Global Refugee Crisis: Primary Schools WTO Climate Change

DEVELOPMENT
AND COOPERATION
ENTWICKLUNG
UND ZUSAMMENARBEIT
International
Journal
ISSN
2366-7257
Monthly e-Paper February 2016
Primary schools Climate change WTO

Much needs yet Many issues remain What Nairobi summit
to be done in unresolved after has achieved and
Guatemala Paris agreement what it did not achieve
Global
refugee crisis
Title: Refugees in Macedonia.
Photo: AP Photo/picture-alliance
Focus: Editorial
Global refugee crisis Sealing Europe off is no solution
Misguided policies Though many European countries stayed aloof for a long time, the cur-
Many people from Latin America try to get to the USA via rent refugee crisis is nothing new. The UN Refugee Agency UNHCR has
Mexico. Both countries benefit from migration, but their been drawing attention to this global phenomenon for years. In 2014, the
policies focus on sealing off borders, reports Virginia most recent year for which we have reliable data, some 60 million people
Mercado of the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de lived displaced from their homes – more than ever before. In 2013, 8 million
México. Page 14 fewer had been affected, and ten years earlier, even 22 million fewer. More
than half of the displaced were children in 2014.
The task for this decade
Of the 60 million, 38 million were internally displaced persons (IDPs), who,
Gerd Müller, Germany’s federal minister for economic though fleeing, stayed in their country. According to the UNHCR, Syria had
cooperation and development, assesses the challenges of the largest number of IDPs in 2014: 7.6 million. Colombia came second
the current refugee crisis and indicates how to solve the (6 million) and Iraq third (3.6 million). The numbers are set to rise given that
problems. Page 16 an end to the conflicts in Syria and other places in the Middle East and North
Africa is not in sight.
New protection for refugees
The influx of refugees Europe woke up to last year did not come out of the
Europe is dismally failing to rise to the refugee challenge. blue. War has been raging in Syria for five years. Civilians are helplessly
It needs to redesign protection for refugees within the EU, exposed to violence. Afghanistan and Iraq are dysfunctional states, haunted
argues Karl Kopp of the civil-society organisation Pro by terrorist outfits such as ISIS or the Taliban. Lots of people have fled to
Asyl. Ndongo Samba Sylla, who works for the Dakar neighbouring countries from Syria and Afghanistan, so Turkey, Pakistan and
office of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation spells out why Lebanon now have the largest foreign-refugee populations worldwide. As
Africans find the distinction between political refugees things get worse in camps in Syria’s neighbouring countries, the exodus to
and economic refugees absurd. Pages 19 and 22 Europe gets stronger.
Reduced to a number It is scandalous that UN agencies have lately suffered a lack of funding and
even had to cut food rations. Life in the camps is becoming unbearable, but
Because of recurring violence, many refugees cannot the people concerned see no future for themselves or their children back
return home for years or even decades. Raphael Sungu home. Hopelessness has consequences. Some youngsters start appreciating
works for a humanitarian organisation and has witnessed extremists and even join terrorist groups. ISIS and the Taliban know how to
how refugees in Kakuma camp in Kenya despairingly lose recruit fighters in camps. Many more people, however, try to get to Europe,
any sense of purpose in life. Life is very difficult for a world region that looks like a paradise of peace and prosperity.
internally displaced people in Nigeria as well, writes
journalist Damilola Oyedele. Pages 23 and 27 Europe, however, treats the refugees in a disgraceful way and does not offer
a legal option of entry. Tens of thousands of people have died in the Medi-
Tackling trauma terranean Sea since the turn of the millennium. In 2015 alone, some 3,700
drowned. When a large European public finally realised last year just how
About 2 million displaced people of different faiths and desperate the situation of displaced people is, Federal Chancellor Angela
from different countries live in the Kurdish region of Merkel declared that refugees are welcome in Germany. This stance earned
northern Iraq. The Jiyan Foundation provides medical her international respect. Earlier, German civil society had begun to make
treatment, psychotherapy and social support. Katja impressive voluntary efforts to accommodate refugees in a sense of human
Dombrowski discussed matters with the foundation’s solidarity and decency.
leader Salah Ahmad. Page 30
As the influx of refugees has not stopped, however, Merkel is now facing
Overburdened and thoughtless headwinds – even within her own party. Some demand her government
should close borders and define a maximum number for refugees who may
Pakistan has taken in the second highest number of come to Germany. For good reason, Merkel argues that such measures would
foreign refugees worldwide. In view of many challenges violate human rights.
– including a great number of internally displaced people
– Islamabad is not fulfilling all its duties, according to All European governments must now assume responsibility. They tend to tell their
Waqqas Mir, a High Court lawyer in Lahore. Page 33 counterparts from developing countries that human rights must be respected.
Obviously, the EU must respect them too. If its members shy from doing so only
Pursuit of happiness because the requirements are demand-
ing, their credibility in Africa, Asia and
Sabine Balk
Many academics leave Africa for Europe or North America Latin America will be further eroded. Such is a member of the editorial team of
because they struggle to find good jobs at home. Three a stance, moreover, would do nothing to D+C/E+Z.
Ugandans told German journalist Isabella Bauer about motivate the Muslim allies Europe needs [email protected]
their experiences. Page 36 in the fight against terrorist forces.
2 D+C e-Paper February 2016

D+C February 2016 Entwicklung undInZusammenarbeit.
German in E+Z
Tribune
Both language versions
at www.DandC.eu
Monitor4
UNESCO states that Education for All campaign has not achieved its
goal / Tough labour relations in Myanmar’s garments industry / ISIS
uses water as a weapon / Why Syria’s civil war escalated as it did /
Emerging patterns of civil war and violence / Nowadays: Private
primary schools in India / Imprint
Gudrun Lux
Focus: Global refugee crisis
Virginia Mercado:
When the journey to the USA is fraught with danger14
School worries in Guatemala
Gerd Müller:
The task for this decade16 Journalist Patricia Galicia assesses why almost 20 %
of Guatemala’s children do not go to school and
Karl Kopp: discusses the rise of private schools with Carlos
Europe needs a coherent approach to welcoming refugees 19 Aldana, a former deputy minister of education.
Indigenous communities in particular are
Ndongo Samba Sylla: marginalised. Pages 40 and 41
In African eyes, it is absurd to distinguish economic refugees
from political refugees 22 “We are running out of time”
Raphael Sungu: A new global climate agreement was concluded in
In Kakuma camp in Kenya, persons are reduced to numbers, and the UN context in Paris in December, but many
life becomes meaningless 23 important issues remain unresolved. Hans
Dembowski discussed matters with Thomas Loster,
Damilola Oyedele: director of Munich Re Foundation, who has been
The plight of Nigeria’s internally displaced people27 observing climate negotiations for 20 years.
Page 42
Interview with Salah Ahmad:
The Jiyan Foundation helps refugees and victims of violence in
Kurdish northern Iraq30 Debate
Waqqas Mir:
Pakistan is overburdened, and state agencies shy away from
responsibilities33
Isabella Bauer:
Some African academics look for happiness abroad 36
Zataari/AP Photo/picture-alliance
Tribune
Patricia Galicia:
Primary schools in Guatemala reflect the nation’s inequality40
Interview with Thomas Loster:

Open questions after Paris climate agreement42
Hans Dembowski: Scrambling against decline

The WTO agrees to disagree and inches forward44
Old tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran are
reintensifying. By executing a leading Shia cleric,
Debate46 Saudi Arabia has recklessly fanned the flames,
Comments on Saudi-Iranian tensions and Burundi’s escalating crisis argues Maysam Behravesh. Page 46
D+C e-Paper February 2016 3

Monitor
picture-alliance/dpa
Global Monitoring Report
Education for all not achieved

In 2000, 164 governments agreed on write. While this target was more applica- There are shortfalls in other areas too.
the “Dakar Framework for Action, Edu- ble to the poorest countries, other nations The authors state: “Overall, not even the
cation for All” (EFA). It was an ambi- found it less relevant. According to the target of universal primary education was
tious agenda to reach six education findings, the focus on universal primary reached, let alone the more ambitious
goals by 2015. The most important enrolment meant less attention to other EFA goals, and the most disadvantaged
target was universal primary edu- crucial areas such as education quality, continue to be the last to benefit.” Educa-
cation which also became one of the pre-school care and adult literacy. tion remains under-financed because only
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). few governments prioritise education in
Despite considerable progress, edu- Nonetheless, the GMR acknowledges national budgets. Moreover, donor gov-
cation for all was not achieved, as the that there has been tremendous progress ernments have reduced aid to education
EFA Global Monitoring Report (GMR) since 2000. The number of children and since 2010 and not sufficiently prioritised
shows. Altogether, the EFA initiative adolescents who were out of school has the countries most in need.
is rated as a qualified success. fallen by almost half. The monitoring of
education progress has also improved.
The authors of the report, that was com- According to the GMR, the greatest pro- Stagnating enrolment
missioned by UNESCO, criticise that gress was achieved in gender parity, par- ratio
EFA lost global attention once the MDGs ticularly in primary education. However,
became the dominant development gender disparity still exists in almost The achievement of universal primary
agenda. “The result was excessive empha- a third of the countries for which UNESCO education is considered the most impor-
sis on universal primary education,” they has data. tant EFA indicator. While the global pri-

In northern Bangladesh, pleted primary school were expected not
NGOs operate floating to have done so. In total numbers, almost
boat schools that move 100 million children are concerned.
from one area to
another, providing The problem of out-of-school children
classes to children who is becoming increasingly concentrated in
do not have access to conflict countries. Thirty-six percent of
other schools. out-of-school children are living in conflict
zones, especially in the Arab region, and
the proportion is growing.
The report team found that the most

disadvantaged people are still furthest
from achieving universal primary comple-
tion. They estimate that children from the
richest quintile of families were five times
more likely to attain full primary educa-
tion in 2010 than those from the poor-
est quintile. That ratio had only slightly
improved since 2000. Gender, location
and ethnicity also had an impact on
access to school.
According to the GMR, major efforts

must be made to prioritise disadvantaged
and marginalised children in the next dec-
ade, particularly children with disabilities
and those living in disaster situations.
Furthermore, the commitment to school
access must go along with a focus on
learning and relevance. Improving quality
could ensure that public education sys-
tems become a vehicle for upward mobil-
ity, especially for disadvantaged people.
Finally, the authors call for stronger
action on financing across the board.
mary enrolment ratio increased from tries, mostly in sub-Sahara Africa, at least Katja Dombrowski
84 % in 1999 to 91 % in 2007, the indica- 20 % of children enrolled are not expected
tor has since stagnated. It is estimated to to reach the last grade. By the 2015 dead- Link:
reach 93 % in 2015 at best. Dropping out line, one in six children in low and middle EFA Global Monitoring Report 2015:
of school remains an issue: in 32 coun- income countries who should have com- http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0023/002322/232205e.pdf
Education for All goals

Six internationally agreed education free and compulsory primary education of Goal 5: Eliminating gender disparities in
goals aimed to meet the learning needs good quality. primary and secondary education by
of all children, youth and adults by 2005, and achieving gender equality in
2015. Goal 3: Ensuring that the learning education by 2015, with a focus on ensur-
needs of all young people and adults ing girls’ full and equal access to and
Goal 1: Expanding and improving compre- are met through equitable access to achievement in basic education of good
hensive early-childhood care and educa- appropriate learning and life-skills pro- quality.
tion, especially for the most vulnerable grammes.
and disadvantaged children. Goal 6: Improving all aspects of the quality
Goal 4: Achieving a 50 percent improve- of education and ensuring excellence of all
Goal 2: Ensuring that all children, particu- ment in levels of adult literacy, especially so that recognised and measurable learn-
larly girls, children in difficult circum- for women, and equitable access to ing outcomes are achieved by all, espe-
stances and those belonging to ethnic basic and continuing education for all cially in literacy, numeracy and essential
minorities, have access to and complete adults. life skills.

Garments production
Decent conditions and

fair wages
In Myanmar, the garments industry is Garment worker in
booming. After decades of isolation, Myanmar.
the country’s economy is opening
up, and global players have started
sourcing from its factories. While
investments are welcome, and gar-
ments production is powering eco-
nomic growth, the workers are hardly
benefiting from this trend.
Lynn Bo Bo/picture-alliance/dpa
In 2014, an average of two new gar-

ments factories opened every week in
Myanmar. The industry now comprises
almost 300 factories, with a workforce of
nearly 300,000, of whom 90 % are young
women. Global retail brands like Gap,
H&M, Primark and Adidas are among the
buyers. time, sometimes unpaid. A number of Manufacturers and sourcing compa-
respondents reported working through nies should:
According to research done by Oxfam lunch breaks and into the night to meet ■■ recognise the right of independent
last summer, garments workers are stuck excessive production targets. trade unions and employers to engage
in poverty in spite of working up to 11 freely in collective bargaining, includ-
hours per day, six days a week. The experts Weak rule of law, poor regulation and ing bargaining on wages at the factory
assessed 22 factories in industrial zones the lack of respect for workers’ rights com- level,
in and around Yangon, the country’s eco- pound the dismal labour conditions in ■■ provide regular training for workers on
nomic capital. Myanmar’s factories, the authors state. occupational health and safety as well
If those conditions do not improve, they as fire/electrical safety,
In September 2015, a minimum wage expect serious accidents, social unrest and ■■ allow and support the formation of
of $ 83 a month was introduced – the human-rights violations. Oxfam calls on workers’ health and safety committees,
lowest minimum wage of any garment- international brands and their suppliers ■■ develop mechanisms for workers to
producing country in the world apart from to safeguard workers’ fundamental rights anonymously report safety hazards to
Bangladesh with $ 68 per month (see Asa- and to make sure they can earn a decent managers, and
dullah and Wahhaj in D+C/E+Z e-Paper living for themselves and their families. ■■ create accessible, effective and efficient
2016/01, p. 32

ff.). Oxfam considers the mechanisms for addressing workers’
setting of a minimum wage an important Therefore, international sourcing grievances.
benchmark, but the results of its recently companies should:
published report “Made in Myanmar” sug- ■■ publish the locations of supplier facto- In Myanmar, the garments industry is just
gest that the sum is not enough for work- ries to enable independent monitoring starting to grow. According to Oxfam, deci-
ers to cover their and their families’ basic of work conditions, sion makers and business leaders have
needs. Almost half of all workers surveyed ■■ support suppliers to ensure that workers a choice: they can either allow the coun-
are trapped in debt and report that they receive regular training and informa- try to become the next low-cost, exploita-
borrowed money to pay for basic items. tion, tive and unstable manufacturing location;
■■ ensure that supplier factories can afford or they can learn from other low-income
Safety was another big concern. More to pay legal wages and even facilitate countries’ mistakes and make industrial
than one in three workers reported that wage bargaining to raise wages above growth fair and inclusive right from the
they had been injured at work. Many were the minimum level, start. Katja Dombrowski
afraid of factory fires, saying that building ■■ ensure that delivery times do not require
exits were often blocked or even locked. workers to do excessive overtime, Link:
■■ develop long-term relationships with Made in Myanmar: Entrenched poverty or decent jobs for
According to the findings, workers face suppliers so that they can plan for garment workers?
verbal abuse by supervisors, who often put a long-term workforce, and https://www.oxfam.org/sites/www.oxfam.org/files/file_at-
pressure on them to work faster. Almost ■■ stop or at least strictly limit the use of tachments/bp209-made-in-myanmar-garment-workers-
one in four workers was forced to do over- short-term contracts in supplier factories. 091215-en.pdf

ISIS
Water as a weapon
In the eyes of the terror militia ISIS, near Falluja, Samarra and Ramadi – are Von Lossau points out that water can
water is of great strategic relevance still under ISIS control. serve as a military means, for instance
in the areas it occupies in Iraq and when areas are flooded to block enemy
Syria. ISIS uses the resource to ISIS is trying to use the water resources troops from advancing. Control of the
enforce its rule and as a weapon to for military purposes, von Lossow writes. indispensable resource, moreover, is use-
fight enemy troops. He sees three options: cutting water sup- ful for putting pressure on enemies. It
ply, flooding areas or contaminating drink- accordingly caused global concern when
Tobias von Lossow of Germany’s for- ing water. According to the SWP scholar, ISIS took control of the Mosul dam in
eign-policy think tank SWP has pub- ISIS is doing all of this. In both Syria and August 2014. Half of Iraq’s electricity gen-
lished a study on how ISIS is using water Iraq the extremists are reported to have eration depends on this dam. Had ISIS
resources in a world region that is known blocked the water supply for municipali- demolished the dam, moreover, the result-
for water scarcity. He argues that conquer- ties, towns and entire regions. One exam- ing flood wave would have destroyed
ing major dams on the Euphrates and ple was the predominantly Christian town Mosul and caused serious damage in Bag-
dad, 400 kilometers downstream.
According to von Lossow, the UN is

concerned about ISIS making military
use of water, but cannot do much about
it. Typical UN means such as ostracism,
appeals and sanctions do not have an
impact on the fundamentalist militia. So
far, only the armed forces of the anti-ISIS
coalition have been able to make a differ-
ence. Air strikes have several times helped
the Iraqi army and Kurdish militias regain
dams, as was the case in Haditha in 2014
and again in 2015. In a similar way, Iraqi
and Kurdish forces depended on massive
western air strikes when they took control
of the Mosul dam.
The “water weapon” is quite effective,

the author states, but nonetheless, there
are limits to its application. As ISIS wants
to establish a caliphate, it needs to provide
public services – including water supply.
Accordingly, it cannot destroy all water
infrastructure. Moreover, the terrorist
Photoshot/picture-alliance
organisation needs water to produce and

process the crude oil it sells to raise funds.
In von Lossau’s view, ISIS lacks water-
management expertise, so it is forced to
rely on the local utilities’ staff.
A Kurdish fighter protecting the Mosul dam.
The author’s conclusion is that ISIS
Tigris rivers is an important component of of Qaraqosh in northern Iraq. It was vir- has raised the strategic use of water to
the militia’s expansion strategy, just like tually isolated by ISIS in June 2014. The a new level. Its approach is said to be “tar-
conquering oil fields. Dams allow the author also gives examples for flooding geted, systematic, logical and flexible at
Islamists to control the water resources. incidents. One was when ISIS closed river the same time.” Sabine Balk
locks after conquering the Falluja dam
In 2014, ISIS gained control of almost in April 2014 in order to submerge areas Link:
all important dams in the two-rivers sys- upstream and disrupt agencies of the Iraqi Von Lossow, T.: Wasser als Waffe: Der IS an Euphrat und Tigris
tem in northern Iraq, the author writes. government. Moreover, he reports that (Water as a weapon: ISIS on the shores of Euphrates and Tigris –
The fighting was heavy, and the militia ISIS fighters contaminated drinking water only available in German)
could not hold on to all of them. However, in the Balad District south of Tikrit with http://www.swp-berlin.org/fileadmin/contents/products/
several important dams – for instance crude oil. aktuell/2015A94_lsw.pdf

Syria
Many dimensions
Syria used to be one of the Middle Saudi Arabia played a destructive role by of civil society is emerging from mutual
East’s most stable countries. Today, turning the Syrian conflict into a proxy support in families and neighbourhoods
it is being torn apart by civil war. A war, while countries like Russia and Iran with Syrian activists assuming many dif-
recent publication elaborates what similarly fed the conflict by lending sup- ferent roles. According to the scholar,
the reasons are, who the main con- port to Assad. As all of these countries some have created new organisations,
flict parties are, and why the crisis is pursue their own geo-strategic interests, others are giving the protest movement
so hard to resolve. the militias they fund fight one another. a voice by working as citizen journalists.
Abboud’s conclusion is that the initial Some are contributing to setting up medi-
The Syrian turmoil started in 2011
when protests arose against the
repressive regime of Bashar al-Assad,
writes Samer N. Abboud in his book
“Syria”. He is a professor at Pennsylvania’s
Arcadia University and is from a Syrian-
Lebanese family.
His book describes how Assad increas-

ingly suppressed al kinds of independent
political and societal activism. One result
was that, when activists rose up, there
were no civic options for them to organise
and demand political change, he argues.
The protests spread all over the country
and turned into a decentralised, compara-
tively unorganised movement. The regime
responded by using brutal force and
announcing marginal reforms in order to
show good intentions. Abboud states that
the regime’s stance was obviously unac-
AA/picture-alliance/dpa
ceptable to the protest movement. Many

members of the opposition were forced to
leave the country; others took up arms.
However, the attempt to form a politi- International campaigns against ISIS are adding to Syrian troubles: this school in Aleppo was destroyed by
cal opposition abroad and topple Assad Russian air strikes.
with support from the international com-
munity lacked legitimacy in Syria, accord- protest movement was absorbed by a war cal services and schools, while others are
ing to the author. The Free Syrian Army economy, war politics and cross-border de facto serving governmental and admin-
(FSA) was founded by soldiers who had patronage. istrative functions in areas where the Syr-
deserted Syria’s armed forces and tried to ian state has collapsed. Such experiences,
unite the opposition. Abboud points out As the humanitarian crisis escalates in the professor demands, must be used for
that the FAS failed to do so due to disputes Syria and the spread of ISIS is causing ever the country’s eventual reconstruction.
over leadership as well as lacking financial more people to flee, the international com-
and other support. The international community is under increasing pressure to act. The more the conflict becomes a proxy
munity did not agree on any strategy con- In Abboud’s view, however, the tentative war, however, the worse the chances
cerning the insurrection, and ever more attempts to stop the war by holding peace become that Syrians will solve their prob-
fighters left the FAS to join more radical conferences (Geneva I and II) were bound lems themselves – as they must. According
and better-equipped extremist militias. to fail, especially since the international to Abboud, only Syrians can resolve the
Due to support from private persons in the community never managed to involve all crisis. Those who want to support a peace
Gulf region, these militias have stronger relevant conflict parties. process must therefore tackle the conflict’s
capacities and provide better social ser- many dimensions, he states. And the cruel
vices, Abboud writes. What started as a demand for political war on civilians must stop as soon as pos-
change has thus turned into a multi-facet- sible. Dagmar Wolf
Other attempts to unite the opposi- ted conflict with international dimensions.
tion failed as well. According to Abboud, Nonetheless, the initial motivations live Reference:
regional powers such as Turkey, Qatar and on, Abboud argues. In his eyes, a new kind Abboud, S. N., 2016: Syria. Cambridge: Polity Press.

Follow us on
Twitter!
To stay in touch with
what is happening on
our website, follow
us on twitter. We’ll
you aware of what we make
post and other thin
concerning our bran gs
d.
X +
www.twitter.com/forumdc
Cloys/ZUMA Press/picture-alliance
Soldiers doing
maintenance work on
a US Air Force Drone in
Kandahar, Afghanistan
in December 2015.
Military affairs
War technologically
transformed
The way wars and armed conflicts are States used to be the main actors in According to him, non-state groups have
waged is changing. Drones and robots classical wars, but according to Conrad begun to use short-range handicraft-style
are becoming ever more important. Schetter of the Bonn International Center drones, which are technologically less
for Conversion (BICC), conflict parties advanced than those of regular armies,
Many scholars perceive conflicts as increasingly rely on networks. In the era but devastating nonetheless. Simplified
a disruption of the globalisation proof globalisation and the internet, propa- drone technology thus provides a cheap
cesses, but Teresa Koloma Beck of Berlin’s ganda is becoming ever more important, means for non-state groups to attack state
Humboldt University Berlin disagrees. She especially in social-media networks. Legit- opponents.
argues that, in the eyes of local people, it is imacy in the eyes of the public is an impor-
the other way round. When international tant resource. At a BICC-organised conference in
forces intervene, local people are suddenly Bonn in October, Schörning warned that
confronted with foreign troops and organi- After the unsuccessful and costly “unmanned warfare” may lead to an “era
sations. interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq, of clandestine intervention”. He calls for
western governments are now shying stricter rules and criteria regarding the use
According to Beck, context matters. In away from deploying ground forces in con- of unmanned systems. Robots and drones
Angola, for example, international inter- flict-torn countries, as Max Mutschler of can decouple modern warfare from geo-
vention was conducted in a post-conflict BICC points out. Their citizens don’t want graphical dimensions and distract public
setting with the goal of peacekeeping. Beck countrymen to die in war, especially as the attention, as citizens tend to worry most
has observed that it fostered a positive strategic goals are typically not achieved. about the safety of their nation’s soldiers.
notion of globalisation. In contrast, when
a military intervention is supposed to stop Accordingly, the fight against ISIS in When there are “no boots on the
an on-going conflict, the impact may be Iraq and Syria is conducted with air and ground”, moreover, the abuse of civilian
an escalation of violence, and the people drone strikes today. Military interventions people’s rights and the need for humani-
affected will resent the foreign forces. Beck are undergoing a technological trans- tarian action often stay unnoticed. The
considers Afghanistan an example, and formation, with robots replacing human latest example of important global media
argues that the globalised world is often beings. Niklas Schörning of the Peace attention is Madaya. This Syrian town is
experienced as a system of hierarchy and Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF) says besieged and people were starving. After
asymmetry. Because of the tense security that a growing number of countries pos- their suffering attracted global attention,
situation, members of the international sess military robots. These gadgets allow a humanitarian mission became possible
forces stay segregated from the local peo- them to conduct war from a distance and since conflict parties worry about their
ple, compounding the problems. reduce casualties among their own troops. public image. Floreana Miesen

Nowadays: Scrimping and saving
In India, as in many other coun- help Rahul keep pace with his
tries, government-run schools classmates from better econom-
do not have a good reputation. ic backgrounds. New Delhi
Accordingly, a wide range of
private schools are flourishing. Roopa works as a cook for five
Many parents scrimp and save in households in North Delhi. Her
the hope of enabling their chil- three children were educated in a
dren to have a better future. state-run school. Her oldest INDIA
daughter, Gauri, has two children
Rahul goes to a private school and sends them to a private
located in a well-to-do suburb of school where she pays 1400 ru-
Kolkata. His father is a helper in a pees per month. That is the equiv-
small shop in North Kolkata alent of about € 200 euros – and
while his mother cooks at other India’s average income in 2013 ents have begun to set aside “Knowledge of vernacular lan-
people’s houses. They struggle only amounted to the equivalent money in order to send their guages is important, but in order
to make ends meet. Nonethe- of € 1100 euros. Gauri must live children to private schools. They to find a good job in India one
less, they opted for a private hand-to-mouth in order to pay the hope that will get them better needs to be fluent in English,”
school that teaches in English fees, but she feels it is worth it “if job opportunities and help them says Mayuresh Banerjee, an IT
when Rahul was young. the children have a better future.” to escape poverty. Many people professional who studied in a
who send their children to gov- government school but wants
Today, Rahul is in grade 5, and These instances are not unique. ernment schools, moreover, his children to go to a mission-
his father needs a bank loan to As India’s economy has expand- have begun to pay for additional ary school. There is a wide range
keep Rahul in that school. They ed over the past few decades, an private tuition. The understand- of private schools – some are
also pay for private tuition to increasing number of poor par- ing that education matters in life not very expensive, while others
has spread wide. charge substantial fees.
According to India’s constitu- Not all people deem private edu-

In our column “Nowadays”, tion, education is compulsory cation necessary, however. Sur-
D+C/E+Z correspondents and free for all children in the endar Kumar, an auto-rickshaw
write about daily life in age group six to 14 years. Educa- driver in Delhi, says: “I could only
developing countries. tion is provided by both the afford to send my children to a
public and private sector. Irre- government school but I think
spective of economic class, the they did pretty well for them-
reputation of state-run schools selves. I agree that I tried to en-
is not good however. Reasons sure that they got some addi-
Roli Mahajan include the absenteeism of tional tuition but I really believe
is a journalist based in Delhi. teachers, poor infrastructure that if a child wants to study
[email protected] and the emphasis on local Indian then they can study in any envi-
languages. ronment.”
Imprint
D+C Development and Cooperation and academia at an international level. Executive director: Translators: two voucher copies are sent to the editor
Vol. 42, 2015 D+C is the identical twin of E+Z Oliver Rohloff M. Bell, C. Davis unless copyright is explicitly indicated.
D+C is published together with Entwicklung und Zusammenarbeit, This does not apply to the photographs
the German edition E+Z the German edition. Address of the publisher Disclaimer according to § 5,2 Hessian published in D+C Development and Coop-
Internet: http://www.DandC.eu and editorial office: Law on the Freedom and Rights of the eration and E+Z Entwicklung und Zusam
ISSN 2366-7257 ENGAGEMENT GLOBAL gGmbH Frankenallee 71-81 Press: The shareholder of the company menarbeit. The editors request that no
Service für Entwicklungsinitiativen D-60327 Frankfurt am Main, Germany is Frankfurter Societät GmbH. unsolicitated manuscripts be sent. How
Published on assignment from: Tulpenfeld 7 ever, they do welcome proposals along
53113 Bonn This is also the legally relevant address Advertising and subscription service: with abstracts that serve to outline
Tel. (02 28) 2 07 17-0, of all indicated as responsible or entitled Klaus Hofmann (responsible) submissions.
Fax (02 28) 2 07 17-150 to represent them in this imprint. Phone: +49 (0) 69 75 01-48 27
D+C Development and Cooperation is http://www.engagement-global.de Fax: +49 (0) 69 75 01-45 02 Prices for print edition (incl. mailing charges):
funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry Editorial team: [email protected] single issue: € 2.20
for Economic Cooperation and Advisory board: Dr. Hans Dembowski (chief), Sabine Balk, annual subscription, Germany: € 14.00
Development and commissioned by Thomas Loster, Prof. Dr. Katharina Katja Dombrowski, Sheila Mysorekar, Opinions expressed by authors indicated annual subscription, world: € 18.00
ENGAGEMENT GLOBAL. D+C does not Michaelowa, Prof. Dr. Dirk Messner, Eva-Maria Verfürth, Dagmar Wolf (assistant) in bylines do not necessarily reflect the
serve as a governmental mouthpiece. Petra Pinzler, Hugh Williamson Phone: +49 (0) 69 75 01-43 66 views of ENGAGEMENT GLOBAL, the Printing:
Our mission is to provide a credible Fax: +49 (0) 69 75 01-48 55 publisher or the editor and his team. Westdeutsche Verlags- und Druckerei GmbH
forum of debate, involving govern- Publisher: [email protected] Individual articles may be reprinted Kurhessenstraße 4–6
ments, civil society, the private sector Frankfurter Societäts-Medien GmbH Graphic design/Layout: Jan W. Hofmann provided the source is mentioned and 64546 Mörfelden-Walldorf, Germany

A man rests in the IDP camp Centre Jean XXIII
in Bangui, Central African Republic.
Global refugee
crisis
Jürgen Bätz/picture-alliance/dpa
The world is seeing the highest number of forced displacement ever: more than 60
million people fled their homes. While the Syrian war is causing the highest number
of refugees, it is only one example of numerous devastating conflicts and crises.
Other reasons for displacement range from ethnic and religious persecution to
natural disasters and climate-induced threats. Most displaced people stay in their
own countries, or in the region. Only few make it to the rich world. However, in 2015
migration to Europe reached historic highs too.
A journey fraught
with danger
As a neighbour of the United States, Mexico has become a transit country for many
Latin Americans. In their eyes, Mexico is what separates constant armed conflict
back home from the dream of a better life in the north. Mexico and the US benefit
from the migration flows, but the migration policies they have adopted are mainly
geared to exclusion.
By Virginia Mercado
For Mexican and Central American people, who ment conditions were not good. Workers’ had to pay
have no money and no papers in Mexico or Cen- for the expenses of being brought in from Mexico, and
tral America, being smuggled into the United States they were not allowed to leave the United States until
often seems to be the only way to escape poverty and that debt was paid off.
violent conflict. Many try their luck and offer “coyotes”
– people traffickers – large amounts of money to take Demand for foreign labour lessened somewhat over
them to the supposed paradise. In many cases, they the next decade, but it picked when the US economy
spend their entire life savings. grew fast after World War II and prospered. Once again,
the USA adopted contradictory policies. The “Bracero”
According to Oxfam, around 65 % of the Latin programme was launched to supply farmers in the USA
Americans who live in the USA are from Mexico, but with temporary Mexican workers, but the border was
less than a quarter of them have US citizenship. The placed under increasingly tight military control. This
migrants are mostly from poor rural regions where trend of sealing off the border is still evident today.
levels of education are low. Wages in the US are up to
eight times higher than in Mexico. In the mid-1960s, Mexican labour ceased to be
indispensable for the North American economy, but
The Mexican state profits from migrants’ remit- a mutual pattern had been established and Mexican
tances to their families. The Banco de México estimates immigrants continued to be employed north of the bor-
that remittances account for about 1.8 % of annual der. The flow of migrants only slowed down in one sin-
gross domestic product (GDP). But the US benefits too. gle year, 2009, in response to the great recession in the
According to the 2013 Yearbook of Migration and Remit- course of the global financial crisis. Many Mexicans who
tances published in Mexico by BVVA Bank and CONAPO, lived in the US found themselves forced to turn home.
government agency, Mexican workers without residence
permits generate around four percent of the USA’s GDP. On the other hand, brutal fighting between drug
gangs and security forces has haunted Mexico in recent
years. Several ten thousands of people have been
A century of migration killed, and masses were forced to leave their homes.
As “mara” gang violence is rife in Central America too,
Immigration to the United States from Mexico has many people there long for a safer place to live as well.
a long history, and US policy has often been contra-
dictory. On the one hand, the USA comfortably relies Indeed, the number of Central Americans who try
on the constant supply of cheap workers who are not to get to the USA through Mexico is high. Their jour-
entitled to any social-protection benefits. On the other neys are fraught with danger and certainly no pleas-
hand, policy makers want to be considered protectors ure trips.
of jobs for US citizens, so they take a tough stance on
immigration. The Mexican government, for its part,
has so far proved unable to improve living conditions. Perilous journey through
Many people still feel the need to go abroad in hope of Mexico
finding the prosperity they desire.
Figures published by Mexico’s National Migration
In the 1920s, North American farmers led a recruit- Institute show that the number of Central Americans
ment drive targeting workers in Mexico. The employ- transiting Mexico peaked in 2005 and 2006, then

Maung
decreased and stabilised in the years through to 2010, example is Las Patronas, a group of housewives in the
when 140 thousand of these “events” were counted. state of Veracruz. They established their organisation Police officers with
The main countries of origin are Guatemala, Hondu- to help people travelling on the notorious freight train arrested illegal
ras and El Salvador. Although more than 90 % of the known as “La bestia” (The Beast). Despite not exactly immigrants near San
migrants are adults, the number of minors has also being well-off themselves, they cook meals and hand Diego, California.
risen in recent years. In many cases, they are young- them out to exhausted travelling migrants. They have
sters who want to flee from violence and a life with no been doing so for years without financial support.
prospects. Most of them travel alone. They consider what they do their Christian duty.
One of the risks they run in Mexico is encounter-

ing abuse by and corruption of officials. According to National security policy
the magazine Letras Libres, Central American as well
as Mexican migrants all too often become victims of On both sides of the US-Mexican border, migration
unlawful detention, robbery and extortion. There are policies have so far been confined to sealing borders
links to rampant corruption. In the United States, the and strengthening military presence, supposedly for
most frequently reported human-rights violations are the sake of national security. But there is no sign of
unlawful detention, isolation, beatings and insults, things improving. Living conditions in Mexico are not
many of which probably have a racist background. getting better, and the desperation that prompts so
many people to migrate is still rife.
However, offences committed by officials on both
sides of the borders are not the only risk refugees face. The Mexican government’s main concern seems
On the contrary, many are completely at the mercy of to be that the flow of remittances from the USA might Virginia Mercado
criminals, especially in places like Guerrero, Micho- dry up. At any rate, much-vaunted economic reforms is a scholar at the Universidad
acán, Veracruz and Estado de México. introduced by President Enrique Peña Nieto after tak- Autónoma del Estado de
ing office in 2012 have not borne fruit. Disposable México and a lecturer in peace
Alejandro Solalinde, a Catholic priest who cam- incomes seem to keep shrinking, the middle class is and development studies.
paigns for migrants’ rights and runs a migrant hostel increasingly impoverished, and the agricultural sec- [email protected]
called “Hermanos en el camino” in Oaxaca State, is tor is being neglected completely. The distribution of
appalled by such criminal violence. However, he also wealth is strikingly unequal. Violence due to organ-
fiercely criticises the Mexican government for perse- ised crime is ever-present and causes fear.
cuting and mistreating Central-American migrants.
He points out that an unknown number of people The dream of a better life in the United States is
have disappeared or been abducted by drug cartels fuelled even more by the media. Compared to life in
and expresses anger because of such crimes. Mexico, the images presented in movies, TV series
and music videos have an almost irresistible allure,
Many other civil-society groups in Mexico similarly and that impact is not much different in Central
work to help Central-American migrants. One notable America.

The task for this decade
Gerd Müller, Germany’s federal minister for economic cooperation and development
assesses the challenges of the current refugee crisis and indicates how to solve
the problems.
By Gerd Müller
The crisis in Syria is the most visible crisis – but important to provide employment opportunities in
not the only one – that has contributed to the host countries. Even though more than a million refu-
rapid rise in the number of displaced people world- gees came to Germany last year, we must not forget
wide. Just recently, for example, I visited Eritrea. This that the vast majority of refugees stay in the countries
isolated country in north-eastern Africa is the origin next to their home country. They usually do not have
of the largest number of African refugees arriving in access to the job market there.
Germany – last year there were 25,000 new arrivals
from Eritrea. The country is facing a youth exodus. In order to change that, I am implementing a “Mid-
The main push factor is the national military and non- dle East Employment Drive” this year, with a view to
military service, into which young men and women giving refugees and local people job opportunities, for
are conscripted for de facto indefinite periods. instance through cash-for-work programmes in Tur-
key, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan. These programmes
Be it Eritrea, Afghanistan, Syria or South Sudan will benefit as many men and women as possible,
– the people leaving their home countries have one be it through simple jobs building roads and struc-
thing in common: they feel that they no longer have tures or through work as teachers, childcare workers,
a future in their home country. They are fleeing from nurses and doctors. The programmes will improve
conflict and war, from terrorism, violence and dis- local infrastructure and spark economic development.
crimination. Poverty and unemployment and the And above all, they will enable refugees to provide for
consequences of climate change – floods, droughts, themselves again.
famines – are also factors that cause people to look for
a fresh start somewhere else.
Focus on host countries
Refugee flows are not going to stop any time soon.
Reducing them will be the dominating issue on the In Jordan, I have seen for myself what it means for
agenda this decade. We need to invest in those places the country to be hosting Syrian refugees. There
where the problems originate, because otherwise the are now about 630,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan –
problems will come to us. that is almost equal to 10 % of Jordan’s population.
Some 80,000 refugees are living in Zaatari – a camp
We are ready to tackle this challenge. I have shifted which, in the medium term, we need to develop into
funds in our budget and secured additional funding. a city with good basic infrastructure. However, most
This year, we will be able to make commitments for refugees are living in host communities in northern
about 3 billion euros’ worth of new projects: direct Jordan. In some communities, the population has
assistance for refugees, support for host communities doubled within just one year. Most local people are
and action to address push factors. We are focusing helping the refugees as best they can.
on countries and regions that are the origin of large
numbers of refugees coming to Germany, whether it is But the large number of refugees also means
Syria or the Middle East, North and East Africa, Nige- major challenges for host communities. Water sup-
ria, Ukraine, the Balkans, Pakistan or Afghanistan. plies must be secured in what is a water-scarce region
to begin with; refugees require housing, schools, food
and health care.
Employment drive
We consider it important to assist both refugees
A survey of 1,200 Syrian refugees conducted by and local people in order to prevent tensions. For
UNHCR in Greece last year shows us clearly where example, if we improve the local water supply and
our focus must be. It is primarily young, well-edu- health services for the entire community, people’s
cated people who are leaving Syria. The decision to willingness to assist refugees will increase.
stay in the first host country they reach or to move
on to another EU country depends, to a major extent, In Jordan, Germany has already helped to supply
on whether they can find a job. That is why it is so 800,000 people with water and 200,000 people with

Axel Heimken/picture-alliance/dpa
German civil society is

supporting refugees:
mostly volunteers take
care of children in a
daycare centre in a tent
near Hamburg’s central
train station.
Axel Heimken/picture-alliance/dpa
electricity. And Germany has helped 15,000 people in now. This will be a huge effort – for Syria’s people,
Iraq to find employment. In Lebanon, Jordan, the Pal- for its neighbours and for us, the international com-
estinian Territories, Turkey and northern Iraq 520,000 munity. Much of the country has been destroyed. Its
children are able to go to school again. urban infrastructure lies in ruins.
I can see positive signs that the current negotia- We are ready to expand our infrastructure projects
tions might lead to a cease-fire in Syria. We need to to include Syria just as soon as the time for reconstruc-
start making plans for the country’s reconstruction tion has come. In the short term, we will need meas-

example, we will be working with crafts and trades
and retail federations in order to provide vocational
training placements for 1,000 young refugees. The
focus is on trades that will also be urgently needed
later for the reconstruction effort in the refugees’
countries of origin.
Strong partners in Germany
Many NGOs, faith-based organisations, foundations

and private initiatives are working hard to help the
refugees. To mention just one of many courageous
efforts, support is being provided in cooperation with
Misereor and the Jiyan Foundation (see interview
page 30 f.) to help refugees from Iraq and Syria who
Grabowski/Photothek
have been severely traumatised.
I also want to increase the support that my Minis-

try is providing for German municipalities’ efforts for
development. After all, a municipality knows about all
ures to ensure people’s sheer survival. Then schools the things that municipalities in developing countries
will have to be built and vocational-training facilities have to do in order to meet refugees’ needs: set up hos-
and jobs will have to be created. Syria will need efforts pitals and schools, manage waste, treat wastewater
to spur economic development, infrastructure invest- and provide drinking water. And above all, they know
ments and new institutions. Use will need to be made about setting up responsive, decentralised adminis-
Gerd Müller visiting of the great potential of the people who have fled from trative bodies – a key factor for reconstruction.
a refugee familiy in Syria. I will therefore give special support to refugees
a camp in Lebanon. preparing to return to Syria, for example by provid- But the governments in the countries of origin,
ing loans to help them build a livelihood. But such too, need to shoulder their share of the responsibil-
a “Marshall Plan” will not only be needed for Syria but ity – for instance by fostering the rule of law, fighting
also for the liberated areas of Iraq. corruption and supporting civil society.
Whenever I visit a country, I urge the government

More solidarity to do its part to help resolve the refugee challenge.
And I do not shy away from thorny questions, such as
In order to bring the refugee crisis under control, human rights problems in Eritrea.
Europe and the international community need to take
joint action. Unfortunately, we are currently also wit-
nessing a crisis of solidarity. In the past few months, Development policy – peace
Europe has put up a poor show – and this is partly due policy
to the fact that the division of responsibilities is not
clear. That is why I am calling for an EU special repre- The current challenge is placing new demands on
sentative for refugees. That representative will require development policy, with a new dimension. Civil soci-
adequate staff, powers and funding, and he or she will ety players have been making outstanding contribu-
have to present, as quickly as possible, a strategy for tions. All governmental and civil society decision-
Gerd Müller dealing with the refugee crisis. We also need a ten- makers must have realised by now, if not before, that
is Germany’s federal minister billion-euro EU infrastructure fund for all countries in addition to all the current responses we also need
for economic cooperation and that are hosting refugees – from the Middle East all to give development policy a major boost, as develop-
development. the way to Sweden. ment fosters peace.
http://www.bmz.de
But it is not only Europe but also other countries We are faced with huge challenges. The New York
and regions that are not doing enough. It is scandal- summit at which the SDG agenda was adopted and
ous that United Nations aid programmes (UNICEF, the Paris climate summit have pointed the way for
UNHCR, WFP) do not have enough funding to meet a fair partnership between countries and nations,
the most basic needs of the displaced people. Ger- for the protection of our planet and of the global cli-
many increased its support last year to a level of about mate.
€ 700 million, and we will provide at least the same
amount again this year. In this new world, in our global village, all things
are connected. If we do not take determined action
Within Germany, I am also counting on strong now, the current refugee crisis will be but the begin-
partners from the non-governmental sector. For ning of a huge upheaval.

At rock bottom
“Europe is not in good shape,” said Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the
European Commission, in his state of the union address to the European Parliament
on 8 September 2015. After the deep rifts that occurred during the so-called euro
crisis, the EU is now torn by dramatically escalating internal conflict as a result of
the refugee crisis – to the detriment of people seeking asylum.
By Karl Kopp
Since summer 2015, the “worst refugee crisis has been accepted by the EU member states, in some
since World War II” (UN refugee agency UNHCR) cases with complacency. Above all, it has not been
has been perceived as the greatest challenge of all for systematically penalised by EU institutions.
Germany and Europe. The 28 member states’ unwill-
ingness to accept asylum seekers with dignity and Now, with the so-called communalisation of asy-
solidarity has plunged the EU into an existential cri- lum law, the failures of the past are all becoming vis-
sis. Europe is betraying values such as liberty, equality ible. The fact is that there is no common European
and respect for human rights, including those of asylum system, even though the EU states have been
minorities. working on one since 1999. The system of protec-
tion that exists in the EU is no more than a raggedy
The dismal refugee policy currently pursued by patchwork. A common asylum law that complies with
the EU reveals – as if under a magnifying glass – how human-rights principles is a long way off.
it has always been: beating back refugees on Bul-
garia’s and Greece’s borders with Turkey, degrading The long and deep-rooted crisis in European asy-
treatment of asylum seekers in EU-financed deten- lum policy is reflected by the so-called Dublin system,
tion centres and squalid migrant camps have been which largely assigns responsibility for examining
the order of the day in the EU for years. The abuse asylum claims to member states on the EU’s external Police operation against
human traffickers at
the border between
Germany and Poland.
ZB/picture-alliance

Geisler-Fotopress/picture-alliance
borders. Old ways live on: Europe is quick to agree on rights organisation explicitly demands the creation of
new exclusion rules but is hopelessly divided when it a European sea rescue service and legal, non-danger-
comes to accepting refugees. ous routes for refugees in order to stop people dying
on Europe’s external borders. That demand shows
In the case of Syria, a modicum of foresight would how radically refugee work has changed: it is a matter
have sufficed to anticipate that neighbouring states of life or death! In 2014, for example, 150,000 refu-
would run out of protection capacity. Five years after gees were rescued by the Italian navy’s Mare Nostrum
the slaughter began, asylum seekers are abandoning operation, but more than 3,500 boat people died.
hope of an early return. Four million live in Lebanon, Instead of that operation being expanded, Mare Nos-
Turkey and Jordan under conditions that range from trum was superseded at the end of October 2014 by
The Moira refugee difficult to atrocious. Humanitarian aid in the main a European “light” version called Operation Triton.
camp at the Greek host countries is chronically under-financed. The UN
coast. organisations are repeatedly compelled to reduce the Headed by the EU border guard agency Frontex,
refugees’ food rations. Triton had a far smaller budget. It also covered a radi-
cally reduced area. The consequences were predict-
Despite civil war in Syria since March 2011, a mass able: fewer rescues mean that even more people die.
exodus from Iraq in the face of ISIS terrorism, Lib- The operation became an exercise in end-of-life care.
ya’s slide into civil war, the catastrophic situation in It was not until April 2005, when more than a thou-
Afghanistan and Somalia and the repressive dictator- sand people died in the central Mediterranean Sea
ship in Eritrea, Europe thought it could remain an within the space of a few days, that the international
onlooker in the task of accommodating refugees. In outcry rose to a pitch that forced the EU heads of state
2015 at the latest, that attitude became obsolete. and government to take action. They raised Triton’s
budget and extended its operational area, putting its
capabilities back on a par with Mare Nostrum.
Right to life with reservations
Even though more lives have been saved since
“How many more deaths? A European sea rescue sys- then, people continue to die. Which is why many res-
tem now!” Pro Asyl voiced that appeal to the European cue missions, even today, need to be secured by civil
Parliament as far back as summer 2014. The human- society. Initiatives like Sea-Watch, Médecins Sans Fron-
Dead refugees
The refugees come mostly by sea, More than 90 % of asylum seekers no legal, non-dangerous routes
undertaking perilous voyages. In fled from Syria, Afghanistan and for refugees, people seeking asy-
2015, Italy and Greece registered Iraq. On Italian soil, 153,600 boat lum in Europe risk their lives.
over a million boat people; in the people landed in 2015. On the Greece (in 2012) and Bulgaria (in
same year, 3,700 men, women and route that leads there, 26 % of 2013/2014) have successively –
children died in the Mediterranean asylum seekers come from Eritrea, and virtually hermetically – sealed
Sea and in Turkish and Greek eight percent from Somalia and their borders with Turkey. The
waters. A total of 856,723 refugees six percent from Sudan – only five deadly toll: at least 30,000 fatali-
arrived in Greece’s Aegean islands percent are Syrians. ties have been registered on
– around 800 people lost their lives Europe’s borders since the year
during the crossing. Because EU member states offer 2000. (kk)

tières and Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS), which spots. Hotspots and the emergency relocation mech-
all have rescue vessels in operation, are doing invalu- anism are supposed to supplement the long-failed
able work – as is the Alarm Phone for Boat People in Dublin system for allocating responsibility for asy-
Distress at Sea – helping people where European gov- lum applications and keep it artificially alive.
ernments fail to meet their humanitarian obligations.
In a situation where only a few EU countries accept
But even for those who survive the crossing, the substantial numbers of refugees, there seems to be no
ordeal continues after their arrival on Europe’s shores. alternative to these concepts. In actual fact, however,
As the UNHCR stated on 4 September 2015, “they face they are unrealistic and highly problematical from
chaos and suffer indignity, exploitation and danger at a human-rights perspective. Hotspots in Greece and
borders.” Since July 2015, the public has been able to Italy – and elsewhere if escape routes change – will
observe the refugees’ suffering in daily live broadcasts not end the misery on Europe’s periphery. Instead,
from the Greek holiday islands of Lesbos and Kos, from they pose lots of unanswered questions with the
the Greek-Macedonian border and along the entire frightening prospect of new detention centres being
route through the Balkans. The humanitarian disaster created to hold refugees for a long time to come.
has been fully documented: exhausted people, many
of them children, are still heading for the heart of the The idea is to use the hotspots to relocate refu-
EU – homeless, with no medical care and no secure gees with a good chance of gaining asylum, which
food supply and enduring appalling hygiene condi- currently means people from Syria, Iraq and Eritrea
tions. Daily appeals to get help to the dispossessed, if they apply for asylum at the hotspot. However, the
voiced by initiatives, human-rights organisations and approach says nothing about how other refugees with
the UN, have gone unheeded. similar needs and right to protection should be han-
dled – for example, refugees from Afghanistan. And
Greece more or less opened a corridor across the what about those whose applications are rejected
country but failed to arrange humanitarian assis- in “rapid screening”? They are to be swiftly deported
tance along it. There was no fast and concerted dis- from the “waiting zones” in an EU-financed Frontex
aster relief effort by the EU and no ad hoc initiatives operation. By mid-January, however, a mere 322 peo-
by member states to spare asylum seekers the long ple were actually able to move on to other European
march to freedom and allow them to travel legally. It countries. At this speed, it would take 196 years for
was left predominantly to private initiatives to secure all to relocate.
the refugees’ survival along the route.
In pursuit of its deal with Turkey’s authoritarian
regime the EU is keeping silent in regard to Turkish
Blueprints from Brussels violations of human rights and refugee’s rights. The
hope that, with some EU support, Turkey will serve as
On 9 September 2015, the EU Commission grandly a safe third country where refugees can be expected to
presented a “comprehensive package of proposals stay, is doomed to fail. Turkey systematically abuses
which will help address the refugee crisis that EU fundamental rights such as the freedom of the press,
member states and neighbouring countries are fac- and the government has recently been fanning the
ing.” Another 120,000 people in clear “need of inter- flames of its domestic armed conflict in Kurdistan.
national protection” were to be relocated, especially Sooner or later masses of people are likely to flee from
from Greece and Italy, to other EU members within that region.
two years – on top of the emergency redistribution
of 40,000 refugees that had been previously agreed. The call for a change in refugee policy is growing
Plans were also announced to make return policy louder. At the same time, though, populist and racist
more effective and to strengthen Frontex’s mandate in movements are gathering strength all over Europe. If
return operations. The British newspaper The Guard- there is to be any way out of Europe’s current existen- Karl Kopp
ian summed up: “Juncker talks of welcoming refugees, tial crisis, a “coalition of the willing” now needs to be is director for European affairs
while turning Europe into a fortress.” swiftly formed to reorganise protection for refugees in of the human-rights
Europe. The key to that lies in Berlin. With her clear organisation Pro Asyl and
On 22 September 2015, EU member’s home minis- and powerful message – “If we have to apologise for a member of the board of the
ters approved the proposal to relocate 160,000 asylum showing a friendly face in emergencies, then that is European Council on Refugees
seekers – most of them from Greece and Italy – to other not my country” – the German Chancellor signalled (ECRE).
EU member states. Some member states, however, dis- that Germany has a responsibility. Europe has to [email protected]
agreed. The EU has since been trying to rebuild consen- accept that moral responsibility as well.
sus by emphasising attempts to keep refugees away.
The pressure on Greece to seal off borders keeps rising. Links:
Moreover, policymakers are wooing Turkey in the hope EU on addressing the refugee crisis:
of its authorities stopping refugees from moving on. http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-15-5596_en.htm
Pro Asyl on EU refugee policy (only available in German):
The EU also wants to register and initially host http://www.proasyl.de/de/news/detail/news/grenzen_dicht_puffer_drum-
asylum seekers in Greece or Italy at so-called hot- herum_die_ergebnisse_der_eu_verhandlungen_im_ueberblick/

Ostrich policy
People who are suffering political because industrial-scale fishing Poverty, moreover, triggers fanat-
and cultural violence tend to vote trawlers from Europe have icism and political violence. We
with their feet. The same goes for destroyed their livelihoods in Sen- know that the Islamist terrorism
those suffering economic violence egal. The EU should note that its of Ansare Dine, Boko Haram, ISIS
and ecological devastation. This is fishing subsidies are therefore et cetera is linked to people’s lack
a fact that the EU should understand. what must be considered a cause of prospects.
of flight from Senegal. The fish
The distinction the EU makes catch that local fisherman bring It is unacceptable that the EU
between “refugees” (Syrians, ashore has dwindled dramatically. wants its goods and capital to
Afghans, Iraqis, Libyans et cetera) This is why many dispossessed move freely to West Africa, but it
and “economic migrants” (West young people from Senegal risk doesn’t want the unskilled and
Africans for example) may be their lives in a sea adventure rather semi-skilled people of West Africa
legally founded, but it is morally than enduring guaranteed eco- to cross borders freely as well. The
dubious. It only makes sense if nomic and social death at home. kind of globalisation it is promot-
Senegal’s traditional
fishing communities
cannot compete with
subsided EU businesses.
dem
one accepts two questionable The same can be said of many ing is lopsided and unfair. The EU
premises: West African farmers. Agriculture wants to benefit from interna-
typically provides livelihoods to at tional exchange without having to
■ the idea that, at the interna- least 60 % of African countries’ bear the social and ecological
tional level, when it comes to populations. EU subsidies for costs.
rights protection, those suffer- European farmers and the push
ing political and cultural violence for import liberalisation is nega- In the face of current global chal-
Ndongo Samba Sylla should enjoy privileged moral tively affecting the sector. lenges, including the migration
manages programmes and status compared with those who issue, what African people expect
research at the Dakar office of the are victims of other types of Migration is linked to global from Europe is not official devel-
Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, violence; and dynamics. Most people from opment assistance, which tends
which is affiliated to The Left, West Africa who “chose” to to fail dramatically without deliv-
a party in Germany’s federal ■ the idea that the economic vio- migrate illegally to Europe do so ering sustainable progress. What
parliament Bundestag. lence billions of people suffer is because they lack economic we need is concerted efforts to
[email protected] not a global issue, but only the opportunities directly or indi- build a fairer world trade system,
responsibility of the respective rectly, and all too often, EU poli- to curb the huge illicit financial
national governments. cies and EU corporations play flows suffered by the continent
a role. Making matters worse, and to tackle the looming climate
Many young Senegalese who try to climate change, which is caused crisis. The big question is: will the
reach Europe in makeshift boats by western nations, not African rich world muster the necessary
used to work as fishermen. They ones, is compounding problems political will? It does not look
basically take this suicidal decision of poverty south of the Sahara. like it.

Frozen lives
If strife lasts long, people who have fled from violence cannot return home after a
short stay abroad. They become long-term refugees, and camps become their
permanent homes. Kakuma Refugee Camp in Northwest Kenya houses over 180,000
people. They have food and shelter, but they lose any sense of purpose. The longer
they are in exile, the more their desperation grows. For young people, the only exit
strategy is education.
By Raphael Sungu
At sunset, young refugees stroll along the monotonous routines without ambitions, hopes or
Kakuma-Lokichoggio road which leads from the dreams. This is especially true of young people: they
camp to the South Sudanese border about 130 kilo- are about to start their life, but have only limited
metres away. The scene looks pleasant, but the young- possibilities of taking their fate into their hands and
sters actually live with dashed hopes. They lack become independent adults.
opportunities and face a stiff competition for the slim
chances of ever leaving the camp. In theory, people are only supposed to live in the
camp for a few months and then return home or be
Kakuma Camp is bigger than many Kenyan cities, resettled to third countries. In practice, they stay in South Sudanese refugee
but life here is very different. Masses line up to col- Kakuma for ten years on average. turned film student in
lect food rations. There are not enough jobs and not Kakuma Refugee Camp,
enough schools (see box, p. 25). Thousands of peo- Many refugees lapse into depression. The loss Kenya.
ple have absolutely nothing to do. Their lives become of dignity, identity and sense of belonging kills their
my

Too many people have
nothing to do.
Sprague/Lineair
spirit. They would like to do something to improve 45 % of the children of primary-school age were
their fate, but they have no options. Long-term refu- enrolled in 2012, according to the UNHCR. Classes
gees are particularly prone to be depressed. have up to 200 pupils in primary schools. On average,
secondary-school classes have 80 students. A survey
People who flee persecution, violence and death done by the UNHCR, the Windle Trust Kenya and
typically expect to return back home very soon. Only the Lutheran World Federation in 2014 showed that
once they have arrived at a refugee camp, do they about half of the camp’s children still did not attend
realise that their old life is over, and whatever posi- school. Moreover, schools tended to teach over-age
tion they may have held is lost. In the camps, they are learners.
no longer individuals. They lose their dignity (see box,
p. 26). A case number is their new identity. Students who go to school are expected to study
the Kenyan curriculum and learn in English and
Kiswahili. Many children don’t know these two lan-
Precarious schools guages, and the curricular content does not fit the
environment they are familiar with. A recent study in
The adults in the camps often cannot accept their fate the Journal on Education in Emergencies concluded:
of being reduced to an object of charity. The youth, “The paucity of financial and material resources,
however, are eager to embark on their life’s journey, restrictive curriculum and language policies, and
which is strictly confined by the camp. Education is a lack of access to teacher training amount to a crisis
the only path out – but it is a more difficult path than in refugee education in Kenya.”
it would be in any normal town.
Nonetheless, students in Kakuma tend to get
Kakuma has various educational facilities for better grades in exams than the average student in
children. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) funds Kenya. For instance, a girl from Angelina Jolie Pri-
20 primary schools, and the local community runs mary School – the school is named after the Ameri-
a community-based school. However, only about can movie star who sponsors it through the UNHCR

– scored 418 marks out of a possible 500 marks in the The Windle Trust Kenya manages various schol-
Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE). arship programmes, supported by World University
Service of Canada, the UNHCR, DD Puri Foundation
As a rule, those refugee children who go to school and the German Albert Einstein Foundation, provid-
tend to study very hard, because they know that good ing some 40 scholarships for gifted refugees to study
marks are their only chance of leaving the camp. What at universities and colleges in their host country or
they need is one of the highly coveted scholarships. their country of origin. For Canadian-funded scholar-
ships the age limit is 25 years, for German-sponsored
ones 28.
Dashed hopes
The competition for scholarships is merciless.
Kakuma Camp is managed by the Department for Ref- Every year, hundreds of students in Kakuma apply
ugee Affairs (DRA). This Kenyan government agency for these scholarships which the Windle Trust can
is working with – and is supported by – the UNHCR. award. Students may apply up to three times. Most
But many other charitable organisations are present do not get one of those precious scholarships. Their
in the camp as well, covering certain issues like edu- hopes of leaving the camp are dashed, once and for
cation. all.
A depressing camp in Kenya’s northwest

Kenya has one of the largest refugee pop- registered as residents as of November living in Pakistan and
ulations in the world. The East African 2015. Most have been in Kakuma for years, in Iran, but there are
country hosts over 600,000 registered awaiting resettlement to third countries. also hundreds of
refugees and asylum seekers. They are The agencies that work in the camp do not thousands of Somalis
mostly from Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, offer enough jobs for everyone, and those and South Sudanese
Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the who are employed are paid in simple living in various East
Congo (DRC), Eritrea, Burundi and Uganda. tokens. Kenyan law does not allow refu- African countries.
The majority of refugees in Kenya live in gees to engage in business or gainful Palestinians and Sah-
the Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps. It employment unless they renounce their rawi refugees are
is estimated that more than 50,000 refu- refugee status and seek to work as expa- even internationally
gees and asylum seekers live in Kenya’s triates who must pay taxes. considered to have
urban areas. hereditary refugee
Of the people in Kakuma, about 58 % are status.
Kenyan society has recently become more minors. They belong to age groups that
suspicious of refugees, especially Somalis. need to go to school or get vocational Millions of people worldwide live in what
The reasons are terrorist attacks perpe- training. However, the camp only offers UNHCR calls “protracted refugee situa-
trated by the Al-Shabaab militia, an Islam- insufficient education opportunities. tions”. The term’s definition is that the
ist outfit from war-torn Somalia. After Depriving young people of such opportu- refugee needs have changed considerably
a spate of violence in 2013 and 2014, the nities means that there will be no peace over time, but neither the UNHCR nor host
Kenyan government issued a directive that dividend should they at some point in governments have capacity to address
all refugees in Nairobi and other cities time be able to return to their parents’ those needs fully, especially developmen-
must return to the camps in Dadaab and homes. On the contrary, deprivation of tal. The refugees are thus left “in
Kakuma. In urban areas, refugees fre- opportunities can perpetuate conflicts a dependent state years after their arrival
quently face harassment by the police if when frustrated youth decide to join vio- in the host country“, as Christine Cheng
they are found without requisite docu- lent militias, as could be seen with and Johannes Chudoba of Princeton Uni-
mentation or authorisation. Afghans who grew up in Pakistani refugee versity put it. “A refugee’s needs in pro-
camps and were later recruited by the tracted situations are very different from
Kakuma Camp was set up in a semi-arid Taliban. the needs UNHCR is accustomed to
area in Kenya’s northwest in 1992. Most addressing during an emergency
refugees are people from South Sudan, According to the UN Refugee Agency response,” Cheng and Chudoba add. Typi-
Sudan and Somalia. They fled because of (UNHCR), 70 % of all refugees worldwide cally, human security has to be provided
decades-long conflicts in their home are long-term refugees, who are displaced first, and then essential needs must be
countries. from home for more than five years. Many addressed. These include not only food
of them have no documents, so they and shelter, but also education, employ-
The camp is a city of endless rows of iden- belong to no state. Each year, countless ment, training, health care and access to
tical simple buildings. More than 180,000 children are born to grow up in refugee credit. In far too many places, these mat-
people from over 21 nationalities were camps. The biggest groups are Afghans ters are not taken care of fully. (rs)

When students are told that they have been As new humanitarian crises emerge around, fund-
rejected, Windle Trust staff members witness heart- ing opportunities for educational scholarships are
wrenching scenes. Some students get angry and getting fewer. Accordingly, the outlook is getting even
demand to know why they have not been selected. darker for the “old case load” in Kakuma.
Others are utterly devastated, like a young Somali girl
who cried: “What can I do now? If I don’t get out of The donor governments must do much more in
this camp, I will soon be married off. But I’ve been to support of refugee camps. It is unacceptable that 50 %
school, I know there is a world out there that I want to of the young generation do not get a formal educa-
be part of and explore, not be a housewife tied down tion at all. And it is equally unacceptable that those
by retrogressive cultural practices. I want to marry who do make the effort still lack opportunities. Host
when I am able to give my children a life better than countries like Kenya do not have the means to solve
what I am going through. I have worked so hard for the problems on their own.
this! All my hopes were on this scholarship, just to get
out of the camp.” Sometimes, Western governments promise long-
term refugees visas, but then the political situation
Some break down crying, others become suicidal. changes, and the visas are cancelled. In 1999, for
A young man from South Sudan said: “Tell me, what instance, a large group of Somalis in Dadaab Camp
will I do with myself, what is there for people like me? were selected for relocation to Kakuma and possible
I have tried this for the third time in three years and resettlement in Western countries. After the terror-
unfortunately failed in all attempts. My fear is that ist attacks on September 11th 2001, however, the visa
I will soon die of hopelessness in this camp, away procedures became much more stringent for most
from my country and be buried with all my dreams, countries. Some have become less enthusiastic about
hopes and aspirations. I want an opportunity to give refugees from East Africa. The hopes of these people
me half a chance at life, I want to have an education, were shattered. Today, 14 years later, many are still in
a job, wife and kids, but not like this, not here!” the camp.
It is an enormous burden to see all these bright Links:

young people being denied any opportunity to develop The Windle Trust:
their talents and minds. Humanitarian aid workers are http://www.windle.org
witnessing an entire generation living “frozen lives”, World University Service of Canada (WUSC) – Student Refugee
but cannot help. Michelle Bellino from the University Programme:
of Michigan recently assessed educational opportuni- http://wusc.ca/
ties in Kakuma. In her conclusion, she mentions the Albert Einstein Foundation (Deutsche Akademische Flüchtlingsinitiative
“tragedy that renders talented human beings into – DAFI):
a perpetual life of destitution.” http://refed.org/
Losing one’s dignity

Many refugees make long jour- influential people, perhaps gov- by strangers. I found myself at the
neys through dangerous terrain to ernment officials, but their brink of crying; I felt his helpless-
the Kenyan refugee camp weather-beaten suits, ties and ness myself.”
Kakuma. They suffer hunger and shirts do not mean much in the
thirst and are exposed to cold, camp. They no longer stand for The staff member says: “When
heat, heavy rains and brutal sun- any position or personal author- I started to work here, I thought
Raphael Sungu shine. On the run, many cannot ity. that refugees are just irritable,
is Programme Manager with change clothes or take showers. unappreciative complainants who
a humanitarian organisation in Some experience traumatising The situation is stressful for all are generally hard to understand.”
Kakuma. He lives in Kakuma, violence. But all want to guard persons concerned, including the He goes on to say that he made
Kenya. their human dignity. aid workers. An international staff a conscious effort to talk to the
[email protected] member recalls a man who arrived people and understand their indi-
The denial of such dignity in the in the camp with children, and vidual background and life sto-
camps is a harrowing experience. was giving everybody a difficult ries. This was when fear gripped
People whose lives have been time. He did not manage to line him because the refugees’ fate
turned upside down must line up up properly and was irritable. Our was “something that could hap-
for basic provisions such as blan- witness says: “I realised he was not pen to anyone.” Realising this
kets, toiletries and food. When angry at us – he was angry at the made him think of his wife and
they first arrive at the reception world, he was angry at what had children and “feel the deepest
centre to be registered, one can made him this undignified person, empathy for suffering fellow
tell that some were previously reduced to queuing up to be fed human beings.” (rs)

Refugees in their IDP camp in Borno

State.
own country
Boko Haram has been terrorising north-eastern Nigeria since 2009, killing more
than 10,000 people and displacing 2 millions. Conditions in the camps for inter-
nally displaced persons (IDPs) are tough. While attacks continue in some regions,
others are safe, and several hundred thousand refugees have already returned
home.
By Damilola Oyedele
Atine’s life seemed easy sailing about a year ago. homes and forcing survivors to flee. “The men were
The girl from Baga in Borno State was in her last shot at sight, my father included. My older brother
year of primary school. Her father worked at a local also died. We ran away, trekking for days in the bush,
factory where catfish is smoked before it is transported and eventually found our way to Maiduguri. My
for sale to other parts of the country. Her mother was mother miscarried because of the stress,” she says in
a housewife who looked after her four children and Hausa, her native language.
was pregnant again.
Atine and her mother now live in a camp for IDPs
Residents of the town were aware of the terror- in Kuchingoro, which is part of the Abuja agglom-
ist group Boko Haram. But the family had a sense eration. Unfortunately, the camp, which is home to
of safety – after all, the headquarters of the Multina- almost 800 people, is not a formal one designated by
tional Joint Task Force (MNJTF), an international force government. Like several other such camps in Abuja,
of soldiers from Nigeria, Niger and Chad, was sta- internal refugees who had nowhere else to go started
tioned in their town. The Joint Force was established it on empty patches of land.
to deal with cross-border security and also helped
combat Boko Haram. It is evident that the camp is unplanned; makeshift
homes are constructed with roofing sheets, tarpaulin
Atine’s world crashed in January 2015 when Boko and plastic wraps. The sanitary condition is deplor-
Haram attacked the town, killing residents, razing able: toilets are unavailable, and residents defecate in

The victims of the 2014
Screenshot: https://www.facebook.com/bringbackourgirls
mass kidnapping in
Chibok have not been
freed.
plastic bags they dispose in refuse heaps nearby. The and Adamawa. There are four official camps in Yola,
stench is awful. A single borehole serves the water Adamawa State, while there are two in Damaturu,
needs of the residents. Yobe State. In Maiduguri there are about 28 camps.
Informal camps, which are regarded officially as
From a similar camp in Oronzo, also in Abuja, sev- “camp-like sites”, sprang up all over the states affected
eral young boys troop into the city every day to find and in neighbouring states.
work and earn some money. Hassan, 14, says he does
menial jobs at a local market nearby, for which he earns The official camp in Gombe State has been closed
a pittance: “I carry loads for people at the market, some down again as the people were resettled. According
days I earn 500 naira (about $ 2.5) and on good days to Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, at least
I make 1000 naira.” He says a friend of his convinced 2 million people have been displaced by the activities
someone to teach him carpentry, and adds: “I hope of the terrorist group, with more than 10,000 people
that artisan will take me on too, so I can learn a voca- killed in the past six years. The Displacement Tracking
tion.” He says he cannot afford to go back to school. Matrix (DTM) set up by the International Organization
for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with the National
Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) identified
Formal camps 1,818,469 registered IDPs displaced by insurgency in
Nigeria in its December 2015 report. Borno State has
While the camps in Abuja are informal, the govern- the highest number of IDPs with 1,434,149 .
ment has set up several camps for those displaced
from – or within – the six states most affected by Eight percent of the IDPs live in camps while the
the violence: Borno, Bauchi, Yobe, Taraba, Gombe others reside with host communities, friends and

relatives across the country. More than half of the camps outside the troubled areas, NGOs volunteer
IDP population are children. The DTM has identified to teach children. In Kuchingoro camp, where Atine
78 camps and camp-like sites. Most of the camps are lives, the Australian government has donated chairs
located in schools and government buildings. Life in and desks for the pupils who learn in classes set up
the formal camps is hard, however, especially because under trees for shelter. Volunteers from the women’s
they are overcrowded. group of ECWA, a faith-based organisation, teach
pupils. Christ Tabernacle Church, another faith-based
Toilet facilities in 47 camps are reported to be in organisation, has provided about 250 school uni-
bad conditions while only 19 camps have good toi- forms. Studying in the open, however, means that
let facilities. In ten camps, the toilets were declared classes cannot be held when it rains or when it gets
to be not usable. The DTM Nigeria Report Round VII too hot.
of December 2015 identified malaria to be the most
prevalent health problem followed by fevers, coughs, In November, the government reopened hun-
diarrhoea, malnutrition, respiratory tract infections dreds of schools across the northeast, but attend-
and skin diseases. Thirty-two camps do not have ance remains low. Boko Haram attacks still occur
a waste disposal system, and 63 do not have good although a regional offensive made up of troops
drainage systems. The report noted open defecation from Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger has largely
in 52 camps. weakened the terrorists and reclaimed most of the
territories they occupied in the northeast. The gov-
In early 2015, an undercover reporter from the ernment also set up a Victim Resettlement Fund to
International Centre for Investigative Reporting assist IDPs.
(ICIR) reported grim tales of rape and human traf-
ficking in some of the camps. Girls were being raped NEMA spokesman Sanni Datti says the govern-
by fellow IDPs, and children being sold for as little as ment’s assistance extends to IDPs who live outside
$ 250. The government set up an investigative panel, the formal designated camps. “Because they are
which said that two girls “might have been raped” registered, even though they live in host communi-
but that there was no substantial proof to establish ties, we distribute welfare items to them too. Their
the allegations . most basic need is food, but we also provide non-
food items such as clothing, beddings and others,”
The DTM report of October 2015, on the contrary, he said. NEMA cooperates with several NGOs and
took note of reports of exchange of food or goods donor agencies to provide vocational training for
for sex in four camps, while in six camps, children IDPs.
were involved in forced labour and begging. In eight
camps, physical and emotional abuses of children The government recently announced plans to
were reported. There have also been reports of arrests begin winding down the camps and to resettle the
of NEMA officials for selling relief materials meant for IDPs. It also promised to rebuild infrastructure that
IDPs. Despite the presence of security officials at the has been destroyed. But while many refugees want to
camps, two explosions killed more than ten people in return to their homes, they are concerned about the
two camps in Yola, Adamawa State. Allegedly, Boko security situation. Moreover, the region’s economy is
Haram militants disguised as IDPs and entered the in shambles.
camps.
According to the DTM, some 320,000 IDPs have
Compared with formal camps, informal camps are returned to northern Adamawa State. The security
more dependent on charity. Several NGOs, corporate situation has improved thanks to increased military
organisations, individuals, donor agencies and faith- presence in the area. In August, about 10,000 Nigeri-
based organisations donate food and medicine. They ans who had sought refuge in Cameroon were repat-
do voluntary humanitarian work and provide services riated: some have returned to their communities in Damilola Oyedele
including health checks and counselling. Adamawa, while some were relocated to IDP camps in is a senior correspondent for
Borno State. Thisday, a Nigerian newspaper.
IDPs only have limited access to education facili- She lives in Abuja.
ties however. In the worst hit states, many schools Atine yearns for a normal life again, but does not [email protected]
have been closed for more than 18 months. According want to return to Baga: “I will be too scared because
to UNICEF, more than 1200 schools were attacked by my father and brother were killed there. Maybe we
Boko Haram since 2009. It made international head- can move out of this camp and find somewhere near
lines when Boko Haram kidnapped 276 girls from Abuja to live. I just want to leave this place, there are
a school in Chibok, Borno State, in April 2014. The too many people,” she says.
victims have not been liberated. For obvious reasons,
many students and teachers shied away from the few
schools that managed to stay open. Link:
DTM Nigeria Report Round VII:
According to the DTM report, children have access http://nigeria.iom.int/sites/default/files/dtm/01_IOM%20DTM%20Nigeria_
to education in 40 of the 76 formal camps. In the Round%20VII%20Report_20151223.pdf

“It ispossible to build
a peaceful society”
Iraq’s autonomous region of Kurdistan is home to approximately 2 million refugees
from various backgrounds and religions. Since 2005, the Jiyan Foundation for
Human Rights has been providing medical, psychotherapeutic and social support to
survivors of torture, persecution and violence. Katja Dombrowski discussed matters
with Salah Ahmad, the Foundation’s founder and president.
Interview with Salah Ahmad
The Jiyan Foundation helps refugees and

victims of violence in Kurdish northern
Iraq. What refugee groups have come to your
region?
Kurdistan has taken in many people who experi-
enced persecution in southern and central Iraq. They
include many Sunnis and Christians, for instance
from Baghdad or Basra, refugees from Mosul, which
ISIS controls, and of course a large number of Syr-
ians. We also have refugees from Iran and Turkey,
specifically Kurds and dissidents. Kurdistan is the
only safe area in the region, and the Kurds have
done their best to accommodate these people.
How many refugees are there?

Officially there are 1.8 million refugees in Kurdis-
tan, though some say that we have over 2 million
– with a population of around 5 million. This influx
has obviously overwhelmed the Kurdish govern-
ment. Kurdistan is fighting a war with ISIS. It is also
experiencing serious financial difficulties, which are
being exacerbated by low oil prices. The UN is play-
ing a large role in caring for the refugees, and so are
organisations like ours.
When did the refugees arrive in Iraqi Kurdis-

tan, and why were they forced to leave their
homes?
Until 2003, Iraq was ruled by a dictatorial regime
that was controlled by the Ba’ath party. The
Ba’athists destroyed everything in sight, including
their own people. The Americans then committed
the serious error of liberating the country without
appointing a head of state. The result was gang
warfare between armed groups and a wave of terror
that has still not ebbed off. In 2006 and 2007 alone,
150,000 to 170,000 civilians were killed. Nouri al-
Maliki, the former prime minister, wanted to crush
the Sunnis. That’s why there are so many Arab
refugees in Kurdistan. Then came the ISIS terrorist
militia. Thousands had to flee from Mosul and the
surrounding area: Yazidis, Shabaks, Kaka’i, Chris-

tians and even Muslims. There are 14 or 15 religious What are living conditions like for refugees in
groups who have lived in that region for thousands Iraqi Kurdistan?
of years. The camps are well equipped. The UNHCR provides
food, electricity and water and organisations like the
The fate of the Yazidis in particular got a lot Jiyan Foundation offer medical and psychological
of attention in western media. Why was that? care. Over 90 % of children go to school either inside
The Yazidis have a history of being persecuted and or outside the camps. Refugees are also allowed to
are worst affected by ISIS’s attempted genocide. ISIS work. At the moment, however, it is very cold. We
militants captured the Yazidi city of Sinjar as well don’t have enough heaters and people are freezing in
as numerous villages, decapitated many people and their tents.
abducted a large number of women. That was a trau-
matic experience. Do some refugees live outside the camps?
Many people in
northern Iraq have
experienced trauma.
Survivors of the
genocide perpetrated
against Kurds by Iraq’s
Ba’ath regime under
Saddam Hussein.
Jiyan Foundation

Yes, those people who are doing well enough finan- to help them understand why their child is behaving
cially can rent a house. They make up maybe 10 to this way. This programme has been so successful that
15 % of refugees and tend to be Iraqi Arab. The Syr- we have a waiting list for schools. Some parents have
ians are also very well integrated. They work hard also become our patients because they recognise that
and don’t have a language barrier to overcome; most we are able to help them. Everything we do is aimed at
Syrians in Iraq are Kurds who speak the same dialect creating a peaceful society.
as we do. Many have found jobs.
Is that possible at all while ISIS is carrying out
Which refugee groups does the Jiyan Founda- violence, expulsion and repression in northern
tion focus on? Iraq?
We work with everyone – the Jiyan Foundation I think it is, as long as we don’t give up. Of course,
doesn’t take background or religion into account. things are very difficult, but we are becoming more
Anyone who needs help is welcome and all the ser- hopeful every day. ISIS is being beaten back and
vices we offer are free. The Jiyan Foundation oper- some areas have already been recaptured. The refu-
ates nine trauma centres and is currently building gees hope that they will be able to return home. You
a therapeutic garden for women and children who can sense that they feel they have prospects for their
were victims of violence and need a place to find future, which is also evident in the fact that people
peace. We have 145 employees in Kurdistan, includ- are getting married and having children in the camps.
ing psychologists, psychotherapists, psychiatrists, Thanks to therapy and trauma work, relationships
physicians, social workers and physical therapists. within families have significantly improved. Families
whose interactions were previously dominated by
Are you the only organisation offering trauma violence and conflict now live peacefully together.
therapy in the region?
No, there are several others. But we have been here You work with people from a variety of differ-
for 10 years and have grown our organisation system- ent religions, many of whom were persecuted
atically. I opened the first Centre for Trauma Therapy because of their beliefs. What role does reli-
in Kirkuk in 2005; I had to spend 15 months on site. gion play in your work?
Then we were asked if we could set up two more cen- In our work, all members of all faiths operate as one
tres in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah. Now we have nine. We team. I have never asked someone what religion he
also train therapists. Twenty of our employees recently or she belongs to. It does not matter. We all have the
completed training to become trauma therapists. same right to live here. When we work with our tar-
get groups, we also bring different religions together.
How are all of these activities financed? Some groups are made up of three nationalities
The Jiyan Foundation depends on international and religions. And people really benefit from that
funding and donations. The most important donors arrangement! Of course, we address religious repres-
include Germany’s federal government, the EU, the sion and spell out, for instance, that ISIS does not
UN and faith-based organisations like Misereor. We represent the true Islam.
also cooperate closely with the Berlin Center for the
Treatment of Torture Victims, where I myself have You yourself are Kurdish, come from Kirkuk
worked for many years. The Center supports us and have experienced persecution and dis-
through professional exchange, joint projects and placement. Was that why you decided to work
German infrastructure. with refugees?
I was politically active during the reign of Saddam
What does your work with refugees look like in Hussein and had to leave the country in 1981. As
practice? a refugee, I ended up in Germany, where I found
We offer therapies for different target groups, for asylum. I know the psychological traumas that many
Salah Ahmad instance minorities, women and girls and children and victims of torture experience. After I became a psy-
is a psychotherapist and the youth. In order to provide our services, we travel not chotherapist, I was able to help hundreds of people.
founder and president of the only to refugee camps, but also to women’s shelters, Following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, I saw
Jiyan Foundation. He lives prisons and orphanages. Our mobile teams travel to an opportunity to help people in Kurdistan. We filed
in Germany and the remote regions that don’t otherwise have access to applications for funding, until we finally got support
autonomous region of psychological care. Our goal is to provide people with from the US State Department. I very much hope that
Kurdistan in northern Iraq. the support they need to once again live normal lives. we can continue our work for several years to come.
[email protected] In therapy sessions, for instance, we tell people that Only through peace work, which we are performing
they won’t achieve anything through hatred or a desire alongside our therapeutic services, is it possible to
for revenge. Victims feel these emotions very acutely. build a peaceful, democratic society.
After all, many have experienced severe injustices. We
go to schools and make it clear to young people that Links:
boys and girls are equal – we try to communicate an The Jiyan Foundation on the web, on Facebook and on Twitter:
understanding of equal rights. There is a lot of violence http://www.jiyan-foundation.org
in the schools, so we must show teachers how to deal http://www.facebook.com/jiyanfoundation
with difficult children. We work with parents as well @JiyanFoundation

AA/picture-alliance
Afghan refugees sit

outside their homes in
Islamabad.
Afghan unrest
affects neighbour
Pakistan has the second-largest refugee population in the world, and the number of
internally displaced people (IDPs) is growing too. The country is fighting internal
militants and facing many huge challenges. Islamabad is not living up to all do-
mestic and international obligations.
By Waqqas Mir
Before the current Syrian refugee crisis, Pakistan Pakistan’s generosity in receiving Afghan refugees
had the highest numbers of refugees worldwide is rooted in history and generally acknowledged. The
for many years. Now Turkey tops the list, according to country that accepted millions of Muslim migrants
the statistics of the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR, and from India in 1947 as citizens was ready to offer refuge
Pakistan comes second with 1.5 million registered to an overwhelmingly Muslim population from a war-
and an estimated 1 million unregistered refugees. torn neighbouring country. The general consensus is
Most of them are from Afghanistan. that, with only few exceptions, constitutional rights
apply to non-nationals within the country as well as
The influx of refugees into Pakistan started in to citizens.
1972. It has varied over time, depending on the level
of stability and violence in Afghanistan. The Soviet Such generosity has a serious downside. Islamist
invasion in 1979 caused the highest number of refu- extremism has fostered militancy in refugee camps,
gees: at that time, around 3 million Afghans came to with many young fighters returning to Afghanistan,
Pakistan. and others joining and boosting extremist groups in

Mohammad Sajjad/picture-alliance/AP Photo
Pakistan. In this regard, the idea of Pakistan being mercial capital. This city has a big Pashtun popula-
a nation of South Asian Muslims has had painful con- tion, and Pashtu is spoken on both sides of the shared
sequences (see Maryam Khan in D+C/E+Z 2015/05, border. Afghans have now bolstered this Pashtun
Militant insurgents are p. 26 ff.) population of Karachi, with an impact on polarised
causing bloodshed – politics in the metropolis. Ethnic tensions haunt our
a university near multi-ethnic country, and they are especially evident
Peshawar was attacked Open job market, schools and in Karachi. Sadly, recurring violence between various
on 20 January. hospitals ethnic group has haunted the city.
Afghan refugees enjoy freedom of movement in Paki- Pakistan grants Afghan refugees access to public
stan, and the huge informal economy offers them job schools and hospitals. However, refugees routinely
opportunities. Today, more than 70 % of the refugees face police harassment. They find it very difficult
live in rural and urban host communities rather than to rent properties moreover. Especially at times of
in camps. Many have gravitated to Karachi, the com- increased socio-political strife, the refugee population
State authorities fail citizens S

Pakistan’s two richest provinces, When the 2012 floods hit, Punjab, The human-rights situation of IDPs
Punjab and Sindh, expressly the country’s largest province, in Pakistan remains grim. The UN
refuse to host internally dis- had not even constituted a Disas- Guiding Principles on Internal Dis-
placed persons (IDPs), citing ter Management Authority – even placement (1998) are routinely
security concerns and lack of though a national law of 2010 flouted or ignored. The Human
resources. Their approach clearly demanded that such authorities Rights Commission of Pakistan
violates the human right of free- be established at federal and pro- reports that minorities have been
dom of movement, which is vincial levels. Another shocking moved between locations arbitrarily,
appreciated by Pakistan in princi- example of governmental unpre- and that the freedom of religion is
ple. In 2012, the central govern- paredness was a lengthy debate often disregarded. After being dis-
ment even had an argument with among state agencies concerning placed, for instance, a Hindu com-
the provincial governments over militant uprisings. Officials disa- munity was reportedly denied the
who was responsible for support- greed on whether a security oper- lease of land. The reason was that
ing IDPs. The tensions revealed ation was a “disaster” as defined the host population did not want
an underdeveloped sense of by law. Some argued that flood- a non-Islamic temple in their area.
federalism and a lack of institu- affected IDPs were entitled to
tional mechanisms to address protection, but those fleeing from Multiple reports by aid organisa-
emergencies. internal strife were not. tions, moreover, highlight the lack

is demonised. Many Pakistanis blame Afghan refu- According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring
gees for weapons and drugs trafficking. Centre (IDMC), floods displaced close to 14 million
people in Pakistan between 2008 and 2013.
The impact of the large refugee population on Paki-
stan’s economy is significant. Pakistan is quite poor; the Currently there are more than 1.5 million regis-
per-capita GDP is the equivalent of only about $ 1,200. tered IDPs in Pakistan. The actual number is thought
Nonetheless, masses of refugees move around the coun- to be much higher though: an estimated 500,000 IDPs
try and are free to compete for limited resources such are unregistered.
as land, water, energy and jobs. In 2010, the UNHCR
reported that refugees contributed “to accelerated wear Only around 40,000 IDPs live in camps established
and tear of roads and canals and a significant increase by the government. The overwhelming majority lives
in the consumption of fuel and fodder resources.” At the with host communities in the frontier province Khyber
time, no other country was bearing such a heavy refu- Pakhtunkhwa and the Federally Administered Tribal
gee burden as Pakistan, according to the UNHCR. Areas (FATA), a semi-autonomous region in the north-
west. They place immense strain on the resources of
There have been repeated calls for expelling poor communities there.
Afghan refugees. The official policy, however, is that
Afghan refugees’ return will only happen voluntar- On the one hand, IDP issues have spurred the
ily as long as they have themselves registered by the Pakistani state, civil society and media to engage
National Database and Registration Authority. in the rhetoric of helping fellow nationals. On the
other hand, Pakistan is an ethnically diverse coun-
To ensure that all refugees are given what they try, and xenophobia about IDPs swallowing up jobs
deserve, Pakistan requires continuous support from and resources has reared its ugly head. The Human
the international community – but, at the same time, Rights Commission of Pakistan considers ethnicity-
the international community must put pressure on based violence a serious concern. Indeed, IDP rights
the country to act appropriately. Amidst Pakistan’s are often neglected (see box below).
war against militants, the protection of refugee rights
is not necessarily a top domestic priority. Civil-society groups from Pakistan and abroad
regularly criticise the central and provincial govern-
ments for failing to stay informed about the evolving
Floods and militants displace needs of IDPs’ and safeguarding their rights. It is true
people that Pakistan does not have the financial means to
take care of all IDPs on its own, so the international
Problems are compounded by a great number of inter- community and Pakistani civil society have an obliga-
nally displaced persons (IDPs). Their numbers have tion to help. At the same time, they must put enough
grown fast in the past decade. Floods played a major pressure on the Pakistani state to ensure that it lives
role, and so did security operations in the northwest. up to its domestic and international obligations.
of effective care for pregnant dreds of thousands of women in is that many IDPs have lost their
women and those with special conservative rural areas have identity cards and other docu-
needs. More than 70 % of IDPs are probably never left their homes to ments, which also means they are
estimated to be women and chil- get CNICs. This is a blatant exam- disenfranchised when it comes to Waqqas Mir
dren. Children who are separated ple of gender discrimination and returning home and resettlement. is a High Court advocate based
from their parents most often do violates human rights, human in Lahore.
not receive the counselling and dignity and respect for family life. It is ironic, to put it mildly, that the [email protected]
support they require. Pakistani state tends to treat
IDPs in urban communities struggle Afghan refugees, almost all of
Women who head households to find jobs. Local authorities rou- whom are Sunni Muslims, more
find it difficult to register officially tinely communicate urban residents generously than IDPs. Issues that
because the domestic registration that they should not hire people contribute to this state of affairs
regulations assume that every who have fled from tribal areas. include the fact that some IDPs
family is headed by a man. Fur- IDPs are largely excluded from par- belong to religious minorities and
thermore, the authorities demand ticipation in the political process – that government agencies in Paki-
to see a valid computerised whether as voters or candidates. stan tend to be overburdened,
national identity card (CNIC) for One reason is that voters’ lists are underfunded and, all too often,
registration. The snag is that hun- not kept up to date. Another reason dysfunctional. (wm)

Looking for happiness
abroad
Not all Africans making for the west are fleeing from armed conflicts in their home
country. Many academics are leaving Central and East Africa because they hardly
find jobs there. In Europe and North America, on the other hand, some academic
qualifications are in short supply. A growing number of Catholic priests, for exam-
ple, come from countries of the South. Africans with relevant skills are also sought
for social occupations like nursing. But not everyone finds happiness in the west.
Three people who left Uganda told D+C/E+Z about their experiences.
By Isabella Bauer
Faihda Dede Ombasa lives in Arua, a town of agreed to become the second wife of a man in the
simple mud huts and houses with corrugated neighbourhood. She still lives with him and his first
iron roofs in north-western Uganda. During the civil wife today.
war in the late 1970s, Faihda received a scholarship
and became the first girl from the area to have the Shortly after the birth of her daughter, Faihda
opportunity to move to Vermont in the USA and joined the team of governmental development pro-
acquire university entrance qualifications there. She gramme. Her foreign experience proved useful: “My
was anxious at first, but everything went well: “I was second parents in the States had introduced me to
surprised by the warmth and sincerity of the welcome a totally different set of values. They turned me into
I received,” she recalls. a confident, bold woman.” She tried to modernise the
rural communities around her: “It was important not
An elderly couple took her under their wing and to be judgemental about social conditions. Gradually
became her new family. Rural Vermont seemed the and with great respect, I tried to sensitise people to
perfect place for her: “I liked the town and the peo- change. After all, they are my own people.”
ple, with their liberal views and their belief in fairness,
equality and freedom.” Faihda continues to work for various Ugandan and
foreign organisations today. Her heart is always with
But before long she discovered that the society ordinary people. To a young woman who wants to go
around her also had a darker side: “I was so surprised west as she did herself her advice would be: “Don’t
to find poverty there and people who were homeless. think the streets in the west are paved with gold. You
And I obviously soon learned that being black there need to work hard to achieve anything – three times
means being inferior.” as hard as a local person. Try to make something of
yourself. And never forget where you come from.”
Another scholarship took Faihda to New York,
where she studied social work. She stayed there as
a social worker, supporting vulnerable young people. Positive experiences
The first trip home to Uganda marked a watershed:
“In 1991, I came for the funeral of my elder sister, who From an early age, Irene Dawa strived to become able
had died of AIDS. Within a very short time, I knew that to make her own decisions. For a woman who grew
I would move back to Uganda. I suddenly realised that up in Uganda, she has an extraordinary story to tell: ”I
I no longer wanted to live in that country.” And so, just went to Europe to do a master’s degree in peace stud-
a few years later, she returned to the place where she ies. Then I spent various periods in the USA, Sudan
had grown up. and South Sudan as well as the Caribbean. Every-
where, I had incredible experiences.” She adds, how-
Her parents were overjoyed – also by the fact ever, that in western countries, people would often
that she would soon present them with a grandchild. not believe that a well-educated, independent woman
However, the child’s father, who is Ugandan, did not could be from a developing country. “They expected
leave the USA to join Faihda as he had promised. As me to be looking for a better life in the west, to be
a single parent, Faihda had no place in society, so she a supplicant,” she says.

Faihda Dede Ombasa
(left) and Irene Dawa
both gathered work
experience in the west
and later returned to
their native Uganda.
Bauer
She made lots of positive discoveries in the west Irene Dawa still has many ambitious plans for the
as well: “When I went to Europe for the first time, future. She recently established her own aid organisa-
I was amazed to find that total strangers were willing tion and has applied for a PhD programme in England.
to help me,” she says. From those days as a student in Her aim is to run a large women’s rights organisation
Austria, she still has many friends all over the world. in order to promote educational and development
She meets them on assignments as an adviser to opportunities for women.
international organisations. She is a committed wom-
en’s rights activist, and specialises in conflict manage- Her advice for other young women wishing to
ment and refugee issues. Most recently, she worked in move to the west is: “First of all, think seriously about
a huge refugee camp in Uganda, on the border with why you want to leave your country. Then stick to the
South Sudan, where most of the refugees come from. path you choose – because you can easily go astray in
other countries if you don’t know what you are look-
It is not always easy to move between different ing for. Respect the culture of the people and absorb
worlds. “When I come home to Uganda, I’m overjoyed what you feel is good for you.”
to see my father and have a chance to speak my own
language. But we also often argue – because my time
abroad has made me very self-assured,” she says. “I Open future
am accustomed to taking my own decisions. At home,
others want to decide for me and plan how I should Father Joseph Adriga (not his real name) prepares the
spend my money, but I no longer accept that.” She Sunday service in his parish in western Germany. It is
insists that the family consult her about everything a routine task. The Ugandan clergyman has served as
that affects her. Catholic parish priest in Germany for nearly ten years.

Arua, the home town of
Faihda Dede Ombasa.
Bauer
It all started with an ecclesiastical doctoral studies What he misses is the company of friends and
grant: “My bishop suggested that I should do a doc- family. He says, loneliness is actually a very common
torate in Germany and I went along with that. I was problem in the west: “People here have everything,
being groomed at the time for a senior position in the except commonality”. So he looks forward each year
diocese.” At the time, Father Joseph had already been to the summer vacation he spends back home – even
to Germany a number of times on seminars. though people there express constant demands that
he should support them financially.
He has vivid memories of discussions with
Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope. Of course, Values at home in Uganda and Germany, in his
exchange with other African priests was intense as second home, also differ in other areas. Those differ-
well: “We always said that dogmatic theology may ences can make pastoral duties difficult: “In the begin-
well be good in a western context, but life in Africa ning, I mainly listened,” he says. “In time, I came to
does not work like that. We discussed the issue for understand that it is always about lending support
nights on end.” and that even things we don’t understand are resolved
Isabella Bauer in prayer.” Whether he will stay in Germany for good
is a freelance journalist and When he started ministering German parishes has yet to be decided. He will be allowed to stay as
development consultant while pursuing his doctoral studies, Father Joseph long as he is doing his PhD. After that, the decision
specialising in East Africa, found he had to adjust quite a bit. The biggest differ- rests with his Ugandan bishop.
Southern Africa and Germany. ence was speaking in almost empty churches. “I was
[email protected] shocked to find that people don’t go to these wonder- Joseph is worried that he may no longer be
ful churches, and that more and more parishes are accepted at home, that he will be regarded as some-
being merged. That is something we priests struggle one who has set foot in immoral Europe and lost Afri-
to come to terms with,” he says. can values and the true faith. In that case, the only
option would be to switch to a German diocese – for
On the whole, however, he enjoys working and liv- good.
ing in Germany. “I am needed here as a priest. And I have
a secure income – unlike in Uganda, where I am always His advice to a young African colleague would be:
dependent on the collection, on people giving me some- “Going away can be life-changing. At some point, it
thing even though they don’t have much themselves.” may be very difficult to go home. You should bear that
He sums up: “Here, the church takes care of me.” in mind.”

Join us on
Facebook!
X +
www.facebook.com/development.and.cooperation
Education
Guatemala’s social problems

In Guatemala, children are required to attend six years of primary malnutrition and improve attention in
school, which they can do free of charge. In addition, state-run the class rooms. School meals matter to
poor families in particular. However, the
education programmes have the right ambitions: they aim to funds are disbursed much too late, and
provide school meals, an inclusive environment, intercultural the amounts tend to be too low. Many
education and teaching materials. But implementation has been schools only offer meals sporadically. In
extremely slow, and nationwide problems like poverty, corruption, other cases, the food that they receive
does not meet the official quality stand-
violence and racism all have a negative impact. ards.
By Patricia Galicia Despite the fact that a programme

exists to provide a free education, school is
In Guatemala, the constitution guar- mitted the state to invest more in educa- expensive for poor children. Up until a few
antees the right to education. Six tion. Accordingly, the government spent years ago, parents had to pay an annual
years of primary education are compulsory. around 2.8 % of its budget on education registration fee. It has been scrapped, but
Primary school is the only form of school in 2013. Half of that money went to pri- schools still ask for “voluntary contribu-
that the state is required to provide to all mary schools in order to cover the cost of tions” to pay for repairs, drinking water,
children free of charge. Nevertheless, instruction, subsidise school meals and computers, increases to teachers’ salaries
approximately 245,000 boys and girls pay for teaching materials. and security services to protect the build-
between the ages of seven and 12 do not go ing. Parents also have to pay for school
to school at all. Unfortunately, the percent- However, bureaucracy and wide- uniforms and supplies.
age of school-age children who do not spread corruption have foiled many good
attend school has significantly increased plans. Textbooks and teaching materi- Many families with a large number
over the past several years, rising from 5.5 % als often don’t arrive until the end of the of children choose one child they send
in 2006 to 19 % in 2015. According to school year – if at all. The school meal to school so at least one will get primary
a recent study, children from low-income programme is another example of failure. education. Others decide to send some of
families are particularly likely to stay home, Every child is supposed to get a balanced them to school for short periods so each
especially if they live in rural areas and breakfast and lunch in order to prevent will learn to read, write and perform basic
belong to indigenous communities.
In contrast to second-
Tribune ary schools, most primary
schools in Guatemala are
state-run. Since 2005,
over 1,500 new state pri-
mary schools have been
registered. However, the share of private
schools is gradually increasing and cur-
rently stands at 14.7 % (see box, p. 41).
Whereas private schools are usually

located in cities, public-sector schools are
often the only primary-education insti-
tutions that can be found in rural areas,
where the population tends to be indig-
enous. Rates of poverty and malnutrition
are high. One out of every four boys and
one out of every three girls has to work in
addition to going to school.
Free – but still too

expensive
Gudrun Lux
The Peace Accords that put an end to Gua-

temala’s 36-year civil war in 1996 com- Not every school in the countryside is so well equipped: primary school pupils carrying school desks in Guatemala.

arithmetic. These skills are useful in the ies they sometimes had over 40. In some classrooms are often only built of corru-
eyes of subsistence farmers. rural schools, a single teacher has to teach gated metal walls, and the teacher’s desk
three different age groups at the same time consists simply of a few bricks stacked
Thousands of children have to walk and act as the head of the school. They on top of each other. In some cases, each
long distances to school or use unsafe also do not have enough teaching materi- pupil has to bring along a bucket of water
public transportation that often takes als, particularly when it comes to subjects in order to flush the toilet. Earthquakes,
them through dangerous areas. like sports and art. In the last decade, the landslides and floods have caused major,
government cut the education budget irreparable damage to many school build-
and introduced temporary employment ings. As a result, the affected pupils are
Overworked teachers, contracts for teachers. As a result, selec- deprived of classrooms indefinitely.
crime and natural disasters tion and hiring processes now take sig-
nificantly longer, leaving some classes Computer labs have yet to be set up
Especially in rural areas, teachers are often with no teacher at all for lengthy periods in schools. The challenges are especially
overworked. In 2014, teachers at private of time. tough in areas that lack electric power. But
schools taught an average of 15 pupils per even schools that do have computers often
class. Teachers in public-sector schools The school buildings are also fre- do not have funds for maintenance, inter-
taught 26, whereas on the outskirts of cit- quently in disrepair. In poor regions, net connections and trained IT teachers.
Private primary schools on the rise

The number of private primary schools in knowledge and skills that children are time, meaning that they don’t learn the
Guatemala has risen slowly but signifi- acquiring in schools vary. State schools in most essential skills. The right to educa-
cantly over the past 10 years. The result is particular are falling short of the mark by tion for all is a great achievement. It
more social inequality. This development focussing on traditional subjects. should not be limited as a result of pov-
can be blamed above all on the declining erty or child labour. Nevertheless, many
quality of public-sector schools, says In order to participate in the world of work children and young people in our country
Cecilia Garcés, an education specialist for as well as politics and society, people need do not take advantage of their right to
the Population Council. She faults the to have access to – and must know how to education.
media, politicians and representatives of use – media and communication tech-
the business community for treating edu- nologies. In this respect, public-sector How can one ensure that everyone will
cation as a service rather than a human schools are not properly preparing pupils. exercise their right to primary educa-
right. Another issue, according to Garcés, This shortcoming is making the digital tion in a country like Guatemala?
is that many families do not send their divide wider and means more hurdles for
children to private schools because they many pupils when they want to enter the In policy discussions and budget planning,
think the quality of instruction is superior, labour market. bilingual instruction in Spanish and one of
but because they want their children to the 24 indigenous languages has to
make friends with children from wealthy Political participation is easier for people become a priority because it promotes
families. They also appreciate the prestige who have achieved a higher level of edu- inclusive education. That means that
of sending their children to an institution cation. Political inequality is growing instruction in pupils’ native languages has
that most people think must provide because some segments of the people to be guaranteed. We need more bilingual
a better education because parents are gather in private schools. and truly intercultural teachers who are
paying, Garcés continues. As a result, the not simply acting as interpreters. Well-
gap between rich and poor is growing How are these issues impacting poor trained teachers have to work together
wider and wider. and indigenous pupils? with indigenous peoples and their organi-
sations to develop a national strategy for
If politicians do not invest in education, Pupils’ ethnic and economic backgrounds inclusive education. It is also important
they will not be able to create an educa- still fundamentally determine how suc- that we do not simply talk about gender
tional system that facilitates social mobil- cessful they are at school. Poverty exacer- equality in the classroom. Strategies and
ity. Patricia Galicia discussed this issue bates exclusion in education. For methods have to be developed that pro-
with Carlos Aldana, the former technical instance, poor nutrition has a negative mote this cause so women and men will
deputy minister of education. impact on the neurological abilities of eventually be equally capable of exercising
young children. Since poverty is particu- their right to education. We need strate-
To what extent is the expansion of pri- larly widespread in rural areas, indig- gies for the classroom, where an atmos-
vate schools increasing inequality enous children are primarily affected. phere of respect and integrity should
among Guatemalans? What’s more, these children are often not prevail. But we also need strategies for
taught in their native language. Many of other areas of the educational system as
Having the right skills improves people’s them are enrolled in school but do not a whole, involving families and organisa-
chances on the labour market. But the complete the school year or finish on tions for instance.

Cancelled lessons are yet another ples. They are supposed to teach students a Q’eqchi’ whose children attend their
problem. Teachers frequently go on strike to become responsible citizens and cre- village’s government-run school. “They
in response to unstable employment con- ate a culture of peace. Approximately 10 prefer to teach in Spanish because they
ditions and delayed payment of wages. years after the curriculum was approved, are afraid of being discriminated against.
School buildings are sometimes used as however, teachers have still not received There is a lot of racism. People think chil-
polling places or emergency shelters for the appropriate training and do not know dren are getting an inferior education if
victims of natural disasters. Consequently, how to implement these goals in the class- they are taught in a Maya language. But
the required 180 days of instruction that room. the children are the ones who suffer: many
ought to make up the school year do not of them have to repeat the first grade or
actually take place. Children from indigenous families end up leaving school altogether. Their
have to become part of a school system families then see school as a waste of time
Schools recurrently close when crimi- that is not based on their communities’ and money.”
nals demand protection money and world view. It does not uphold their cul-
threaten pupils and teachers that other- tural values, pays little attention to their All of these factors reduce educational
wise they will use violence. Violence is history and does not take into account success. According to a study from 2014,
omnipresent in Guatemala. Pupils have their socio-economic situation. In addi- sixth-graders only reached 40 % of the
even been murdered at school. Classes are tion, teachers often fail to address indig- reading abilities and 44 % of the mathe-
cancelled when such things happen, and enous peoples’ contribution to society. matics skills they should have acquired at
some children never return to school out Although it is a national goal to offer bilin- that time. The right laws are in place, but
of fear for their safety. gual and intercultural education, there are much remains to be done.
still very few teachers who can teach both
in Spanish and in one of the 24 indigenous
Good goals, poor languages. Patricia Galicia
implementation is a radio journalist based in Guatemala City.
“There are many teachers who are
According to the national curriculum, actually indigenous themselves, but they
schools should promote gender equality, can’t write correctly in their language and
inclusion and respect for indigenous peo- can’t use it to teach,” explains Zoila Tot, [email protected]
Interview
“We are running out of time”

A new global climate agreement was concluded in the UN context in from investing in protection against
Paris in December, but many important issues remain unresolved. damages that may never occur?
Insurance policies cannot cover all kinds
Hans Dembowski discussed matters with Thomas Loster, director of of risks, including the accelerated rise of
Munich Re Foundation, who has been observing climate negotia- sea levels or the long-term dwindling of
tions for 20 years. glaciers. These are slow-onset events that
will almost certainly affect huge regions,
Interview with Thomas Loster and it is once more impossible to quan-
tify the potential damages in monetary
The Paris agreement is the first to and maybe even current emissions to pay terms. From an actuarial point of view,
address the losses and damages compensations. I think, however, that the this kind of risk cannot be spread over
caused by global warming. At the decision-makers worry that such a stance many shoulders. If, however, you are
same time, it states that the rich would cause countries such as China or thinking of draughts, storms and floods,
nations which contributed to the the USA to drop out from the UNFCCC insurance policies do make sense. I am
phenomenon most are not liable. process. And that would not help the involved in the Munich Climate Insur-
Does this stance make sense? climate at all. The word compensation is ance Initiative (MCII). We have designed
Well, the people in charge at the secre- highly controversial in debates, and that an insurance product for people living on
tariat of the UN Framework Convention was the case in Paris too. Caribbean islands with very low incomes.
on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have been The insurance covers what they need for
looking into this matter for quite some Insurance can compensate for dam- their livelihoods in the event of extreme
time. It is impossible to provide precise ages, and that was discussed in Paris storms or floods. The price for one insur-
monetary figures for losses and damages. as well. But are insurance schemes ance policy approximately equals the
Of course it makes sense to take stock really feasible in very poor coun- price of four lunch meals. Interest in this
as accurately as possible, and it seems tries? Don’t people there spend their kind of climate insurance is growing, not
plausible to ask those responsible for past incomes on daily needs and shy away least also among policymakers, because

active when they expect profits, that is the
nature of the game. In regard to public-
private partnerships, we need sensible
approaches on both sides, and on top, we
need stamina. At the moment, there is
more talking than action.
The agreement does not mention

“decarbonisation”, but decarbonisa-
tion is what climate protection is
about.
Yes, it is true: without decarbonisation we
won’t achieve anything, we will neither
stay within the 2.0 nor the 1.5 degrees
limit. To make a relevant difference, the
global economy will have to become
carbon-neutral sometime between 2050
Dave Hunt/AP Photo/picture-alliance
and 2070. This goal looks most ambitious

considering today’s emission levels. The
good news is that the issues of decar-
bonisation and divestment from fossil-
fuel businesses have moved up on the
agenda. Should governments fail to limit
global warming, the private sector can
Small island states in the Pacific are in serious trouble already: typhoon damages in Vanuatu. prove itself worthy. I hope that will hap-
pen, though the Paris agreement does not
it can serve adaptation to climate The same must be said of other proposals tackle this issue in detail.
change. to modify the atmosphere to fight global
warming. My impression is that, after Paris,
The Paris agreement expresses the just as many questions remain open
ambition to limit global warming to We are running out of time, as the as before Paris. What tangible pro-
1.5 degrees on average. To achieve German Advisory Council on Global gress was made?
that, action is needed immediately. Change (WGBU) has pointed out convinc- Well, my points might sound rather pes-
Nonetheless, the voluntary contri- ingly again and again. The Paris agree- simistic so far, but: I insist that the result
butions to climate protection that ment makes time lags likely, and that of COP21 is a major success. The eupho-
governments pledged to make will causes a serious problem. Just to achieve ria at the end of the summit may have
only be reassessed in five years with the 2.0 degree level, we would have had been a bit exaggerated. The agreement
an eye to making these “intended to have started reducing emissions yester- must yet be implemented, and it includes
nationally defined contributions” day. The more time goes by, the more our a lot of rather vague “countries should”
more stringent. What does that chances for effectively stopping climate clauses. But consider what would have
mean? change will dwindle. happened if Paris had not led to a result
This is indeed a serious issue. We know or if governments had backed off in the
that some countries – for example small The industrialised countries have end. The entire negotiation process of the
island states in the Pacific – are in seri- once more promised to make $ 100 UNFCCC would have been put in ques-
ous trouble already, and they will have billion per year available for climate tion. Your readers will probably recall
to cope with massive damages even if mitigation and adaptation in devel- that the Copenhagen summit was a huge
temperatures reach the 1.5 degree limit. oping countries from 2020 on. That failure despite large expectations. To
Hence, the ambitious goal makes a lot of sum includes private-sector invest- discontinue the UNFCCC process would
sense, but it is hardly reachable in physi- ments, which, by definition, are not have far-reaching consequences for every-
cal or technological terms. controlled by governments. What one. Climate summits are a bit like peace
must we expect? talks. Even though partial results may not
Even approaches such as geo-engi- Those $ 100 billion are nothing new, that be satisfying, things would be far worse
neering won’t help. A much debated sum has been discussed and published if there were no negotiations at all. So in
method is carbon capture and storage for years now. There are lots of intentions spite of all the criticism I have expressed,
(CCS), which is about capturing CO2 and and pledges, but we’ll only know the real I consider Paris a true success.
depositing it underground. A great idea figures in the end. The funds that have
is to use bio mass for energy production been transferred to the so-called Green Thomas Loster
and store the emitted carbon. Ultimately, Climate Fund so far are not overwhelm- is the director of the Munich Re Foundation. He
this would even lead to negative emis- ing. Actually, I also do not yet really has participated in 20 climate summits.
sions. I’m afraid, however, that we simply see huge private-sector contributions,
won’t get societal and political accept- though governments are quite keen on
ance for this approach internationally. them. Private-sector investors become [email protected]

Global governance
At a crossroads
The WTO summit in Nairobi late last year achieved important new in-kind food aid wherever it hurts local
trade agreements. The multilateral organisation is in crisis and regional markets, moreover, and the
extent to which their agencies may sell
nonetheless, and its Doha Development Round looks like a dead- food-aid supplies in order to raise funds
end street. for development projects will be limited
too.
By Hans Dembowski
These steps are valuable. The down-
Biennial ministerial summits are the LDCs do not play a major role in the global side, however, is that agriculture subsidies
World Trade Organization’s (WTO) IT trade so the developmental impact will in the developed world still distort inter-
main decision-making forum. Decisions probably not be big. national trade. When the Doha Round was
require consensus. Since achieving con- started in 2001, developing countries had
sensus among more than 160 nations is expected more concessions – and sooner.
difficult, the WTO did not make much pro- Agriculture progress What has happened since is subsidy
gress in recent years. policies have changed in the prosperous
The most important new agreement world.
The summit in Nairobi in December, concerns agriculture. Three crucial ele-
however, was different. Several small, ments are: The EU, for example, used to subsidise
though relevant deals were made, and ■■ Export subsidies will be eliminated farms per produced litre of milk, bushel of
disagreement on the future of the Doha by 2020, and the use of other types of wheat or kilo of pork. Now it subsidises
Development Round was made explicit. export instruments, such as credit or farms according to the land they use.
The Doha Round is the negotiation pro- food aid, will be limited more stringently The more hectares a farm has, the more
cess that was started 14 years ago in Qatar. than so far. support it gets. Accordingly, its access to
It was supposed to improve opportunities ■■ There will be a safeguard mechanism credit for major investments becomes eas-
for poor countries. It is unlikely to be con- allowing developing countries and ier too. This policy means that big farms
tinued since open disagreement in a set- emerging markets to raise tariffs tem- grow ever bigger, while small farms are
ting that requires consensus indicates the porarily in response to high food price discontinued.
lack of a clear mandate to keep going. volatility. The details must yet be agreed.
■■ Developing countries will be entitled
On the other hand, some progress was to hold public stocks of farm goods for Doha disappointment
made. For instance, it was agreed that safeguarding sufficient supply at afford-
WTO members can grant least-developed able prices. Permanent rules must yet be Trade negotiators from disadvantaged
countries (LDCs) preferential market defined, but temporary rules exist and world regions, however, had wanted
access for services for another 15 years. have been extended. the Doha Round to improve matters for
It has similarly been made easier to grant farmers in their countries. The shift from
them preferential market access for pro- These issues are of great developmental product-related to land-related subsidies
cessed goods. relevance. Agriculture subsidies severely in rich countries has made a difference,
distort global trade. Huge, high-tech farms but not the big difference expected. There-
Another new agreement reached in in rich nations benefit from government fore, a strong sense of disappointment in
Nairobi concerns information technol- support, while smallholder farmers in regard to the Doha Round prevails among
ogy (IT). Tariffs will be removed on 201 poor world regions must do without. They developing countries and emerging mar-
products, including high-tech semi-con- struggle to compete. Export subsidies kets.
ductors, magnetic-resonance imaging and other kinds of export promotion have
machines and video game consoles. The compounded the problems. All too often, One thing the governments of devel-
goods concerned make up about 10 % of farmers in poor countries are crowded out oping countries and emerging markets
global trade, according to the Interna- of domestic markets and reduced to sub- liked about the Doha Round was that
tional Centre for Trade and Sustainable sistence farmers, if they do not give up it did not include a list of issues that
Development, a non-governmental organ- agriculture altogether. governments of rich nations wanted to
isation that monitors the WTO and pub- tackle. These issues are called the Singa-
lishes the influential newsletter “Bridges”. The new agreement states that export pore issues and they include the rights of
subsidies will be phased out this year. investors, competition rules and govern-
The IT agreement will make electronic There are a few exceptions, but those ment procurement. In Doha, the develop-
goods cheaper. It may help to reduce the exceptions must end by 2020. Export ing world opposed putting these issues on
digital divide which separates those peo- credits will henceforth be limited to 18 the agenda in fear of losing policy space
ple who have access to computerised sys- months rather than 24 months. Advanced needed for catching up with established
tems from those who do not. However, the nations are now committed to refrain from economic powers.

In order to get an agreement, the EU and Leaders in emerging markets, moreo- The comment of the Financial Times
the USA finally agreed to launch a round of ver, are fully aware of US President Barack was that it had been high time to discon-
negotiations that did not include the Singa- Obama stating repeatedly that the idea of tinue the Doha Round. One reason it gave
pore issues. They wanted to send a signal TTP is to define global rules and not leav- was that emerging markets have grown
of global unity at the Doha summit, which ing matters to countries like China. They so fast in the past one and a half decades
took place only a few weeks after the 9/11 resent being excluded from decision mak- that it does not make sense to consider
terror attacks. However, it soon became ing for obvious reasons. them developing countries anymore.
clear that neither the EU nor the USA were Indian newspapers, on the other hand,
really willing to forsake these issues. The most important aspect, however, expressed frustration. The background
is that a multilateral trade regime would is that trade opportunities for LDCs have
Indeed, their efforts to put them on the serve all parties by providing comparatively indeed improved in the past decades,
WTO agenda again failed, and they began simple rules for all parties involved. A host whereas the outlook for most middle-
to show ever growing interest in bilateral of bilateral agreements, on the contrary, income countries has not improved that
trade deals which included the Singapore leads to “spaghetti bowl” complexity, as much since the WTO was established in
issues. The most prominent bilateral deal Jagdish Bhagwati, a prominent economist, 1995.
is the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) has often argued (see for instance D+C/
which was agreed by 12 governments last E+Z 2011/12, p. 452 ff.). A complicated set- It is interesting to consider the recent
year, but must still be ratified by national ting with many different rules, depending decisions from the perspective of the
legislatures. Another one is the Transat- on what country exports go to, serves the WTO’s self-interest. By brokering new
Tribune
Roberto Azevêdo, WTO director-general, and Amina Mohamed, Kenya’s foreign minister, want to keep the show on the road.
lantic Trade and Investment Partnership business of trade lawyers, whom the poor- deals, it has proven that it is still a rele-
(TTIP) on which EU and US negotiators est partners involved can hardly afford. vant institution in spite of the Doha grid-
are still working. lock. Some critics had argued that only its
trade-dispute settlement system, which
Both TTP and TTIP are highly contro- Where we are now can punish countries for not sticking to
versial. One worry is that they will not WTO rules, mattered anymore.
only undermine the WTO, but develop- World trade is a most complex issue.
ment-friendly bilateral trade agreements Views diverge on where the WTO stands By agreeing to disagree in Nairobi,
as well (see Theresa Krinninger in D+C/ now. Joseph Stiglitz, the former chief however, the WTO has managed to
E+Z e-Paper 2015/12, p. 5, or Clara Wein- economist of the World Bank, has inch forward on making rules. This is
hardt et al. in D+C/E+Z e-Paper 2015/08, expressed regret about the end of the what probably mattered most to Rob-
p. 34 f.). The reasoning is that, once the Doha Round and blames the rich nations erto Azevêdo, WTO director-general, and
USA, EU and Japan are covered by these – in particular the USA – of egotism. Amina Mohamed, who is a former WTO
deals, all other nations will have to accept According to Germany’s Federal Ministry staff member and hosted the summit as
those rules. After all, these economies are for Economic Cooperation and Develop- Kenya’s foreign minister.
especially important. Another worry is ment, on the other hand, the phasing out
that TTP and TTIP may grant excessive of export subsidies for agricultural goods Link:
rights to foreign investors and thus thwart and easier market access for LDCs add Bridges – International Centre for Trade and Sustainable
national policy making (see Alan Robles up to meaningful progress. Both stances Development:
in D+C/E+Z e-Paper 2015/07, p. 40). make sense. http://www.ictsd.org/bridges-news/bridges/overview

Comment
Scrambling against decline

Old tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran are reintensifying. By is predominantly Arab. Iran held the upper
executing a leading Shia cleric, Saudi Arabia has recklessly hand over its Arab neighbours in military
and economic terms.
fanned the flames.
The rivalry became obvious to everyone
By Maysam Behravesh and intensified after Iran’s revolution. Issues
Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr, whom

Saudi Arabia executed on 2 January Lebanese Shias are
2016, was a prominent and high-ranking angry about the
Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Prov- execution of Nimr al-
ince. The population of this oil-rich prov- Nimr.
ince is reportedly predominantly Shia.
Nimr was born in one of its villages in 1959.
Zataari/AP Photo/picture-alliance
He left to study religion in Iran in

1979. That was when the Islamic Revolu-
tion toppled Iran’s Shah Mohammad Reza
Pahlavi and brought to power a Shia revo-
lutionary regime. Nimr returned to Saudi
Arabia in 1994 to become the most influ-
ential faith leader of the country’s Shias. that dissent is not tolerated. At the same of religious ideology suddenly mattered, and
time, it was meant to provoke Iran. The Sau- sectarian differences added to the problems.
He was critical of the Saudi royalty dis hoped that Iran might respond in a way Arab countries considered Iran an emergent
and particularly of how it treats the Shia that would help them to rally Arab allies Shia powerhouse that was keen to export its
minority. He insisted on non-violence, but and slow down, if not reverse, the ongoing revolution, subvert the Sunni old guard and
supported Iran’s post-revolutionary prin- shift in the regional balance of power. revise the regional order.
ciple of governance called the “Guardian-
ship of the Jurisprudent”, which puts the Indeed, hardline protesters soon To contain revolutionary Iran, Saddam
supreme leader in charge of ultimate deci- stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran Hussein, Iraq’s authoritarian leader,
sion-making. However, Nimr was quite and set it ablaze. Iran’s President Has- started war in 1980. Back then, he was
critical of Syria’s President Bashar al- san Rouhani condemned such action, but supported by the west as well as Saudi
Assad and his suppressive policies against the event provided what the Saudis had Arabia. The attritional war went on until
opponents. Iran supports Assad. wanted: an opportunity to play the victim 1988 and caused terrible suffering. Ira-
and mobilise Arab fears. nians have not forgotten, moreover, that
Debate Nimr’s execution has a clash between Shia demonstrators and
domestic and interna- Riyadh severed diplomatic ties with Saudi security forces claimed the lives of
tional implications. They Tehran and successfully encouraged Bah- over 400 people during the Hajj pilgrim-
concern the sectarian rain, Sudan and Djibouti to follow suit. age in 1987. Most of the dead were Iranian.
Sunni-Shia strife invoked Moreover, Saudi Arabia pledged Somalia
by the Saudi regime to consolidate its aid worth $ 50 million if it cut diplomatic Western leaders know that Iran and
authority at home and project power abroad. relations with Iran – which Somalia did. Saudi Arabia must be on board if interna-
It also needs to be seen in the context of the tional talks to deliver peace to strife-torn
geopolitical rivalry between the kingdom Trita Parsi, the head of the US-based Syria and military campaigns against the
and its arch-enemy Iran, which is evident National Iranian American Council, sees ISIS militia are to succeed. Whether Saudi
in civil wars in Syria and Yemen as well as a new recklessness in the foreign policy Arabia shares their priorities is an open
other conflicts in the wider Middle East. of King Salman and his son Muhammad, question. In the meantime, Iran’s people
the defence minister. In this perspective, are delighted that economic sanctions
In the eyes of the Saudi leadership, the Saudi approach looks like the frenzied have been lifted.
Iran’s recent rapprochement with the west reactive-aggressive scramble of a sectar-
is worrisome. Last year’s agreement on ian state that is facing regional decline. Maysam Behravesh
banning nuclear arms and lifting sanc- is a research fellow at the Center for Middle
tions has boosted Tehran’s standing. The acrimony between Iran and Saudi Eastern Studies (CMES) at Lund University in
Arabia is old. It goes back to the pre-rev- Sweden.
The execution of Nimr has sent a clear olutionary era when Iran’s Shah was the
message to Saudi Arabia’s Shia minority west’s gendarme of the Middle East, which [email protected].

Comment
A pan-regional crisis
Burundi has been sinking ever deeper into unfathomable chaos approach John Magufuli, the new presi-
since President Pierre Nkurunziza’s controversial re-election in dent, will take. He was elected according
to constitutional provisions.
the summer. Violent attacks reoccur. The state order has col-
lapsed. The media and civil society are being suppressed. Regional pressure on Burundi’s gov-
ernment, which lacks a legitimate mandate
By Gesine Ames by the electorate, must certainly increase
In most cases, the perpetrators of

violence are not identified. The use of Uganda’s President
government force is becoming ever more Yoweri Museveni did
stringent, and armed groups are respond- not achieve much in
ing in kind. Daily life has become unbear- peace talks in Entebbe
able. Sexualised violence is increasingly in December.
common – and it serves strategic pur-
poses. The government does not investi-
gate human-rights abuses.
AP Photo/picture-alliance
For humanitarian agencies, work has

become ever more difficult. In November,
the home ministry froze the bank accounts
of 10 non-governmental organisations.
The editorial offices and the broadcast- a peacekeeping force with 5000 troops. for a peaceful solution to be found. Burun-
ing stations of independent media have Nkurunziza’s response was that he will di’s political opposition and civil society
been closed and largely destroyed. Over not tolerate a “foreign invasion”. To actu- must be involved in a meaningful way,
230 000 people have fled to neighbouring ally start the mission, the AU needs moreover. This is not simply an African
countries. a two-thirds majority of member govern- affair, the entire international community
ments. It is uncertain whether and when must pay attention. A joint strategy of
These Burundian events indicate such a majority can be mustered without the East African Community and the AU
that the crisis will rock the entire region. Burundi’s consent. is indispensable, but the EU and the UN
The temptation to stay in government must play their part too. Coherent action
office by illegitimate means is great in all In the meantime, tensions are grow- will be essential for a monitoring and pro-
neighbouring countries. The irony is that ing in neighbouring Rwanda. The two tective mission to be sent to Burundi in
Burundi proves undeniably what risks are governments accuse one another of caus- cooperation with the AU. There must be
involved in undermining constitutional ing disorder and providing rebels with an end to daily repres-
principles for the sake of clinging to power. safe havens. Uganda’s President Yoweri sion and killing. Debate
Constitutions must be respected as sets of Museveni has tried to broker compromise
rules that safeguard societal peace and between Burundi’s government and oppo- To prevent further cri-
political stability. Power-hungry individu- sition, but not accomplished much so far. ses in the region, moreo-
als and their cronies must not be allowed Museveni himself is controversial, how- ver, it is crucial to tackle
to use them as personal tools. ever, as he had his country’s constitution the issue of constitutional changes in
changed to abolish term limits and stay favour of individual leaders. Clear stand-
In spite of international and regional in power. In many people’s eyes, he thus points are needed right from the start,
criticism, Nkurunzia is staying his course. lacks credibility. and policymakers must act in accordance
International sanctions and the freezing with them. The political and humanitar-
of aid money have not made a difference. At the same time, Burundi’s govern- ian crises we are witnessing now are not
On the contrary, he is intentionally open- ment is showing very little interest in one nation’s domestic affairs – they may
ing wounds and pitting population groups compromise. It cancelled a round of nego- trigger mayhem across the entire world
against one another. It bears repetition tiations in early January after a meeting in region.
that we are witnessing the result of presi- Entebbe on 28 December proved fruitless.
dential recklessness rather than a clash of Gesine Ames
ethnic groups. Hopes are now pinned on Tanzania, coordinates Ökumenisches Netz Zentralafrika
one of the region’s political and eco- (Ecumenical Network Central Africa), a German
The Peace and Security Council of the nomic heavyweights. Former President faith-based organisation.
African Union (AU) has, for the first time, Jakaya Kikwete had sided with Nkurun-
authorised the deployment of MAPROBU, ziza. It remains to be seen, however, what [email protected]

Please visit our
website
www.DandC.eu
X +
www.dandc.eu
Christian Guy/Lineair

Global Refugee Crisis: Primary Schools WTO Climate Change

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Global Refugee Crisis: Primary Schools WTO Climate Change

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Global Refugee Crisis: Primary Schools WTO Climate Change

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

DEVELOPMENT

Monthly e-Paper February 2016

Primary schools Climate change WTO

2 D+C e-Paper February 2016

Interview with Thomas Loster:

Hans Dembowski: Scrambling against decline

D+C e-Paper February 2016 3

Global Monitoring Report

Education for all not achieved

4 D+C e-Paper February 2016

The report team found that the most

According to the GMR, major efforts

Education for All goals

D+C e-Paper February 2016 5

Decent conditions and

In 2014, an average of two new gar-

2016/01, p. 32

6 D+C e-Paper February 2016

According to von Lossow, the UN is

The “water weapon” is quite effective,

organisation needs water to produce and

D+C e-Paper February 2016 7

His book describes how Assad increas-

ceptable to the protest movement. Many

8 D+C e-Paper February 2016

10 D+C e-Paper February 2016

According to India’s constitu- Not all people deem private edu-

D+C e-Paper February 2016 11

14 D+C e-Paper February 2016

One of the risks they run in Mexico is encounter-

D+C e-Paper February 2016 15

16 D+C e-Paper February 2016

German civil society is

D+C e-Paper February 2016 17

Strong partners in Germany

Many NGOs, faith-based organisations, foundations

I also want to increase the support that my Minis-

Whenever I visit a country, I urge the government

18 D+C e-Paper February 2016

D+C e-Paper February 2016 19

20 D+C e-Paper February 2016

D+C e-Paper February 2016 21

22 D+C e-Paper February 2016

D+C e-Paper February 2016 23

24 D+C e-Paper February 2016

A depressing camp in Kenya’s northwest

D+C e-Paper February 2016 25

It is an enormous burden to see all these bright Links:

Losing one’s dignity

26 D+C e-Paper February 2016

Refugees in their IDP camp in Borno

D+C e-Paper February 2016 27

28 D+C e-Paper February 2016

D+C e-Paper February 2016 29

Interview with Salah Ahmad

The Jiyan Foundation helps refugees and

How many refugees are there?

When did the refugees arrive in Iraqi Kurdis-

30 D+C e-Paper February 2016

2 D+C e-Paper February 2016

D+C e-Paper February 2016 3

4 D+C e-Paper February 2016

D+C e-Paper February 2016 5

6 D+C e-Paper February 2016

D+C e-Paper February 2016 7

8 D+C e-Paper February 2016

10 D+C e-Paper February 2016

D+C e-Paper February 2016 11

14 D+C e-Paper February 2016

D+C e-Paper February 2016 15

16 D+C e-Paper February 2016

D+C e-Paper February 2016 17

18 D+C e-Paper February 2016

D+C e-Paper February 2016 19

20 D+C e-Paper February 2016

D+C e-Paper February 2016 21

22 D+C e-Paper February 2016

D+C e-Paper February 2016 23

24 D+C e-Paper February 2016

D+C e-Paper February 2016 25

26 D+C e-Paper February 2016

D+C e-Paper February 2016 27

28 D+C e-Paper February 2016

D+C e-Paper February 2016 29

30 D+C e-Paper February 2016

D+C e-Paper February 2016 31

32 D+C e-Paper February 2016

D+C e-Paper February 2016 33

34 D+C e-Paper February 2016

D+C e-Paper February 2016 35

36 D+C e-Paper February 2016

D+C e-Paper February 2016 37

38 D+C e-Paper February 2016

40 D+C e-Paper February 2016

D+C e-Paper February 2016 41

42 D+C e-Paper February 2016

D+C e-Paper February 2016 43

44 D+C e-Paper February 2016

D+C e-Paper February 2016 45

46 D+C e-Paper February 2016

D+C e-Paper February 2016 47