Chapter 8 – Humanitarian Organisations and Refugees

The following photos depict the situation in two large refugee camps in Rwanda, where tens of thousands of Congolese refugees reside.
Looking at the photos, what do you imagine life is like for the refugees? What basic necessities do you imagine the camp to be in need of?


Gihembe Camp, Rwanda



Kiziba Camp, Rwanda
 

25 Years of the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS)

Look at the following photos of JRS projects and activities and discuss what type of service or support each photo is depicting.
Then look at the captions and match them with the appropriate photo.
 

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Photo Captions

1. Skills training for young displaced people in Burundi. Humanitarian organisations attempt to provide young refugees with skills that will assist them to find employment and become self-sufficient.
2. Helping to construct houses in Guinea. The conflict in the West African country of Guinea destroyed most the nation’s houses leaving many people with nowhere to live.
3. A school for displaced children in Sri Lanka. The long-running conflict in Sri Lanka has had a devastating effect on the education of the young.
4. An income-generating project in Burundi. When people become displaced they are usually impoverished, forced to leave behind all their belongings. Income-generating projects can help them use their skills to earn enough to survive.
5. Provision of food to refugees in Italy. One of the most basic needs for many refugees is food. This is true for those in refugee camps as well as those in urban areas.
6. A mobile health clinic in the Republic of Congo. When war overcomes a nation, the health services are often destroyed leaving the people very vulnerable to disease and illness.
7. Assisting a landmine survivor in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The war in the Balkans has left an ugly legacy of landmines, which continues to kill and injure innocent civilians.

Questions

1. In your opinion which activity or form of assistance is most important for refugees?
2. Would you like to work for an organisation assisting refugees? What would be the hardest part of the job?