[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.]
Hunger and malnutrition being driven by climate crisis and conflict in South Sudan
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, UNICEF, and the UN World Food Programme report record high levels of food insecurity and malnourishment in South Sudan. They link this to the current conflict, economic turmoil, extreme climate conditions, and displacement. Along with this, there has been a decline in funding for humanitarian programs, even with increases in humanitarian needs.
Syria and Lebanon hit by cholera: Preventing the collapse of essential infrastructure is imperative
An updated operational report from the International Committee of the Red Cross indicates a public health crisis in Syria and Lebanon (ICRC). With a history of armed conflict and economic collapse, communities, particularly refugees and those displaced living in Syria and Lebanon, experience weak healthcare and sewage systems. This has led to a cholera outbreak. The ICRC is providing emergency response and supports local service providers in clean water and healthcare supply.
Shipwreck off Coast of Yemen Claims Lives of Migrants from the Horn of Africa
Following a shipwreck on the coast of Yemen, at least 28 migrants appear to be missing. The International Organization for Migration has recovered three bodies. Nearly 54,000 migrants have departed on the Eastern Corridor route spanning countries from the Horn of Africa to the Gulf. These migrants undergo dangerous journeys facilitated by smugglers, including overcrowded vessels, exploitation, and violence.
Netherlands team schedule meeting with migrant workers in Qatar
Amid the FIFA World Cup, the Netherlands soccer team took time to talk with the migrants who supported the effort to build the stadiums for the tournament. The Netherlands coach notes the meeting is focused on giving attention to the dire conditions under which stadiums and other infrastructure for the tournament were built.
Aegean Sea: Scores of migrants rescued by Greece, Turkey coast guard
The Greece coast guard issued a search and rescue operation in response to distressing calls about a vessel in rough seas south of the remote island Syrna. A German-flagged cargo ship in the region rescued the 62 people on the sailboat. The survivors were transferred to a coast guard lifeboat and taken to the island of Kos. Turkish coast guard units rescued 199 people off the western coast.
Four dead, two missing after migrant boat sinks off Tunisia
There have been numerous shipwrecks off Tunisia since October. On November 14, a boat reportedly sank, carrying 16 people, and headed to Italy. The Tunisian coast guard rescued 10 people and recovered 4 bodies.
Worsening flooding threatens fragile health system in South Sudan
Beginning in mid-October, nearly one million individuals have been displaced in South Sudan across 29 countries. Floods ravaging the country have drastically contributed to this number. The flooding has destroyed 37,000 tons of crops, killed 800,000 cattle, and demolished 121 health facilities. The flooding has also become a fertile breeding ground for disease.
'We were abandoned in the desert at 2 am': Migrants expelled from Algeria to Niger
Algeria expelled thousands of sub-Subaharan Africans to Point Zero, wherein people walked for hours till they reached the Nigerien village of Assamaka. Algerian authorities carried out these expulsions without any coordination with Nigeria. This has led to a humanitarian crisis in Assamaka, with migrants experiencing exhaustion, overcrowding, and sickness.
In Baidoa, Somalia, over 600,000 people have been forced from their homes by the climate crisis. Drought-stricken villages have led to malnutrition and famine. 500 camps have been set up around the town. However, many arrived late to ensure life-saving treatment for sick children, resulting in a single graveyard filled with the bodies of 230 children.
Millions in Syria face freezing temperatures without critical assistance
With high inflation and a collapsing economy, millions of families across Syria cannot afford essential items. The winter has caused dire living conditions due to limited access to heat, health services, or clean water supply. There is also country-wide electricity rationing. The UN reports the 2022 Syrian Humanitarian Response Plan remains underfunded, harming the delivery of life-saving winter assistance for 6 million people in Syria, including vulnerable groups such as internally displaced persons.
Egypt: Sexually Abused Refugees Find No Justice
Human Rights Watch reports that Egyptian authorities have failed to protect refugees and asylum seekers from pervasive sexual violence. There have been 11 incidents of sexual violence in Egypt between 2016 and 2022 against Sudanese and Yemeni refugees and asylees. The government has yet to enact proper policies and investigation systems to ensure justice for sexual violence survivors.
Italy's rightist govt welcomes migrants airlifted from Libya
In late November, Italy welcomed 114 migrants from Libya as a part of a ‘humanitarian corridor’ organized by Christian charities with members of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s rightist administration. The ‘humanitarian corridor’ is run by Protestant and Catholic organizations to help people feeling conflict. More than 5,000 asylum seekers from Libya, Lebanon, and Pakistan have arrived in Italy since the launch of the corridor in 2016.
Mediterranean Sea: Migrant boat departures from eastern Libya on the rise
500 migrants arrived in Greece on a vessel, revealing a new and formerly discrete route from eastern Libya to southern Italy. This route has become increasingly popular compared to western Libya due to the limited interceptions at sea and better infrastructure of boats. These journeys also cost significantly more.