Displacement

Reasons for Displacement

The major causes of external and internal displacement are natural disasters, ethnic and civil conflicts, major development projects, human rights violations, and political persecution. Around the world, there are approximately 33 million displaced people (12 million refugees and 21 million IDPs). The international community is under legal obligations via the United Nations 1951 Refugee Convention to assist refugees, but not IDPs, except in the case of an invitation or submission of the national government. Although national governments are, in the first instance, responsible for the protection of their own people, not all governments have been willing or able to help their own IDPs. In many cases, the national governments themselves have been involved in the displacement, and thus, have hindered international assistance and intervention. Additionally, even in cases where the local governments [Page 295]allow international aid, there are common obstacles such as closed borders, land mines, and front-line battles that might prevent the proper help from reaching the displaced people.

Vulnerability of Mothers and Children

In comparison with the general population, both refugees and IDPs suffer from higher rates of malnutrition, exposure to disease, and lack of access to proper housing, education, and health care. It is not uncommon for displaced people to suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder and other mental health problems. Displacement breaks peoples' links to livelihoods and traditional support mechanisms. Vulnerability to disease is exacerbated by high exposure rates resulting for overcrowded living conditions and poor health care.

Women and children comprise between 70 and 80 percent of the displaced population. Displaced women are at a specific risk of being sexually exploited and victimized. Children are particularly vulnerable, since displacement interrupts their education, ruptures their families, often separates them from their parents, breaks their communities, and destroys traditional norms. The war in Bosnia, for instance, was characterized by massive displacement and disruption, as well as loss of life, relatives, and property. Following the war, there was a high rate of depression and an overwhelming loss of perceived power and self-esteem among women and children. Similarly, the costs of civil wars in Africa have impacted women intensely. There has been a substantial increase in the rates of female poverty, sexual assaults, and rape. Displacement is particularly difficult when mothers are separated from their children. Some displaced mothers, as is the case of migrant labor mothers, move from impoverished parts of the globe, mainly from Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America, to postindustrial economies to serve as nannies, domestic workers, and unskilled hotel and restaurant workers. These women are separated from their children, and much of their personal mothering work relies on the support of other women. Grandmothers, sisters, older daughters, and female neighbors and friends assist with daily mothering of the children who are left behind.

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