Refugee Diversity

REFVIEW

Refugee Diversity

The UN Refugee Agency Bureau for the Americas The UN Refugee Agency © UNHCR/Hege r

UNHCR facilitates access to school for IDP children in Colombia. Here, a displaced child in Quibdo.

REFVIEW NUMBER 2 MARCH 2006

Editorial by the Director of the Americas 3

Refugee Diversity in the Americas 4

GUEST EDITORIAL: Luiz Paulo Barreto 8

COLOMBIA: Working with Indigenous People 9

MEXICO: New Shelter for Unaccompanied Minors 10

USA: Protection of Alien Children 11

COSTA RICA: Elderly Refugees 12

ECUADOR : The Psychological Impact of Displacement on Refugee Women 13

Refugee Participation 14

CANADA: Volunteer Teachers for Minors in Detention 15

ARGENTINA: Hip Hop and Football for Young Refugees 16

BRAZIL, COLOMBIA, ECUADOR, VENEZUELA, MEXICO: From the Field 17

PANAMA: Refugee Voice 20

ECUADOR: Staff Diary from Lago Agrio 21

COVERPAGE PHOTO Director Editorialist Marie-Helene Verney Refview is a publication of the Bureau for UNHCR provides financial assistance for Philippe Lavanchy Philippe Lavanchy Marte Fremstedal the Americas. The opinions expressed refugees and local children to attend school, Coordinator Guest editorialist Nanda Na Champassak by our collaborators do not necessarily Nazli Zaki promoting the integration of refugees with the Xavier Creach Luiz Paulo Barreto reflect those of UNHCR. Refview editors Editors Collaborators Oscar Butragueño reserve the right to edit all articles prior to local population. Here Colombian refugee Marie Helene Verney Bernardo Pisani Sabine Wahning publication. No authorisation is required Thais Bessa Juan Carlos Murillo Elaine Bole for the reproduction of articles and photos school children in Ecuador. Xavier Orellana Production Giovanni Monge without copyright. Please credit UNHCR. © UNHCR/Heger Original design Nazli Zaki Gustavo Valdivieso José Luis Loera Viceversa Asesoria Creativa Virginia Pico Jozef Merkx Adaptation of design Luis Varese Agvisual Mariana Echandi Printing Artes Graficas Kuce SA

refview Editorial

ith four million people under UNHCR’s mandate in the re- Wgion, the Americas are facing a steady rise in the number of people in need of protection. This trend is creating a wide range of problems common to many states in the region. It increases the pressure on infrastructures and local economies, can lead to the destabilisa- tion of border areas and in some cases can even constitute a threat to democratic institutions. In all cases, stronger cooperation between states is required to address some of these adverse consequences. When seeking to help the victims of the long-standing conflict in Colombia, greater cooperation is needed. When trying to assist the people of long- Philippe Lavanchy , Director Bureau for the Americas UNHCR troubled Haiti, greater cooperation is also essential. Throughout the region, we must look for ways of empower- The first year of implementation of children, elderly or disabled their partici- ing governments to develop collective the Mexico Plan of Action was decisive pation and feedback are essential to the responsibility and to set up new mecha- to test the ability of all concerned to good running of all UNHCR activities. nisms for solidarity between states. jointly address protection challenges in The diversity of refugee experiences in Against this background, the adop- the region. The results are encouraging. the Americas and the various ways in tion in November 2004 by 20 Latin Throughout Latin America, protection which UNHCR is trying to help are the American countries of the Mexico Dec- networks have been strengthened and themes of this publication. laration and Plan of Action is a mile- a series of innovative projects were stone. It is Latin America’s response implemented, ranging from the signing Philippe Lavanchy to the challenges facing the region of agreements between Colombian cit- Director and represents the implementation of ies to facilitate IDPs’ access to basic Bureau for the Americas UNHCR’s Agenda for Protection on the rights and social benefits to an increase sub-continent – a further sign that Latin in resettlement places for Colombian American governments remain faith- refugees in countries such as Argentina, ful to the region’s asylum traditions. It Brazil and Chile. is another concrete translation of Latin It is important to note that a substan- America contribution to the develop- tial number of these projects were im- ment of international refugee law. It is plemented with the active participation not just a declaration of good intentions of the refugees and internally displaced but a very concrete action plan which themselves. To be successful, projects includes a protection response and a have to be relevant to the needs of the durable solutions component while people they are meant to assist. Wheth- focusing on effective partnerships. er the beneficiaries are men, women,

editorial refview Refugee Diversity in the Americas

UNHCR/Verney At 13, Lola fled to Mexico after suffering from years of sexual abuse in Guatemala. Today, she has been recognised as a refugee and lives in a shelter for unaccompanied minors. for every single one of the four million people who come under UNHCR’s mandate in the Americas alone, there is a different story. Each of these stories reflects the different experiences that drive people into exile and displacement. With different experiences come different needs, different skills and resources, and different hopes for the future. This diversity of refugee experiences calls on UNHCR to be flexible in its working practices. “There is no ‘one-fits-all’ solution,” says Philippe Lavanchy, Director of UNHCR’s Bureau for the Americas, “and while this is true everywhere in the world, refugee experiences in the Americas are particularly diverse. An Afghan girl resettled in Canada does not need the same help as an indigenous boy displaced by the violence in Colombia. A young Congolese refugee in the U.S. has opportunities that may not exist for an elderly Colombian woman in Venezuela. If we want to be of real help, we have to take these differences Indigenous woman in Soacha, a suburb of the Colombian capital Bogota, hundreds of miles away from the home in Choco she had to flee to escape violence. into account.” In recent years, UNHCR has been reviewing the way it works with iber was 16 when he ca- Angele knew no-one in Argentina refugees, paying special attention to me under pressure to join when she arrived from Congo with a the impact its programmes have on Wone of Colombia’s irregular young child and a violent partner. Life individual refugees of different armed groups. Fearing for his life and as a refugee got so bad that she genders, ages and backgrounds. that of his younger brothers, his pa- attempted suicide. With the help of Under a framework known as “Gender, rents took the decision they had been UNHCR, she has now rebuilt her life, Age and Diversity Mainstreaming”, putting off for years. Within days, the thanks notably to a micro-credit loan UNHCR is actively seeking the family fled across the border to take that allowed her to start her own small participation of refugees in the design refuge in Ecuador. business. and implementation of its policies. The

refview Refugee Diversity in the Americas overall goal of mainstreaming is to ensure that all refugees can equally enjoy their rights. In the Americas staff are engaged in structured dialogue with refugees and building on existing programmes and initiatives to achieve this aim.

The Colombian Conflict

With more than two million internally displaced persons (IDPs), Colombia provides a poignant illustration of the myriad different ways in which forced displacement and exile can impact on individual people. After more than 40 years of internal armed conflict, almost every social group has been affected: men and women, children and the elderly, farmers and intellectuals. Some groups, however, are especially at risk: among them are Colombia’s ethnic minorities, including its indigenous population. According to the National Indigenous Organisation of Colombia, UNHCR/Ve rn ey ONIC, nearly 22,000 indigenous Indigenous boy from the Embera indigenous group in Choco in the north-west of Colombia. people were forced to leave their homes in 2005 alone. Indigenous communities often live in remote help these young people in distress. do that. So we are sad.” areas, with their own language, culture The number of suicides has been young men are rarely considered to and tradition. UNHCR in Colombia steadily on the decline since then, be a vulnerable group, yet in Colombia realised early on that the only effective even though young people still come they are amongst the most likely to way to help these communities was to under a lot of external pressure. become victims of the conflict. Not strengthen indigenous organisations “The armed groups are all around,” only are threats and physical violence and enable them to define the one young man whose brother against them common occurrences, problems and implement the solutions. committed suicide explains, “they stop young men also frequently come un- In 2004, a local indigenous us from going into the forest or down der pressure to join one or another of association, CAMIZBA, warned the river, so we have nothing to eat. the irregular armed groups. Ulyses, UNHCR that young people in remote Our fathers and grandfathers used to another young indigenous man river communities in the Choco region hunt all over these forests,” he adds, living in one of Choco’s threatened were committing suicide in large pointing at the thick jungle surrounding communities, has a very clear numbers. UNHCR and CAMIZBA got the tiny settlement. “For a boy to explanation for the high number of together to develop a joint project that become a man, he must hunt and suicides among the young. relied on local indigenous people to bring food to his family, but we cannot

Refugee Diversity in the Americas refview © UNHCR/Smith seeing my boys joining one of the groups that had made our lives so difficult.” A week later, the family fled to Ecuador, this time for good. With the support of UNHCR, Wiber’s father was given access to a plot of land and received a micro-credit from a com- munal bank run by Ecuadorians and Colombians. “It’s really helped my father,” Wiber says, “he used to farm in Colombia and being able to work the land has made him feel at home again.” Each section of the garden is divided by do- Colombian IDP’s. Here a UNHCR-supported youth group performs a dance piece that tells the story of the disappearance of a young person at the hands of an armed group zens of flat stones decorated with - a real threat for many of the youth in Barrancabermeja. Wiber’s drawings. His favourite stone shows a house in the middle of a lush garden – “our home in Colombia,” he “They come here – one day it’s the several occasions over the previous says. guerillas, the next it’s the paramilitaries. five years, the family had fled to “Micro-credit schemes are a It doesn’t make any difference. They Ecuador to escape the violence. Each practical example of what we mean by want you to join and young people time, they had returned to Putumayo refugee participation,” explains Marta receive lots of threats. Sometimes, after a few days or weeks, as soon as Juarez, UNHCR’s representative in when they say they want to kill you, the situation had calmed down. But Ecuador, “the refugees come up with you think it’s better to kill yourself than after what happened just over a year their own proposal for what they need to wait for them to kill you.” ago, they are not thinking of going and how they will make their business back. work. Credit is given depending on the The Regional Context: Targeted “One of my friends joined,” Wiber refugees’ past experience, their Solutions explains, referring to one of the irregu- resources and abilities -no two micro- lar armed groups active in Putumayo, credit loans are the same.” Pressure on young men to enroll in “he talked to me about it and said I At least half of all micro-credit loans irregular armed groups is not only a should come with them too. I thought are intended for women refugees, with leading factor of internal displacement; about it, I even told my Dad that may- priority being given to women who are it is also a major cause for entire fami- be it was right I should join. He was the family’s sole breadwinner. Exile lies to flee the country. very angry, said I should be ashamed and forced displacement turn many Wiber was 16 when he arrived in to think that way.” women into heads of households – Lago Agrio, a small Ecuadorian town Wiber’s father remembers that day sometimes because they have lost some 14 kilometres away from the with a precision born out of intense their husband to violence, sometimes Colombian border. The eldest of eight fear for the future. “My three eldest are because the family has split up, but children, he feels responsible for the all boys,” he says, “and as soon as also because women refugees often family’s move away from their home in Wiber talked to me, I knew that we find it easier than their husbands to Putumayo, just across the river in could not stay. We had tried so hard to get a job, any job, to keep the family Colombia. Putumayo is one of make it work throughout the years, but going. Colombia’s most troubled regions. On I knew I could not take the risk of

refview Refugee Diversity in the Americas for these women, micro-credits are the result of their asylum claims should problem of unaccompanied minors a lifeline. To the extent that they can be allowed to pursue their education asking for asylum. The same applies help keep families together and In Mexico, the problem of to every other group of refugees and prevent further dislocation in the lives unaccompanied children seeking IDPs in the Americas: elderly refugees, of refugees, they are also a major step asylum is closely linked to the issue of refugee women bringing up children towards protecting not just women, illegal migration to the north. The true on their own, young IDPs at risk of but also their children. numbers can only be guessed at and forced recruitment. The list can never among the flow of illegal migrants are be exhaustive and the challenge for A Mosaic of Different Approaches children who are in need of UNHCR is to remain flexible and international protection. UNHCR is imaginative enough to bring relevant Of all the different groups under working in close cooperation with the solutions to the millions of people UNHCR’s mandate, children are Mexican authorities to identify these under its mandate. perhaps the most vulnerable. Among children and give them the protection them, children who have become they need. By Marie-Helene Verney in Geneva separated from their family are at the In each country, different challenges highest risk of exploitation, violence call for different approaches to the and psychological trauma. Family reunification is the guiding principle for UNHCR when working with unaccom- A Colombian IDP in Napipi village supported by UNHCR. panied minors – but reunification is not always possible. Every year, over 7,000 children arrive in the United States alone. Unaccompanied minors who are stopped at the border are put into detention, where those who choose to put in an asylum claim remain while awaiting a decision. A new law awaiting consideration in the House of Representatives would help protect these children, many of whom lack access to legal representation. Last year, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie founded a national center to ensure children have proper representation in immigration court proceedings. In Canada, where the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act allows child detention only as a measure of last resort, UNHCR has helped put together a roster of volunteer teachers to provide children with “tutoring lessons”. The idea is that children who are staying in custody while awaiting © UNHCR/Hege r

Refugee Diversity in the Americas refview GUEST EDITORIALIST

The Challenge is to strengthen International Refugee Law

uring his visit to Brazil in America. Democratic regimes must agreements on migration and border November 2005, United have solid conceptual foundations issues, such as those being developed DNations High Commissioner to sustain themselves. The pillars of in the Americas, are responses for Refugees António Guterres a democratic society include human consistent with Latin American history expressed his deepest concern over rights protection, the rule of law, and tradition. the recent trend to link migration and the due process of law and a wide Within this spirit, the Mexico Plan asylum issues with national security range of civil rights and individual of Action was signed just over a year and terrorism. In his speeches, he liberties, for the national population ago. Brazil had the honor to hold the pointed out the need to struggle and foreign residents alike. Within this vice-chair of this meeting, and several for tolerance, ideological debate framework, the institution of asylum is proposals were jointly presented. Less and international protection as a universally recognised as one of the than 18 months later, achievements major challenge for UNHCR and the most important pillars of democracy. can already be seen in the thematics governments. Asylum represents an essential of solidarity borders and integration Gradually and with great efforts, protection tool for people who, being in “Cities of Solidarity”, which are democracy is taking hold in Latin victims of persecution, are not safe hosting refugees coming from our own in their countries. To safeguard their continent. Argentina, for example, has lives and individual rights, including embraced the resettlement program. their personal freedom and physical Brazil, Argentina and Chile have been integrity, they are compelled to seek consolidating their own reception protection abroad. mechanisms for those refugees National legislations that establish in need of exceptional and urgent a solid linkage between the actions of protection. the state, civil society and the United What seemed hard to achieve one Nations to strengthen international year ago, is beginning to turn into protection provide solid foundations reality, with Latin American countries for their own democracies. The 1951 providing an example to many others Refugee Convention must be not only in the world. This is a landmark in an international legal instrument upon international refugee law and may which to build our own internal legal enable the consolidation of the region systems, but also serve as effective as a model that, far from being ideal, guidance for the development of is nevertheless able to introduce public policies that truly take into innovative measures for integrating account the need to protect refugees people. on our soil, regardless of their race, In this sense, the concerns ex- nationality, religion, political opinion or pressed by the High Commissioner Luiz Paulo Teles Ferreira Barreto economic situation. during his honorable visit to Brazil re- has been the Brazilian Vice Minister of The outset of this century is a ceived a positive response from our Justice and President of the National unique opportunity to strengthen country. In Brazil in particular and on Committee for Refugees (CONARE) as international legal security, through the South American continent as a of 1997. He has 20 years of experience the universalisation of international whole, there is an ongoing effort to in different departments dealing with humanitarian law as a counterpoint build humanitarian spaces. immigration, foreigners and refugees to the option of closing borders. within the Brazilian Government, and International justice mechanisms (such led the drafting process of the Brazilian as the International Criminal Court), Refugee Law. trade multilateralism and regional

refview Guest editorial colombia

Working with Indigenous People

Individual people may survive, but not their culture.” In one sentence, “Saskia Loochkartt, a UNHCR staff member working with indigenous people in Colombia, summarises the predicament facing indigenous communities caught up in the violence of the Colombian conflict. The past few years have seen a wors- ening of the situation. Between 1996 and 2004, Colombia’s National Orga-

nization of Indigenous Peoples (ONIC) UNHCR/Ve rn ey registered nearly 22,000 cases of indig- Indigenous mother and child in Colombia. Because of their close links to the earth, indigenous enous people being forcibly displaced communities are especially vulnerable to forced displacement. as a result of the conflict. In 2005 alone, 21,000 indigenous displaced, as re- UNHCR is acting in different ways if they have to displace, as well as en- ported by ONIC through its UNHCR to cope with these challenges. In or- courage them to develop a strong voice -supported human rights information der to bring attention to indigenous to participate in policy debates.” system. The yearly number of homicides displacement, it privileges indigenous “We are fully aware of the effect against indigenous persons went over communities at risk in its documenta- displacement has on indigenous iden- 100 for the fist time in 1999 and stayed tion project with the National Registry tity,” says ONIC’s President Luis Evelis over that mark until 2004. Office. It encourages the authorities to Andrade. “We know that the smallest The conflict has intensified in some -in provide targeted assistance to meet the indigenous communities are in danger digenous territories in the department of specific needs of displaced indigenous. of extinction. Our goal is to define a Cauca; along small rivers tributaries to As part of its prevention effort, it is train- public policy aimed at guaranteeing that the Atrato in the department of Choco; ing indigenous communities on human indigenous people do not have to dis- near the Pacific Coast in the department rights and also on their specific rights as place and will stay on their lands. This of Nariño. The violence has also ex- indigenous and as IDPs. Above all, includes actions aimed at facilitating tended to new parts of the country, like UNHCR is increasingly focusing on the safe return of displaced indigenous the Orinoquia and the Amazonia, to the helping strengthen indigenous or- peoples to their territories.” south and the east of the country, where ganisations as the best response to the ONIC’s proposal for an action plan small indigenous communities live. problems faced by indigenous people. on indigenous displacement, prepared In 2005, UNHCR was confronted with Organisations like ONIC have a crucial in cooperation with UNHCR, will be large indigenous displacements in the role to play in this strategy. discussed this year by representatives south of Colombia, by blockades on riv- “It will be the voice of nearly one mil- of different indigenous groups in ten ers by armed groups against indigenous lion indigenous that Colombia will hear,” large gatherings across the country. The communities in north-western Choco says UNHCR Representative Roberto organisation will have teams dedicated and by a continuing crisis in the Sierra Meier. “We cannot stop the armed to the issue of displacement, who will Nevada de Santa Marta. Because of the groups from attacking indigenous develop action plans jointly with local remoteness of many indigenous com- people and other civilians,” he adds, indigenous authorities. UNHCR is con- munities, their plight often goes unno- “but we can help strengthen the various vinced that the best strategy to cope ticed, especially as many displace within organisations that represent indigenous with the impact of displacement on their territories in an attempt to preserve communities at the local and national indigenous people is to help indigenous their ties to the land. levels. We can also help indigenous leaders and organisations take the lead communities keep strong structures in the defense of their rights.

By Gustavo Valdivieso in Bogota

COLOMBIA REFVIEW MEXICO

New Shelter for Unaccompanied Minors

n the migrant flow from countries in documentation to stay in Mexico are she was allowed to stay at the shelter Central and South America towards sent to the shelter by the National Im- for over four months while her case was Ithe north, the most vulnerable people migration Institute. While their consul- being studied. are children travelling alone. In most ate makes the necessary arrangements During the first few years of her life, cases, these children are being sent to to return them, unaccompanied minors Lola lived with her father, who consis- the USA to reunite with their parents, receive all the attention necessary at tently maltreated her. At the age of nine some are abandoned by smugglers the shelter: food and accommodation, she was kidnapped by a young man along the journey. During the last few medical and psychological assistance, who took her to live with him in another years, the numbers have increased dra- education and recreation. part of the country, close to the matically. According to figures from the The shelter has a capacity of 79 Mexican border. For four years, he National Immigration Institute, from Jan- children; every child stays approximately sexually abused her. When she was 13, uary to November 2005, some 3,712 ten days before being returned. Since the man was murdered because of a unaccompanied minors were returned the shelter opened in late April 2005, it land dispute with a neighbour. Lola wit- from Mexico. On 30 April 2005 the has received 114 children, 65% of them nessed the murder and fled to Mexico Temporary Shelter for Minor Migrants from Honduras, the rest from to look for help. She was eventually was inaugurated in Viva Mexico, close Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua. referred to the Mexican Commission for to Tapachula, Chiapas, on Mexico’s The age range spreads from 17 to two Refugees (COMAR) and was recognised southern border. years of age. as a refugee in Mexico. The shelter’s mission is to provide UNHCR has been closely involved in In the Temporary Shelter for Minor under-aged migrants with a home the shelter since its opening. The first Migrants, Lola received psychological where they can find physical and emo- child who arrived at the shelter was an assistance to overcome the trauma that tional safety and with the protection unaccompanied asylum seeker, Lola, she had lived through. She also learned they need before they can be safely a 13-year-old girl from Guatemala. how to write and read, allowing her to returned to their country of origin. Chil- Because Lola was so obviously very enter school in 4th grade. dren who do not have the necessary vulnerable an exception was made and Ever since Lola left, the shelter has been on alert to identify other children in need of protection among the minors

UNHCR travelling alone to and through Mexico. “The fact that the Mexican government established a shelter for unaccompanied minors in Tapachula shows just how serious the matter is,” says Marion Hoffmann, UNHCR Regional Represen- tative in Mexico. “We are concerned that among those children stranded in the border areas, some are in need of international protection. UNHCR is working closely with governmental and non-governmental partners to identify them. Together, we shall have to strive towards minimising the dangers these children may be facing and finding the best solutions for them.”

Youngsters in the Temporary Shelter for Minor Migrants on Mexico’s southern border inaugurated in Viva Mexico, in April 2005. By Marte Fremstedal in Tapachula

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Protection of Alien Children

he Unaccompanied Alien Child Protection Act of 2005 passed in Tthe U.S. Senate in late Decem- ber and is now awaiting consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives. By offering better guarantees that unaccompanied children have pro-bono legal representation during their immigration proceedings, the Act would enhance protection for the thousands of children who arrive alone in the United States as the victims of human trafficking, abuse UNHCR/ Bol e or persecution. Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie founded the National Center for Refugee & Immigrant Over 7,000 children somehow make Children to help children arriving alone in the U.S. with immigration court proceedings. it by themselves to the United States each year. They come from Latin America, Africa, South East Asia and The National Center for Refugee & Im- and has very little education, to know other parts of the world. Many arrive migrant Children (NCRIC). that she might be eligible for Special through smugglers, some are trafficked NCRIC was founded in March 2005 Immigrant Juvenile Status or asylum, and some simply walk across the bor- by UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, which protects abused children,” said der. After their arduous journeys, they Angelina Jolie, to help recruit pro bono Dallam. are detained by immigration officers and attorneys to represent these children in In another positive development, in held in shelter facilities to await deporta- immigration court proceedings. Thanks March 2003, the U.S. Office of Refugee tion proceedings. to NCRIC, children fleeing persecu- Resettlement (ORR) assumed custody “They have legal protections here in tion and arriving alone in the United and care over unaccompanied minors the U.S. such as asylum, but our sys- States now have better access to free who arrive in the U.S. illegally. ORR tem does not give them the tools they legal counsel. The Center has received has expertise working with traumatized need. Despite the trauma they may over 550 requests for assistance and children, and designing a program of have endured, they do not get a lawyer matched 92 children with counsel, chil- custody and care that better serves the or a guardian. In many instances, these dren like the 14-year old boy from China interests of children. children are expected to tell their stories fearing for his life who now has counsel Children who used to be housed in to a judge without any help at all,” said working to reopen his case. jail-like facilities are now staying in shel- UNHCR Protection Officer Elizabeth There is also the story of the 17-year ters with licensed case-workers. Dallam. old Honduran girl abandoned by her fa- Nonetheless, there are still thousands “We see children like a 14-year-old ther, sexually abused since an early age of children who need lawyers. Speaking boy from China, who was detained for by her stepfather, and deprived of food. to an audience on the subject recently, a year and a half, was released to an Her mother sided with her stepfather, the UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador uncle and then re-detained less than accusing her daughter of being a “pros- said: “The U.S. has a long tradition of a year later to be deported. His fam- titute.” She went to the local police but welcoming refugees and displaced per- ily has told him not to return because they did nothing. She decided to run sons. Let us act together in honor of the smugglers will find and kill him and away from her abusive stepfather and that tradition.” his family. They have a debt of over arrived in the U.S. last spring. $50,000, which would take generations “Without the help of a lawyer, there By Elaine Bole in Washington to repay in China,” said Adriana Ysern, would be no way for this girl from Senior Immigration Program Officer for Honduras, who doesn’t speak English

USA refview 11 COSTA RICA

Elderly Refugees

ith only three per cent of all benefit from a national programme refugees aged 65 and over, known as ‘Golden Citizen’, under which Wthe elderly make up a rela- they can travel for free on the public tively low percentage of the total refu- transport system, get quick service in gee population in Costa Rica. But this public institutions and have priority for a is expected to change. With the rise in number of services,” says ACAI’s direc- life expectancy and the falling birth rate, tor Gloria Maklouf. “They also benefit the proportion of elderly in the refugee from discounts when purchasing medi- population is likely to grow rapidly in the cines in some pharmacies. However, coming years. many refugees are not aware that the “More and more, we are seeing programme even exists or they have dif- refugees between the age of 50 and 60 ficulties getting access to it.” arriving to Costa Rica,” says Jacqueline The right to employment is perhaps Camacho, a social worker for one of the biggest challenge facing elderly ref- UNHCR’s implementing partners, ACAI ugees, and they themselves are aware (Asociación de Consultores y Asesores that their difficulty in finding a job is due Internacionales). “This is in addition to in large part to their age. The overall un- elderly parents of refugees who come employment problem in Costa Rica also to Costa Rica under the family reunifica- affects them badly. tion programme. Within 10 to 15 years, “My wife died and I am alone in this population will have become elderly Costa Rica,” says Fernando, a 65-year and will require specific support prog- old Colombian refugee. “My children rammes.” are in Colombia, that’s why I have to The biggest challenge facing this age search for ways to earn my living in this group upon arrival to a new country is country. I wouldn’t say that there is any one of basic subsistence: they need a discrimination between Costa Rican place to live and the means to earn a and Colombian elderly, but it’s true that living. During a recent event organised I have experienced difficulties in trying by ACAI to identify the needs, strengths to get credit to buy a house. It’s not just and vulnerabilities of elderly refugees, one thing, I believe that it’s because of the refugees themselves cited housing my age, my nationality, my migratory and access to the job market as their status, all these things together.” two most pressing concerns. The event, UNHCR will continue to work to © UNHCR/Hege r called “First Encounter with Elderly achieve wider recognition of the rights An elderly refugee benefiting from UNHCR projects. Refugees” brought together 25 refugees of elderly refugees in Costa Rica. In ad- who shared their concerns and came dition, UNHCR is planning to develop up with a proposal for solutions to their more programmes for older refugees in problems. The meeting was also used partnership with Costa Rican institutions as a platform to inform older refugees that offer training, workshops and recre- about their rights under a 1999 Costa ational activities for the elderly. Another Rican law that was adopted to benefit priority is to find care houses for elderly all the elderly in the country, regardless people with special needs. of nationality or migratory status. “Like other elderly people, older By Giovanni Monge in Costa Rica refugees in Costa Rica are entitled to

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The Psychological Impact of Displacement on Refugee Women

he trials and ordeals that force people to flee their homeland Tand become refugees often do not end upon arrival in a country of asylum. Starting a new life in an unknown country is hard; as well as the difficulties of integration refugees all too often have to face mistrust and discrimination. For some it is too much and many refugees are driven to a state of deep and long- lasting depression that can affect the entire family. In the worst cases, things get so bad that suicide can seem the only way out. The Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), one of UNHCR’s partners in Ecuador, has been working since 2003 to help relieve such mental suffering by © UNHCR/L u tte r b ach providing psychological assistance to Eligibility interview with Colombian asylum seekers in Quito, Ecuador. refugees. According to Katia Landin, one of HIAS’ psychologists, it is essential to be aware that displacement can deemed to be “prostitutes” or feared by the strength to go on.” impact differently on men, women and other women as “husband stealers”. Some groups of women are espe- children. She adds that there are dif- Elderly refugee women can be especially vulnerable – women who have ferent subgroups of women, each with cially vulnerable to psychological difficul- been raped, for example, and single their own needs and different experi- ties. Unfortunately, their problems often mothers. They have very specific issues ences of life in a new country. go unnoticed. According to Landin, “we and problems to face and may require Many women, for example, find that are not only talking about old people longer-term treatment. Currently HIAS their role within the family changes once but about women older than 40. They has a team of eight psychologists who they become refugees. “It is easier for can find it much harder to start a new provide attention to men, women and women refugees to find work in life, partly because they feel they have children in different towns around Ecuador than it is for their male part- already achieved many goals, like for Ecuador. In most cases the psycholo- ners,” says Katia Landin. “In some ways example having a family.” These women gists can provide treatment for a period this is a good thing for them, but it also also have more difficulty finding employ- of up to six months unless prolonged creates tension within the couple that ment in comparison with their younger attention is needed. in turn can lead to domestic violence.” compatriots. The older the women get, These women are also at risk in the the harder it is. By Xavier Orellana in Quito workplace, where they are too often ex- yadira, a 46-year old Colombian posed to abuse and sexual harassment, refugee, has weekly appointments with with little recourse available because a HIAS psychologist in Quito. “I feel I they are foreigners. Many are paid less can tell my psychologist things I can not than the minimum wage. Colombian talk about with anyone else,” she says. women in Ecuador are also the victims “Sometimes it is hard; I do cry a lot. of extreme social discrimination leading What’s important is that when I leave I to more or less open hostility - they are feel much lighter. It does help me find

ECUADOR refview 13 Refugee Participation

hree recent external assess- and it is the duty of all UNHCR staff to In Costa Rica, UNHCR, NGO part- ments of UNHCR’s work with ensure that these rights are respected. ners and the government organised Trefugee women and children all The main tool for implementing the new focus group discussions in late 2005 reached the same conclusion: there is strategy is refugee participation, or “par- between their staff and some 100 an overall lack of refugee participation in ticipatory assessment”, to ensure inter- refugees, most of them Colombian. the agency’s planning process. In other active and constructive dialogue with The participants openly shared their words, UNHCR has not been talking refugee women, girls, men and boys of concerns, but also proposed possible to refugees enough when developing various ages and backgrounds. To this courses of action. programmes meant to help them. The end, structured dialogue with refugees “We appreciate that you have invited reports also concluded that there is a is now mandatory for all staff. In the us to know what our concerns are,” lack of accountability towards ref- Americas, two workshops were held at said one of the women heads of house- ugees and that staff do not coordinate the end of 2005, in Buenos Aires in holds who attended the discussions. “It effectively between different depart- Argentina and San José in Costa Rica, is important that you are considering us ments. It was felt that UNHCR paid ‘lip- to disseminate AGDM. as part of the solution to our own prob- service’ to age and gender issues, but Staff have reacted enthusiastically to lems.” that concrete gender and age-specific the process and to their conversations The findings from these conversa- planning and implementation lagged with refugees: listening to testimonies tions, focus group discussions and behind. and understanding the environment in house visits are now being systematised The Age, Gender and Diversity Main- which the refugees live make the search and form an integral part of UNHCR’s streaming (AGDM) pilot was launched for a comprehensive response easier. It planning in the Americas region. in 2004 to try and address these is obvious that conversations with ref- Another important element of AGDM criticisms. The main objective was to ugees will have to take place regularly to is the formation of Multifunctional change UNHCR’s way of working and see if urgent issues are being addressed Teams (MFTs) in each country office. to put refugees at the centre of deci- and progress is made. The refugees too The teams, whose members are from sion-making. This new approach is valued the opportunity of engaging in different backgrounds, and which may being implemented in all UNHCR opera- a dialogue with UNHCR. “It is good to include colleagues from implementing tions and the roll-out process should be have a dialogue with the agencies that partner agencies and government staff, completed by the end of 2007. often have good intentions, but don’t are responsible for ensuring that ADGM ADGM applies a rights-based – as understand our real problems,” said is effectively being mainstreamed – in opposed to needs-based – approach Joana, an Angolan refugee in Brazil. other words, that everyone working with people of concern takes part. The participation of UNHCR’s partners in the process is also crucial since it enables them to better understand UNHCR’s © UNHCR/Hege r way of planning. The next step is to make ADGM a standard element of UNHCR’s program- ming cycle by integrating recent findings in this year’s sub-agreements with partners and in the 2007 Country Operation Plans. In the Americas, the overall goal is to make ADGM an integral part of the Mexico Plan of Action.

By Jozef Merkx and Sabine Wahning UNHCR provides financial assistance for refugees and local children to attend school, in Geneva promoting integration of refugees with the local population. Here, Colombian refugee children in Ecuador at lunch.

14 refview rEFUGEE PARTICIPATION cANADA

Volunteer Teachers for Minors in Detention

should only be detained as a measure Isabel Killoran, a professor at York of last resort, taking into account the University, is one of the volunteer teach- best interests of the child. “The deten- ers and comes to the centre once a tion of minors is always an exceptional week. “The biggest challenge is never measure,” explains Peter Dietrich, a knowing who is going to be here, at CBSA official. “The most likely scenario what grade level and whether they involving minors is when a single parent, speak English,” she says. The fluc- for instance a failed refugee claimant, tuating number of students – anything is at the end of the process and at the between two and ten -and the rapid stage of being removed.” While the turnover means that she never teaches majority of detained minors fall under the same group more than twice. this category, a small number of unac- Isabel equates giving tutoring lessons to companied minors are detained when supply teaching, which calls for a great lodging their asylum claim upon arrival. degree of flexibility and ability to make Rana Khan, the UNHCR Legal Officer quick connections with the child and to based in Toronto, agrees that the deten- rapidly assess their educational level. tion rate for minors seeking asylum in According to the manager of the centre, Canada is low but adds that the need Jonathan Kamin, the security guards for appropriate standards of protection have seen a marked improvement in the remains a priority. “My interest all along children’s behaviour since the start of has been to improve the care and well the program. “As enforcement-minded being of children in detention so the people,” he says, “we prefer not to © UNHCR/De nn e h y most vulnerable do not become the have children and families in a detention William, who arrived from Sudan as a most forgotten,” she says. environment. But since they are here, teenager and has now been recognised as Since November 2005, UNHCR, in the tutoring program is a very welcome a refugee in Canada. close cooperation with CBSA and initiative.” Amnesty International Canada, has As for the children, they have re- organized a roster of volunteer teachers sponded with great enthusiasm. Isabel eritage Inn is a former budget to provide “tutoring lessons” at the de- relates how one of her students, a 12- motel located on a busy street tention centre. CBSA is obliged to meet year old girl from Latin America, penned Hnear Toronto’s International the educational needs of children who the following words in her journal: Airport. Since March 2004, it has been are detained for longer than a week and “Even though I’m in a police officer converted into an immigration deten- has an arrangement with the provincial place, I still had a good day.” tion centre run by the Canadian Border Child Advocacy Office and the Services Agency (CBSA). Heritage Inn Toronto District School Board to By Nanda Na Champassak can accommodate up to 120 people, organize schooling outside the facility. in Ottawa predominantly adult males, though resi- While this arrangement has worked for dents can include women and children. a couple of detained minors whose stay Under Canadian law, detention may be at the facility lasted for months, it has permitted to determine the identity of proved unsuitable for children detained the person or when someone poses a for shorter periods. In practise, this has flight risk or danger to the public. meant that these children’s educational Canada’s Immigration and Refugee needs were not being met. The tutoring Protection Act also permits the deten- program fills this gap by providing some tion of minors but stipulates that a child schooling at the centre.

canada refview 15 ARGENTINA

Hip Hop and Football for Young Refugees

cal care, the latter sometimes requiring years of careful attention.

UNHCR/ Tucuna UNHCR and the Catholic Commis- sion also help minors find a place to stay - usually in hotels - and prepare them for school. This is a challenge in itself as many of these young refugees are illiterate. Learning Spanish is the first step and the classes given by teachers from the University of Buenos Aires also provide the youngsters with cultural tips on the behavior of their peers. © ACNUR/ r . tUCUNA Silvia Luppino has been teaching refugees for close to ten years. She says that the amount of schooling young people have received often de- termines their attitude to the classes. “If they’ve been to school, even just at the Young refugees in Buenos Aires Argentina, meet once a week to play football on the refugee team. primary level, they know how to behave in a classroom, and they realise that ohamed was 13 when he 17. He speaks fluent Spanish, goes to learning requires an effort on their part. arrived as a stowaway from school and has taken up a summer job. Most importantly they tend to attach MGuinea at one of Argentina’s In his spare time he takes part in Boy more value to education.” eastern ports in September 2001. He Scout activities, listens to Argentine rock Sports and social activities are also was underweight and had severe kid- and dances Hip Hop with his friends. important for interaction with peers ney problems from drinking too much Like Mohamed, a growing number and the development of self-esteem. In sea water. Still, Mohamed was lucky. of unaccompanied minors – all boys Buenos Aires, university students have The other boy on the same ship did not – have been arriving in Argentina in the organised groups to take the boys out make it alive to Argentina. past six years, frequently as stowaways, to the movies, to parks and to the zoo. The Argentine Catholic Commission either alone or in small groups. They’ve Other boys meet once a week to play – UNHCR’s partner agency – provided come from eleven African countries, as football on the refugee team set up by the young boy, originally from Liberia, well as from Peru, Colombia, India, UNHCR. Plans for 2006 include health with immediate assistance to see him Pakistan and Bangladesh, fleeing con- awareness sessions and workshops to through his one-month hospital stay. A flict and persecution. encourage the insertion of refugees into short stint with a family followed, before One of UNHCR’s priorities in Argen- the labor market once they turn 18. a judge put Mohamed in a home for tina is to help these very vulnerable Mohamed is looking forward to his minors. It was then that a small group of asylum seekers as soon as they arrive eighteenth birthday in May. “I know I people who had met Mohamed while he in the country. The refugee agency has won’t be able to get a car, but I’m hop- was in hospital got together to help him. been working with the national authori- ing to buy a motorcycle with the money “At the beginning we were able to ties so that government-appointed tu- I’m saving from my work. I want to use take him out of the home one day a tors quickly take legal responsibility for it to get to know new places,” he says. week, then two days, until he spent all unaccompanied minors – an area that his time with us,” recalls Adelina has seen improvement over the past By Nazli Zaki in Buenos Aires Ontivero, who now has official custody year. Other immediate priorities include over Mohamed. Today, Mohamed is the provision of health and psychologi-

16 refView ARGENTINA Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Mexico

From the field

High Commissioner’s Visit to Brazil

n his first visit to Latin America since he took office, High OCommissioner for Refugees António Guterres highlighted Brazil’s leadership role in the region. During his meeting with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Guterres praised Brazil’s tradition of generosity and tolerance towards refugees. He thanked the President for his country’s solidarity towards the victims of regional conflicts, highlighting the important role Brazil is playing at a time when restrictive policies and growing intolerance endanger the fate of many refugees throughout the world. Brazil presently hosts more than six thousand people of concern to UNHCR, most of them from Africa. UNHCR re- opened its representation in Brazil after six years of absence in 2004. The High Commissioner signed with the Minister of Foreign Affairs an Accord de Siège, which will facilitate the implementation of UNHCR’s operations in Brazil. He also met with a group of refugees, who told him of the challenges of integrating in Brazil, linked mostly to the economic constraints faced by the country in gen- eral. During a meeting with ambassadors from Latin America and Caribbean countries, the High Commissioner discussed the implementation of the Mexico Plan of Action (MPA). The Mexi- co Plan of Action was also on the agenda of the HC’s extraordinary meeting with the national eligibility committee (CONARE). After receiving a warm welcome from Dr. Luiz Paulo Teles Ferreira

Barreto, President of CONARE, the High UNHCR/OL I V EI RA DA CONC ÇÃO Commissioner praised the Brazilian na- High Comissioner António Guterres meets President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva tional legislation on refugees, approved on his visit to Brazil in November 2005.

fROM THE FIELD refview 17 in 1997 and considered to be a model displacement upon them and to share retirement home and in a local school. in the region. He also congratulated their frustrations. They also work on try- Within days, 519 people went back Brazil for its resettlement programme, ing to find ways of understanding and to Colombia, while 162 persons decid- especially its fast-track procedure, reducing their own anger and that of ed to apply for refugee status in under which urgent cases are approved others. In 2005, at the men’s request, Ecuador. UNHCR helped transport 35 in 72 hours. Guterres discussed with women and youngsters began to partic- persons who had applied for asylum to CONARE members and senators a ipate in the workshops. a shelter near Ibarra where assistance number of proposals aimed at improv- “I used to think ‘it is me who was more readily available. More than ing the local integration of refugees. decides’,” says Luis Peña, “it was 37,000 Colombian citizens have applied creating problems and we were quarre- for asylum in Ecuador since 2000 and Helping Displaced Men Cope with ling all the time. Now we share with the close to 12,000 have been granted asy- Change in Colombia kids, with my wife, and we make deci- lum by the Ecuadorian government. The sions together. As a result, she has be- number of registered refugees is only “The most frustrating thing is that I come less aggressive too. Now, when the tip of the iceberg: an estimated can no longer provide for my sons in the we have differences of opinion they no 250,000 Colombians of concern to way that I used to as head of the family. longer turn into big problems.” UNHCR live in Ecuador. Many of them One of the kids couldn’t stand the way do not ask for refugee status for a we live here in the city anymore and Humanitarian Emergency on Ecua- number of reasons, including lack of went back to his grandfather. It was five dor’s Northern Border awareness of their rights, security fears years ago and now he’s disappeared. and the hope of being able to go back When things like this happen, you feel On November 11, several hundred to Colombia. frustrated and powerless and begin to Colombians arrived in the space of a have bad thoughts.” single night to the town of San Lorenzo Prevention of Violence against The words of Luis Peña, leader of an in the province of Esmeraldas on Women in Venezuela organisation for displaced people in Ecuador’s northern coast. The new- Barranquilla, could be those of hun- comers told UNHCR they were fleeing UNHCR in Venezuela led several dreds of other displaced men in to escape a violent confrontation be- activities to promote women’s rights in Colombia. Besides the horrors of the tween Colombia’s military and irregular the provinces bordering with Colombia conflict and the trauma of leaving their armed groups in the department of (Apure, Táchira and Zulia), where an homes behind, displaced men have to Nariño. information campaign was carried out face up to the challenges arising from faced with this emergency, UNHCR on the prevention of violence against the many changes displacement brings. immediately sent staff to San Lorenzo women. It focused on issues such as vi- “Often, it is the women who become and started distributing humanitarian olence and gender, options for the vic- the main income providers,” says Isabel aid. tims of violence, fundamental principles Selles, UNHCR Coordinator for UNHCR coordinated its response of women’s rights and the national pro- Colombia’s Caribbean Coast, “and this with other organisations and agencies tection system. challenges men’s assumptions about present in the area and provided infor- UNHCR used several media to dis- themselves. They think that women no mation on asylum possibilities in seminate the information: local newspa- longer accept their authority and anger Ecuador. Several desks were set up for pers, community radios and distribution builds up, sometimes resulting in open registering people interested in applying of promotional material like leaflets and conflict within the family. That’s why for asylum. UNHCR’s field office in T-shirts. UNHCR started running workshops for Ibarra devoted its entire staff to cope In Táchira, during November and men in 2004.” with the new arrivals, whose number December, several workshops were During the workshops, men are reached 681 at the height of the crisis. held for staff of institutions that receive encouraged to talk about the effects of They were lodged in a church shelter, a domestic violence complaints, as well

as university staff and members of the worked upon to set up a local unit for Foppa”, after the poet who was a ref- Border Technical Teams (Ministry of cases of domestic violence. ugee in Mexico for several years before Education) and the Human Rights being kidnapped in Guatemala in 1980. Protection Council. Among the topics Refugee Park: A Place of Tolerance Refugee Park was later fused with covered during the workshops were and Integration in Mexico. UNHCR’s ¨Education for Peace¨ pro- sexual and reproductive rights, violence gram. Since then, activities in and and gender, and an overview of the sit- In the middle of a large park in around the “Little House” have in- uation of refugee women in Venezuela. Mexico City, a colourful little house creased, attracting ever more Mexican Several other activities were organ- stands out amidst the greenness of the volunteers in joint efforts to promote ised with community workers -especially surrounding pine and palm trees. Chil- respect towards the refugee population in Ureña, a border town that hosts refu- dren and the elderly, women and stu- in Mexico and advocate for peace and gees with many protection needs. Activ- dents, everyone walks through the human rights. ities included a workshop on female Ramón López Velarde Park, a natural Refugees and immigrants from such sexual health and information talks shelter from the hustle and bustle of the far away countries as Eritrea and Congo about sexuality and family planning. city. For some, the so-called “Little come to the Refugee Park for Spanish They were run with the support of the Park-house” is more than that: it is a lessons. The house also serves as a Venezuelan Red Cross, CISP and volun- place where they can find tolerance meeting place for groups as varied as teer medical personnel from San and, in a lively exchange with Mexican Amnesty, the Migrant and Refugee Antonio. volunteers, gradually integrate into Women’s Group and the Children and In Guasdualito, another workshop Mexican society. Adolescents Group which runs activities was held for officials from the National The house is part of a project de- such as photographic workshops, Institute of Women (INAMUJER, for its signed by UNHCR Regional Office in theatrical performances and toy- acronym in Spanish), the Municipal Mexico and Amnesty International, in making. The Park has also been the Protection Council and the State Police close collaboration with the local gov- stage for three World Refugee Day festi- on topics such as domestic violence, ernment. It was inaugurated in Decem- vals and other artistic events. sexual abuse, and protection of ref- ber 2000, one of the events linked to ugee women and children. Following UNHCR’s 50th anniversary and was the workshop, plans are now being named Refugee Park House “Alaide

fROM THE FIELD refview 19 PANAMA

Refugee Voice

atilde is a Colombian refugee problems began when I refused to make met another man and we had a little girl, in Panama. Like many other deals with one of the irregular armed Socorro. Her father left us too. He said MColombians in neighbouring groups. I received death threats. I didn’t he could not take life on the run. countries, Matilde did not realise she pay much attention at first. But then When I first arrived in Panama, it was had the right to ask for asylum. It took one of my colleagues on the council got very hard. I did small jobs, whatever I her a year of scraping a living as an ille- killed, right in front of us. I knew then could get, slept in dirty rooms I shared gal migrant before she got in touch with that I had to go. I left with my family. We with other women. Often, men would UNHCR. Today she has been recog- took a taxi and went to Barranquilla. proposition me. I was a woman on my nised as a refugee and lives in Panama We’d been in Barranquilla for a own, they thought I would be easy. But City with her youngest daughter, with few months when they found us. The the worst was that I was away from whom she was reunited last October threats started again. So we moved. My Socorro. after a two-year separation. eldest daughter stayed behind. It went I could not take her with me when on like this for years. Wherever we went, I left Colombia. She was only six at “I arrived in Panama in July 2003. I they would find us. Everywhere I went, I the time and I did not know what life had no money at the time, but some was scared. When I was on the streets, would be like in Panama. It was awful, friends bought me a plane ticket. They I was scared to be stopped by armed I thought of her all the time. The only were afraid that if I stayed in Colombia men. When I was home, I was terrified thing that gave me the strength to go any longer I would be killed. they would break in. on was the thought that if I worked hard It had all started more than ten years It didn’t take long before my husband enough and got enough money I would before. I was a city councillor and the had had enough and left us. Eventually I be able to bring her to Panama. Things began to change when I got in touch with UNHCR. They told me I could ask for refugee status. I had never thought of myself as a refugee. They also gave me a loan and with that money I was able to start a small catering business. I like cooking, and now I cook for businesses around here, instead of working in restaurants. Now I have a good life. I have found a nice apartment in Panama City and the business is going well. And my dream has come true: Socorro is here with me. I’ll always remember the day when she arrived. It was a Saturday, last October. I went to the airport to wait for her. It had been more than two years since I had last seen her. There are no words to say what I felt on that day. There are still days when I cannot believe that she is here with me.”

© UNHCR/ B e r mej o The names of Matilde and her daughter After a two-year separation, Colombian refugee Matilde is finally reunited with her 8-year-old have been changed daughter at Panama City Airport.

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Oscar in Alberge Apafan refugee host centre where Colombian asylum-seekers await the results of their resettlement cases.

Monday 12 December look shaken and distressed, the children most violent departments and the seem hungry. They are Colombians, fighting has been getting worse in 08:00 - Monday has arrived after a rainy - twenty-nine people, more than half recent months. Lago Agrio is only 14 weekend: people here in Lago Agrio say of them children - from a small village kilometres away from the border and a it’s the jungle crying, sometimes out of along the Putumayo River, the natural lot of Colombians come here to escape sorrow, sometimes happiness - I can’t border between Colombia and Ecuador. the violence. tell the difference yet. Today we have to They say they were given two hours to finish our November Situation Report, I’ll flee their village, located at a strategic 16:00 – We’ve told the families that they be spending most of the morning calling junction in the battleground between can stay at the UNHCR shelter in Lago people up to remind them of the dead- Colombia’s irregular armed groups. Agrio but they prefer to go back to the line. Business as usual. They crossed the river to take refuge small village near the river where a lo- in Ecuador. “This time we cannot go cal woman has given them a room to 12:00 - I am on the phone when I hear back,” is all they want to say. They’re share. They are farmers and cannot im- a large group arriving in the office. They scared. Putumayo is one of Colombia’s agine living in the city. We give them

STAFF DIARY refview 21 money for transport and a bit more to could be as many as 250,000 Colom- roads ahead of us. Patches of the road hire a donkey they’ll need to carry the bians of concern to us in are covered in a thin layer of petrol spilt World Food Programme rations we’ll Ecuador, but only 37,000 are registered by the petrol company trucks; it melts bring them: they want to register as with UNHCR. The others are what we when the weather’s hot and the road’s asylum seekers and we have agreed to call an “invisible population”. It does not surface becomes bumpy and slippery. visit them the day after tomorrow. make our job easy. It’s hot today, and the air conditioning does not work. It’s going to be a long 22:00 - Back home, reading García 08:30 - The office is half-empty. I will day. Marquez’s stories about Macondo, the have the time to edit the SitRep. Quito legendary setting of most of his novels. has already called asking for it - let’s 12:00 – The asylum-seekers are wait- They remind me of this place, magic but concentrate. ing for us, as arranged they’ve brought real - or the other way around, I am not the donkey to carry the food parcels! too sure. In the 1970’s Lago Agrio was 08:45 – Susana, our UNV Programme We follow behind along the muddy path only a petrol encampment but today Assistant, comes in to remind me that – so muddy that at each step we take it is a small provincial city. The streets we have almost run out of money on we find ourselves sinking knee-deep are bustling and hustling, Latin music is our health budget. When the Assistance into the sludge. Nobody told our NGO playing on every street corner, the spe- Committee meets tomorrow, we’ll have colleague to bring rubber boots - he’s cialty being Vallenato, romantic Colom- to turn down the less pressing needs. I lost one shoe in the mud and now bian music. Somehow, I feel it is special tell her to coordinate with Quito for the walks barefoot. I cannot help feeling a to live here. revision. bit uneasy in this area; irregular armed groups are said to be around. Tuesday 13 December 19:00 – Robert, who works with the NGO that implements our integration 13:00 - The asylum-seekers are stay- 07:30 – Ara, our Protection Officer, is projects, pops in to discuss the Wom- ing in a small wooden house, a humble leaving for Coca in Orellana province en’s Federation laundry project. All our place. Twenty-nine people in such a tiny at the request of the local authorities projects aim to benefit both the local room, I wonder how they manage. We there – two months ago, we secured an Ecuadorian population and Colombian have to take their pictures to register agreement with them to conduct regis- refugees - this particular one is meant to them and this makes them nervous until tration and assistance brigades. It was a help women find jobs and earn a living, we explain that we will not be sharing big stepforward. In 2001, when UNHCR but also to promote interaction between their photographs outside of the elig- began to work in the Amazon region, Colombian and Ecuadorian women. We ibility process. the same local authorities mobilized the hope it will serve its purpose: integrat- population against our presence. They ion. 20:00 - We are back in Lago Agrio in claimed UNHCR would only attract time for the closing ceremony of the more Colombians, who would bring Wednesday 14 December literacy programme run by our partner, more violence and insecurity and steal HIAS (the Hebrew Immigrant Aid jobs. Now the local authorities are fully 6:00 - We load the food rations in the Society). Nine refugees receive their pri- cooperating with us and these registra- pick-up truck with our colleagues from mary school certificates. Before coming tion brigades are very important for our the Red Cross and the local church. here, they could not read or write. It’s work. One of the biggest problems we At dawn, the sky is beautiful; I wonder good to see how happy they look. face here is that many Colombians who whether the intensity of colour and arrive in the region do not want to regis- definition of the clouds against the sky Thursday 15 December ter – they don’t even make contact with is only possible here, in this corner of us, they’re too scared. We think there the world. We have six hours of bumpy 10:00 – I send out the Sit-Rep.

22 refview STAFF DIARY

Friday 16 December

10:00 - The weekend is near; the week went by so quickly. I feel tired, but also good: we were able to help this week. I cannot forget one of the asylum-seekers, a man in his fifties, the sad look in his eyes. His wife left him and he now takes care of his four young children.

15:00 - Soledad comes in to remind me we have to do the petty cash count and send it to Quito, otherwise we won’t be able to drive on Monday. We’ve almost no fuel left.

© unhcr / A. yb arra 18:20 - We have almost finished the cash count when the electricity goes off. It is the third time this week. Since it’s almost half-past six and we can’t see anyway, we decide to wrap up the workday and start the weekend with dinner at one of our favourite restaurants. “Maytos”, a local specialty – juicy fish steamed inside a banana leaf –, is waiting for us.

On Sunday, we are going fishing. Have you ever fished a piranha? I haven’t either!

By Oscar Butragueño, Head of Field Office in Lago Agrio ©UNHCR/Hege r

Colombian children wait in UNHCR office while their parents get information on asylum in Ecuador.

STAFF DIARY refview 23

The UN Refugee Agency

UNHCR Geneva, UNHCR Colombia UNHCR Panama Bureau for The Americas Calle 114 No. 9 – 01 Calle Gaillard, Edificio 812-B 94 Rue Montbrillant Of. 601 Torre A – Edificio Teleport Ciudad del Saber, CH-1202 Geneva Bogotá Apartado 0843-02895, Case Postale 2500 Tel: +57 1 6580600 Balboa, Ancón CH-1211 Genève 2 Dépôt Fax: + 57 1 6580602 Panama, República de Panamá Tel: +41 22 739 8111 E-mail: [email protected] Tel. +507 317 1630 Fax: +41 22 739 7315 Fax +507 317 1633 UNHCR Costa Rica Email: [email protected] UNHCR Brazil Edificio Torre del Este 5to piso SHIS QL 24, Conjunto 4, Barrio Dent, frente a la facultad Regional Office for Casa 16, Lago Sul, de Derecho de la UCR the United States and the Caribbean Brasília - DF, 71665-025, Brasil San José 1775 K Street, NW Tel: +55 61 3367-4187 Tel. +506 253 1007/7554 Suite 300 Fax: +55 61 3367-3989 Fax: +506 224 4891 Washington, D.C. 20006 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Tel. +202 296 5660 E-mail: [email protected] UNHCR Canada UNHCR Ecuador 280 Albert StreetSuite 401 Avenida Amazonas 2889 y la Granja Regional Office for Ottawa, Ontario KIP 5G8 Edificio Naciones Unidas Southern Latin America Tel: +1 613 232 09 09 Piso 2, Quito Cerrito 836 Piso 10 +1 613 232 86 91 Tel: +593 2 2460 272+593 2 2462 359 Buenos Aires 1010 Fax: +1 613 230 18 55 Fax: +593 2 2460 280 Tel. +54 11 4815 3172 Email: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Fax +54 11 4815 4352 E-mail: [email protected]

Regional Office for Mexico, Cuba and Central America Presidente Masaryk 29-6 Chapultepec Morales 11570, México, D.F. Tel. +52 55 5263 9864 Fax. +52 55 5250 9203 E-mail: [email protected]

Regional Office for Venezuela, Peru, Guyana and Surinam Parque Cristal, Torre Oeste, Piso 4 Oficina 4-5, Los Palos Grandes Apto Postal 69045 Caracas 1062-A Caracas, Venezuela Tel. +58 212 286 3883 Fax +58 212 286 9687 E-mail: [email protected]

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