JRS Statement - World Refugee Day

                               Silent tsunami hitting refugees in vulnerable circumstances
                        Rise in food prices and food shortages further imperil vulnerable populations


On 20 June, World Refugee Day, JRS urges governments worldwide to increase humanitarian aid to populations in vulnerable situations and to take measures boost food production in developing countries. JRS reminds governments of their obligations to protect refugees and encourages them to take measures to promote self-sufficiency among displaced persons.

Food prices have risen by an average of 83% since 2005, particularly affecting key staples such as wheat, rice, corn and milk. As a consequence of this ‘silent tsunami’, an additional 100 million people, including refugees and other displaced persons, risk being pushed into poverty.

Many refugees are forced to live in camps where their freedom of movement is restricted. They are denied the opportunity to cultivate their own food or to work in paid jobs and are almost entirely dependent on food aid for survival. Increased food prices have led to reductions in their rations to unsustainable levels, resulting not only in hunger but also affecting their protection as well.

"Food rises have led to cuts in budgets for food, shelter and other essential items. Refugees, being forced to seek employment outside the camps, put themselves at the risk of arrest and deportation. It is often this or be forced to go hungry. When teachers are forced to seek employment outside the camps, this also has a negative impact children's education. We urge the Thai government to consider alternative durable solutions for the refugees to become self-sufficient to alleviate this dramatic situation”, stated JRS Thailand Director Aden Raj.

Food shortages and escalating prices are also affecting those who do not live in camps. Those in urban areas, who frequently receive little or no humanitarian assistance, are also facing hardship. This has been very noticeable in cities, such as the Ugandan capital Kampala where the food crisis is adversely affecting populations in vulnerable circumstances, particularly asylum seekers and refugees.

“JRS is the only organisation in Kampala providing emergency food and material assistance to refugees and asylum seekers. Recent price rises have greatly hindered our activities. Large families on low incomes are the hardest hit”, stated Kuteesa Stephen, JRS Kampala Urban Programme Director in Uganda.

Guaranteeing food security to displaced persons in conflict zones is a constant challenge. Violence, inadequate infrastructure, lack of humanitarian workers, political factors, and environmental conditions are ever-present obstacles to providing protection to refugees. Insufficient food assistance compounds these difficulties, affecting most severely those in the most vulnerable circumstances, particularly children.

“In the eastern Chadian region of Dar Sila, food distribution, particularly to the 120,000 internally displaced persons here, has regularly been hindered. This had a negative impact on school attendance as children were forced to help their families find food. Since the establishment of a school meals programme, attendance has improved significantly. Within the context of serious food price rises, donor governments need to ensure that funding for school meals programmes for aid-dependent refugee children is prioritised”, stated JRS Chad Director Ferran Puig.

Food aid is also urgently needed to prevent new displacement crises. Many individuals living in extreme poverty are being forced to flee their countries of origin as a result of political instability caused by food scarcity. Donor governments need to take steps to prevent the current food crisis from resulting in further displacement. In addition, farmers in affected countries need to be given the financing and technical assistance necessary to help them to boost food production.

Notes to the editor:
JRS works in over 50 countries in six continents around the world. It employs over 1,000 staff: lay, Jesuits and other religious to meet the education, health, social and other needs of 500,000 refugees and IDPs, more than half of whom are women. Its services are provided to refugees regardless of their race, ethnic origin, or religious beliefs.

For further information contact
James Stapleton, International Communications Coordinator; tel: +39 06 68 977390; +39 346 234 3841; email: international.communications(a)jrs.net; www.jrs.net