The Forgotten - The Stateless and Internally Displaced

Haitian News “Dominicans define themselves in terms of who they are not,” said Tamar Thompson, project coordinator of the New York-based National Coalition for Haitian Rights. “Globally speaking, there is no place where you score points for being darker.” Thompson’s words are reflected in the way citizens of the Dominican Republic describe their racial identities: “oscuro” for the darkest skinned, “canela” for those of medium hue, and “claro” for those with the lightest complexions. All are referred to as “Indians.” None are referred to as “black.” That word is only used to describe persons from the nation occupying the western one-third of Hispaniola, their ... Read Full Story

More than a million people in eastern and central Africa have fled their homes in the past six months, bringing the internally displaced population there to over 10 million, the UN said on Tuesday. Between March and September, 10 out of 18 countries in the region recorded a jump of 1.08 million in the number of internally displaced people (IDPs) mainly due to conflicts, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a report. A total of 10.18 million are now displaced within their home countries, it added. The escalation of fighting in central Somalia and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo ... Read Full Story

More than a million people in eastern and central Africa have fled their homes in the past six months, bringing the internally displaced population there to over 10 million, the UN said on Tuesday. Between March and September, 10 out of 18 countries in the region recorded a jump of 1.08 million in the number of internally displaced people (IDPs) mainly due to conflicts, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a report. A total of 10.18 million are now displaced within their home countries, it added. The escalation of fighting in central Somalia and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo ... Read Full Story

African leaders gathered on Thursday in the Ugandan capital for a two-day summit aimed at agreeing a treaty on improving the plight of the continent's 17 million refugees and displaced. The Convention on the Protection and Assistance of the Displaced People in Africa is the first of its kind aimed at internally displaced people, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). "The summit is aimed at pursuing durable solutions to the root causes and challenges of Africa's 17 million IDPs and refugees," Ugandan Minister for Refugees Tarsis Kabwegyere said ahead of the meeting. Political upheaval, conflicts and natural disasters have left ... Read Full Story

African leaders started a summit on Thursday aiming to agree measures to improving the plight of the continent's 17 million refugees. African Union Commission chairman Jean Ping said the huge numbers of displaced represent a threat to Africa's stability. "It's the continent's future that is at stake," he told the opening of the two day summit which was to ratify the Convention on the Protection and Assistance of the Displaced People in Africa. The convention is the first of its kind aimed at internally displaced people, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres ... Read Full Story