of these organizations’ scholars network in providing helpful migration research for policymakers around the globe.