Refugees and Internally Displaced PeopleWho is a Refugee?Problems with the conventionRefugees and IDPThe SudanThe Civil WarsAn ethnic/racial conflict?Sudan’s oilControl of OilResults of the CrisisEnd of the Crisis?Refugees and Internally Refugees and Internally Displaced PeopleDisplaced PeopleThe SudanThe SudanWho is a Refugee?Who is a Refugee?The most widely used definition of a The most widely used definition of a refugee is that employed in the refugee is that employed in the 1951 UN Convention relating to the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. According to Status of Refugees. According to this convention a refugee is this convention a refugee is someone whosomeone who–““owing to a well-founded fear of owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social or membership of a particular social or political opinion, is outside the political opinion, is outside the country of his/her nationality” country of his/her nationality” –Countries that have signed this Countries that have signed this convention are required to provide convention are required to provide asylum to people deemed to be asylum to people deemed to be refugees. refugees. –What are some potential problems What are some potential problems with this definition? with this definition?Problems with the conventionProblems with the conventionLeads to a subjective judgment of what qualifies Leads to a subjective judgment of what qualifies as “well-founded belief”. Refugees may be denied as “well-founded belief”. Refugees may be denied asylum in a country because government officials asylum in a country because government officials do not deem their fears to be well-founded. do not deem their fears to be well-founded. Does not account for Internally Displaced Persons Does not account for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).(IDPs).The definition does not cover people who have The definition does not cover people who have been persecuted on the basis of their sex or been persecuted on the basis of their sex or sexuality. sexuality.Refugees and IDPRefugees and IDPIn the world today there are approximately In the world today there are approximately 11,900,000 refugees and 20,000,000 Internally 11,900,000 refugees and 20,000,000 Internally displaced people. displaced people. The primary sources of refugees in the world today The primary sources of refugees in the world today are Palestine, Afghanistan and The Sudan. are Palestine, Afghanistan and The Sudan. Of the millions of refugees and IPD in the world only Of the millions of refugees and IPD in the world only about 1% have been permanently resettled in new about 1% have been permanently resettled in new countries. Most continue to live in refugee camps or countries. Most continue to live in refugee camps or are homeless. are homeless. In the US, the ceiling for refugees is 70,000 per In the US, the ceiling for refugees is 70,000 per year. Since 1975 the US has resettled year. Since 1975 the US has resettled approximately 2.5 million refugees. approximately 2.5 million refugees.The SudanThe SudanFuelled by oil revenue, Sudan has one of Fuelled by oil revenue, Sudan has one of the fastest growing economies in Africa and the fastest growing economies in Africa and the world. With GDP growth for 2006 at the world. With GDP growth for 2006 at around 9.6%. By comparison China has a around 9.6%. By comparison China has a growth rate of 10.7% and the US 3.2%.growth rate of 10.7% and the US 3.2%.Control over this oil revenue is at the heart Control over this oil revenue is at the heart of the refugee crisis emerging from the of the refugee crisis emerging from the Sudan. Sudan.The Civil WarsThe Civil WarsBeginning with British Beginning with British decolonization of the Sudan in decolonization of the Sudan in 1955, the Sudan has been 1955, the Sudan has been plagued by almost perpetual plagued by almost perpetual civil war. civil war. The conflict which displaced the The conflict which displaced the Lost Boys began in 1983.Lost Boys began in 1983.–Why were they mostly Boys? Why were they mostly Boys? This civil war is fought between This civil war is fought between the North Sudan (Northern the North Sudan (Northern Government of Sudan and Government of Sudan and associated militias) and the associated militias) and the South Sudan (Sudanese South Sudan (Sudanese People’s Liberation Army)People’s Liberation Army)An ethnic/racial conflict?An ethnic/racial conflict?The government in Khartoum The government in Khartoum (The capitol) is controlled by (The capitol) is controlled by Arab Muslims.Arab Muslims.The South Sudan is comprised The South Sudan is comprised predominantly of Black predominantly of Black Christians and Animists. Christians and Animists. The racial and ethnic The racial and ethnic differences apparent in this differences apparent in this conflict can lead one to assume conflict can lead one to assume that this is just one of many that this is just one of many ethnic conflicts that appear to ethnic conflicts that appear to continuously plague Africa. continuously plague Africa. However….However….Sudan’s oilSudan’s oilThe Sudan currently produces The Sudan currently produces about 350,000 barrels of oil per about 350,000 barrels of oil per day. day. Most of the massive oil reserves Most of the massive oil reserves in the Sudan are located in the in the Sudan are located in the South of the country. South of the country. Thus, while political, economic, Thus, while political, economic, and military power are located in and military power are located in the north and under Arab-the north and under Arab-Muslim control, the majority of Muslim control, the majority of the resources fuelling this power the resources fuelling this power and wealth are located in the and wealth are located in the south.south.Control of OilControl of OilThe Sudanese government The Sudanese government spends approximately 60% of its spends approximately 60% of its oil revenue to purchase oil revenue to purchase weapons. These weapons are weapons. These weapons are used to arm the military and used to arm the military and militias that have historically militias that have historically maintain a brutal control over maintain a brutal control