Refugees in South Refugees in South Asia and Impact Asia and Impact

on Regional on Regional SecuritySecurity

Dr. Nishchal N. PandeyDirector,

Centre for South Asian Studies, Kathmandu

www.csas.org.np

Human MigrationHuman MigrationHistory of migration is the history of

mankind. Movement was Nomadic, often with

conflicts with the indigenous population

No. of international migrants was estimated as 214 mln. in (2010). It could reach 405 mln. by 2050.

Both voluntary & involuntary migrationInvoluntary includes- slave trade,

trafficking, ethnic cleansing, refugees

Types of MigrantsTypes of MigrantsSeasonalRural to UrbanUrban to ruralModern migration

also due to wars and famine

Areas of shortage of labor but excess of capital have high-relative wage

Main Destinations of South Main Destinations of South Asian Labor - Gulf & MalaysiaAsian Labor - Gulf & MalaysiaConstruction &

domestic sectors are main areas of international migration

37 % of the total pop. of GCC is foreign workers and families

In UAE, foreign workers are 80 % of the total pop.

Role of Remittance in Role of Remittance in Developing EconomiesDeveloping Economies

According to WB- remittances totaled US $ 414 bln. in 2009 of which $ 316 went to developing countries

Daily consumption, re-payment of loans, purchase of property, investment are the main areas of family spending

Remittance makes 23 % share of Nepal’s total GDP, standing 5th in the world

Positive and Negative Positive and Negative FeaturesFeaturesContributes to

economyBrings in goods,

new skills and technologies

Reduces problems of un-employment in host countries

Host country in shortage of young & able manpower

Societal and family problems due to long absence of young people

Labor-Management rows affecting state to state relations

Refugee Definition and Refugee Definition and ProtocolsProtocols

Person outside his/her country suffering prosecution due to race, religion, nationality or political opinion.

UN Convention on Status of Refugees-1951

Protocol of 1967 expanded the concept of ‘refugee’.

UN Declaration on Protection of women, children in emergency and armed conflicts-1974

History Since World War-IIHistory Since World War-IIBy the end of the

WW-II there was massive enforced migration, expulsion.

Europe had more than 40 mln. Refugees

Millions of Germans fled eastern Europe

Jews were also targeted.

Main Sources of Main Sources of RefugeesRefugeesAfghanistan

IraqSierra Leone

MyanmarSomalia

South SudanPalestine

Refugee Cases in South Refugee Cases in South AsiaAsiaPartition of India in

1947 led to one of the largest human movement in mankind’s history

7 mln. Hindus & Sikhs from Pakistan moved to India and 7 mln. Muslims from India crossed to Pakistan

One mln. died

Bangladesh Liberation Bangladesh Liberation MovementMovement

10 mln. Bangladeshis fled to India during the Independence movement in 1971Mostly West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura had to harbour them. Amartya Sen, Bimal Roy are some Bengalis of East Bengal origin

Afghan Refugees in Afghan Refugees in PakistanPakistanSince the Soviet

invasion to the U.S. campaign against terror, 6 mln. Afghans have fled to Pakistan

As of 2009, some 1.7 mln. Afghans still live inside Pakistan

9,00,000 Afghans are in Iran.

Post Return ComplicationsPost Return ComplicationsProperty is not

thereOwnership is

unclearCompeting claims

over ownershipTaliban & other

militant groups recruit them

Unemployment, prostitution & drugs is rampant

Sri Lankan refugees & Sri Lankan refugees & IDPsIDPs(1983-87) a total

of 1,34,000 Tamils came to Tamil Nadu

1989-1,22,000 Tamils fled Sri Lanka and were in Tamil Nadu

(1995-2002) 23,000 fled SL

After May 2009, 1,25,000 became IDPs

Rohingyas in Rohingyas in BangladeshBangladesh

2,50,000 Muslim Rohingyas fled Burma & came to Bangladesh in 1991-92

100,000 Rohingyas from Rakhine state in Burma have been displaced in sectarian violence with Buddhists in 2012.

Dhaka says “it is not in the best interest of Bangladesh to allow more refugees into the country”

3,00,000 Rohingyas are in camps in Cox Bazaar

Tibetans in India & Tibetans in India & NepalNepal

1,50,000 Tibetans live in India

21,000 live & run businesses in Nepal

Highly politicized and controversial issue

Nepal is constantly at pressure from all sides.

Conflict IDPs in NepalConflict IDPs in NepalGTZ/UNDP study in

2003 said that there are 2,00,000 IDPs in Nepal

Return, resettlement, reintegration has not happenned even after the end of war

Confiscated property is yet to be returned

Bhutanese Refugee in Bhutanese Refugee in NepalNepal

Bhutan has 75 % Buddhists and 25 % Hindus 1,05,000 Nepalese were booted out in 1991They lived in 7 camps in eastern Nepal for 2 decadesU.S. has re-settled 60,000

ConclusionConclusionMigration and Refugees are going to be

critical issues of the contemporary world with regional and global consequences

There have been tremendous failures of policy, strategy and assessments

Very little work being done and poor coordination on South Asian migrant labor in the Middle East

Political upheaval in the middle east could have negative fall-outs for South Asian labor force.

Dreamed I saw a building with a thousand floors,

A thousand windows and a thousand doors,

Not one of them was ours, my dear, not one of them was ours.

-W.H. Auden

Thank You!Thank You!