,

10 Important Facts to Know About Refugees in Finland

Refugees in Finland
In 2015, there were over a million migrants and refugees who sought a home in European countries to escape from war and poverty. Approximately 32,000 of them found refuge in Finland. Finland has bolstered enough of the refugee intake that the finance minister is now urging eastern EU countries to use their development funds to take responsibility for the growing refugee crisis and alleviate some of the pressure from western countries, such as Finland, who now face criticism as they increase deportations. Here are 10 facts about refugees in Finland.

10 Facts About Refugees in Finland

  1. More than 400 juvenile applicants in 2016 were found to be adults after medical tests were conducted to determine their biological age. The added protections and quicker processing time given to child refugees have caused this problem of falsity across the globe.
  2. Of those juvenile applicants, 74 percent were from Afghanistan, 11 percent were from Iraq and six percent were from Somalia.
  3. Of the refugees in Finland, 6,657 were forcibly returned to their country of origin (deported) in 2016, and only about 25 percent received assistance in their return. That number doubled from 2015’s reports, which has been attributed as much to the increase in the application as the increase in scrutiny by the Finnish Migration Board.
  4. For the first time since the Finnish Civil War that ended in 1918, the birth rate in Finland is lower than the death rate. However, the influx of migrants has caused the total population to continue to grow. Between 2014 and 2015, as an example of the magnitude of migration, the number of refugees in Finland went from 3,600 to 32,500.
  5. The Finnish Migration Board has peaked at an average processing time of ten months for refugee applications.
  6. It is becoming increasingly common for refugees in Finland to voluntarily leave the country. Besides family obligations or a sense of alienation, one of the most common reasons seems to simply be that it’s too cold for people accustomed to living in the Middle East. Eighty percent of voluntary removals are Iraqis.
  7. One of the most popular towns to house refugees is Punkalaidun, mostly populated by Burmese, Syrians and Ethiopians. The town is a model for cultural integration and has been awarded for their “promotion of ethical relations.” The work that they provide to refugees is unique. They specialize in the production of funeral supplies such as coffins.
  8. The distance between North Africa’s shore and Southern Europe can be extremely dangerous, but it is the journey that many refugees make to reach Finland. In 2015, more than 2,600 people died trying to cross this stretch of the Mediterranean Sea.
  9. Prime Minister Juha Sipilä has offered his own home in Kempele as a temporary home to 20 or so migrants.
  10. Since 1973, the Finnish Red Cross has been responsible for receiving quota refugees at the Helsinki Airport. Quota refugees forego reception centers because they’ve been approved for refugee status and sent to Finland by the U.N. Refugee Agency.

Finland is increasingly struggling to keep up with the flow of refugees from conflict areas across the world, most notably those in the Middle East. Refugees continue to risk their lives on the journey there, sometimes lying about their age or sacrificing months of processing time only to be turned away or to leave voluntarily because the conditions are so far from what they hoped. Even with this risk, the country is still a beacon for many hopeful people and a new home to a fortunate few.

– Brooke Clayton

Photo: Flickr

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Foreign Aid to Boost Quality Education in Lesotho


Geographically surrounded by the entire nation of South Africa, education in Lesotho, a mountainous country, has maintained an incredible track record. Boasting one of the highest adult literacy rates in all of Africa, Lesotho prides itself on its educational policies and opportunities.

Following the passage of the Education Act in 2010, education in Lesotho experienced tremendous success: by providing free, universal and compulsory education for students, the nation increased the rate of enrollment to 82 percent. In fact, of all the school-aged girls in the nation, 84 percent are enrolled in school.

Similar to many parts of the United States, Lesotho mandates a formal education structure that places students in primary school starting at the age of six. From there, students remain in primary school for seven years (from grades one through seven), enter lower secondary school from grades eight through 10, and complete their education with upper secondary school in grades 11 and 12.

Although the nation has made significant progress, organizations such as the Global Partnership for Education have been working to improve education in Lesotho. As of 2015, they helped reduce the student-to-teacher ratio in primary schools to 45:1 and purchased 1.1 million textbooks throughout the country. They also helped build, reform and furnish 143 classrooms.

In fact, with the World Bank Group’s approval of $25 million for education in Lesotho, leaders project that another 84,500 students will benefit. Lasting until 2021, the project will support teachers, improve student learning and retention and bolster institutional capacity. The project will also aim to reduce dropout rates in 300 of the lowest-performing schools, many of which are inaccessible and are located in poverty-stricken rural areas.

Higher education is also a priority in Lesotho. Through thirteen private and public institutions, including the National University of Lesotho, Lerotholi Polytechnic, Lesotho College of Education and the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, Lesotho serves the needs of its students interested in pursuing higher education.

In Lesotho, women’s literacy rates remain incredibly high. Recent statistics suggest that, despite a high number of out-of-school girls, 95 percent of all Lesotho women are literate. This suggests that some success is emerging as a result of the educational policies put forward in Lesotho.

Although there remains room for improvement, as no system can ever truly be perfect, Lesotho has made incredible strides as a nation in prioritizing and developing their educational system. Through international support and continued relief efforts, the nation will inevitably reach their goal of providing education for all in the near future.

– Emily Chazen

Photo: Flickr

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The Top 5 Diseases in Canada


As of 2015, Canadians have a life expectancy of 82 years. However, the nation still struggles with various diseases. Here are the five most common diseases in Canada:

Cancer (Malignant neoplasms)

Cancer is currently one of the top diseases in Canada. In 2013, the latest available year for such information, Statistic Canada’s website reported that cancer was responsible for 75,112 deaths for both men and women. Lung cancer is the most common form of cancer for Canadians. According to the World Atlas, this is due to Canadians’ high tobacco/alcohol use and high-fat diets (which also increase the likelihood of developing pancreatic cancer).

On June 20, the Canadian Cancer Society reported that nearly 50 percent of Canadians are expected to be diagnosed with some form of cancer during their lifetime. The report goes on to say that, “excluding non-melanoma skin cancer,” approximately 206,200 Canadians are expected to face a cancer diagnosis.

Heart Disease

Heart disease killed 49,891 Canadians in 2013. In addition to poor diet, little exercise and the popularity of consuming tobacco, income is also a factor. On a scale from 0-10 percent, lower-income Canadians were 4.9 percent more likely to suffer from heart disease than those making the most income.

Stroke (Cerebrovascular diseases)

In 2013, strokes also claimed 13,400 Canadian lives. Strokes are caused by an inconsistent blood flow to the brain. A large amount of sodium in instant meals and fast food brings about hypertension, high blood pressure and, eventually, a stroke. Due to the average Canadian’s diet, this explains why strokes are one of the top diseases in Canada.

Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases (CLRDs)

CLRDs caused 11,976 deaths in 2013. These diseases restrict the flow of oxygen to the lungs (asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, etc.). Bad air quality and smoking leads to the development of some CLRDs.

Diabetes (Diabetes mellitus)

Finally, diabetes brings up the rear in the list of top diseases in Canada. It caused 7,045 deaths in 2013 alone. Consuming a large amount of sugar from sodas, sugary beverages and various prepackaged foods can lead to diabetes. Income also heavily influences this disease. Using the same 0-10 percent scale from earlier, those who belong to lower-income groups were found to be 5.1 percent more likely to be living with diabetes than those in the highest income bracket.

Considering all of these factors, there are some steps Canadians can take to prevent developing some of these detrimental diseases. Universal health care and private clinics provide convenient, government-funded medical help. In fact, the country’s healthcare system updates the wait times one should expect if they need to visit any health care facility. However, lifestyle changes are also necessary to treat and prevent these diseases.

– Jada Haynes

Photo: Flickr

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10 Facts About Africa’s Education Crisis

10 Facts About Africa's Education Crisis
The right to primary education frames many international statements on human rights and education. While South Africa did achieve the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of universal primary education ahead of the 2015 target year, it is unfathomable to think that 17 million of its school-aged children will never attend school. Africa’s struggling educational sector can be outlined in these 10 facts about Africa’s education crisis.

10 Facts About Africa’s Education Crisis

  1. There are 12 countries in Africa–namely Malawi, Zambia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Chad, Ethiopia, Congo, South Africa, Namibia and Comoros–in which 30 percent or more of children do not meet a minimum standard of learning by grades four or five.
  2. In countries such as Ethiopia, Nigeria and Zambia, over half of in-school students are not learning basic skills by the end of primary school.
  3. A global competitiveness report released by World Economic Forum ranks South Africa last out of 140 countries in regards to the quality of education offered. This perception will severely impact the willingness of employers to create more jobs and invest in the country, thus plunging the South African economy further down.
  4. The fact that only 53 percent of year 12 students who sat for math exams in 2014 achieved above 30 percent, and only 35 percent achieved above 40 percent, shows the extent of the education crisis. One of the more disturbing statistics among these 10 facts about Africa’s education crisis is that 25 percent of South African schools do not even offer mathematics in grades 10 to 12.
  5. Despite being a middle-income country and having six percent of its GDP spent on education, South Africa’s performance in standardized tests is far below the average for African countries.
  6. Another major concern is the relation between the language of instruction and student performance. South Africa’s population speaks 11 languages, and students writing the examination in a language other than their mother tongue continue to experience great difficulty in interpreting questions and phrasing their responses.
  7. Teachers’ knowledge of English is poor, and, unless emphasis is laid on training and preparing teachers, the state of education will not improve. According to the World Bank, teacher absenteeism, neglect and lack of a working knowledge of the language may be blamed for poor student performance.
  8. In many countries within sub-Saharan Africa, educational disparities exist with respect to wealth, gender and social divisions. The degree of extreme educational poverty, which is defined by less than two years spent in school, is much higher among the poor. For instance, in Ethiopia, a staggering 68.3 percent of the poorest quintile of its population lives in educational poverty.
  9. According to Action Aid, the economic crisis has meant that around £2.9 billion is expected to be lost to education budgets for the sub-Saharan regions. It is not an overstatement to say that most rich countries have failed to keep their promises to help poor countries out of educational poverty. This is also attributed to the fact that both the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have severely restricted funding to poor countries, thus reducing their chances of investing in education.
  10. Despite all these reasons, both internal and international politics play a major role to play in Africa’s educational crisis.

Education is probably the single most influential tool to ensure that poor countries have the resources to pull themselves out of poverty. While many historic, social, economic, political and international issues play an important role in Africa’s existing educational situation, one can only hope that these 10 facts about Africa’s education crisis will shed some light on the existing roadblocks that the continent faces in fighting its education poverty.

– Jagriti Misra

Photo: Flickr

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How to Provide Access to Clean Water In Innovative Ways


One in nine people worldwide have little access to clean water, and, in developing countries, 80 percent of illnesses stem from unclean water and lack of sanitation. Water is the most integral component required to sustain human life, and in 2010, the United Nations General Assembly recognized clean drinking water and sanitation as an essential human right. Here are five innovative new ways organizations and people are working on the problem of how to provide access to clean water throughout the world:

The OmniProcessor

Invented by Peter Janicki and his team at Janicki BioEnergy, the OmniProcessor is a machine that can convert 14 tons of sewage into water and electricity. The OmniProcessor can have an enormous impact on the two billion people on the planet who cannot properly dispose of waste. This waste eventually makes its way into water sources, which contaminates it and can spread diseases such as cholera and dysentery. The OmniProcessor solves both problems with one machine. Bill Gates, whose foundation gave Janicki a grant to research the OmniProcessor once stated, “If you can get thousands of these things out there, then you have ensured the people will grow up healthily.”

The SaTo Pan

This innovative toilet, supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is an alternative to open defecation, and a game-changer when looking at the problem of how to provide access to clean water. The toilet is made of plastic and thus is much more affordable that other restroom alternatives.  The toilet works by closing off the pit latrine from the open air and reducing the amount of water needed to flush waste. This simple but inventive SaTo pan (the name is derived from “Safe Toilet”) prevents water from being contaminated by waste left behind by open defecation and is a sure step in the journey to provide clean water access to all.

SODIS

SODIS (Solar Water Disinfection) is a method ideal for purifying water in developing countries. All one has to do is take a clear plastic bottle, fill it with clear water and set it out in the sun for six hours or more. The UV rays in the sunlight hitting the bottles will kill viruses, bacteria and parasites that may contaminate the water, making it clean and safe to drink. SODIS is an easy, safe and inexpensive method which makes it ideal for the world’s poor.

Microloans

Another solution for the problem of how to provide access to clean water is to empower the people searching for access. Microloans are a way of doing just this, providing small loans to people who otherwise would not be approved for loans at all. According to a study done by A. M. Muazam Husain, “microcredit loans provided to women in Bangladesh increased the presence of latrines in their households from nine to 26 percent over three years.” When given the opportunity, people without clean water and proper sanitation, especially women in families with children to look after, actively seek it out.  This kind of change is sustainable because it teaches individuals to solve their problems without the help of outsiders.

The Water Project

The Water Project is an innovative non-profit that does on-the-ground work in sub-Saharan Africa to build wells, dams and systems to catch rainwater. They collaborate with in-country teams to ensure that the services they are providing are needed and sustainable.  They also regularly check in on projects they have sponsored to ensure they are going well. Anyone can contribute to the water project simply by raising awareness, fundraising or sponsoring an entire project. These sorts of organizations are an integral part of broadening access to clean water in the developing world.

In the past ten years, the world has made leaps and bounds in how to provide access to safe drinking water and sanitation. Moreover, with more investment in research, an increase in aid to nonprofit organizations and a continued commitment to finding innovative solutions to the lack of water, access to clean water is sure to become a certainty for every single person in the world.

– Adesuwa Agbonile

Photo: Flickr

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10 Important Facts About Refugees in Slovenia

Slovenia Refugees
Although small in size and population, Slovenia is a gateway to Central Europe for millions of migrants. Slovenia borders the countries of Croatia, Austria, Hungary and Italy, making it an ideal stomping ground for millions of refugees traveling north. Slovenia is also a member of the European Union (EU), which is idyllic for migrants seeking freedom and access to the western world. These 10 facts about refugees in Slovenia show how dire the situation has become.

10 Facts About Refugees in Slovenia

  1. The years 2015 and 2016 saw a sizable increase in refugees traveling through Slovenia to reach other countries in the European Union. The total number of immigrants who traveled to Slovenia in 2015 was 15,420. This was an 11 percent increase from the previous year.
  2. Slovenia is a country with moderate poverty rates for the region. Overall, 13.9 percent of citizens live at or below the poverty line. As you move closer to the various border countries, this percentage increases. The shared border with Croatia has a 17.3 percent poverty rate, representing the thousands of refugees crossing over into Slovenia.
  3. October of 2015 saw the largest peak in refugees entering the country, with 66,353 entering the country in that month alone.
  4. As a member of the European Union and the Schengen Area, Slovenia is an ideal state for refugees. Individuals are able to move freely between countries in the Schengen Area.
  5. Syria has consistently been the country represented most with refugees in Slovenia. Forty-five percent of refugees in Slovenia immigrated from Syria.
  6. To date, twelve other countries have contributed police force officials to assist with the refugee crisis in Slovenia.
  7. Medical care is offered at reception and accommodation centers across Slovenia. Refugees are offered preventative physical exams and urgent care. This is all included in the federal budget of Slovenia.
  8. The European Commission provided Slovenia 10.17 million euros to help supply more officials on the border with Croatia and to improve reception centers for refugees.
  9. Every day, there are more than 400 volunteers from nonprofits, humanitarian organizations and other assistance agencies who work at various refugee camps across Slovenia to provide food and care.
  10. By simply stating that they are seeking asylum, refugees are immediately taken care of by government officials and a set of procedures is followed. This includes fingerprinting the individual to deduce whether or not they have requested asylum in a country before. This procedure is internationally known as the Dublin procedure.

A small Balkan country with various minorities, Slovenia is doing all they can to help traveling refugees. These facts about refugees in Slovenia show the lengths that the Slovenian government is going to in order to assist refugees seeking security and freedom. Although the number of migrants has declined with the closure of borders, the Slovenians are still willing to help those seeking a brighter future.

– Sophie Casimes

Photo: Flickr

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Why Is Syria Poor?

In 2007, 35 percent of Syrians lived at or below the international poverty line. As of 2017, that number lies above 80 percent. Why is Syria poor so suddenly? A large reason for this rise is the Syrian civil war, which started in 2011 sparked by pro-democracy protests and rebel forces that formed to fight the government forces led by Syria’s president. Discussed are there reasons for the rapid acceleration of poverty in Syria.

Top 6 Explanations for Syrian Poverty

  1. Inflation: Currency inflation in Syria was at 51.1 percent in August 2016 after reaching an all-time high of 121.29 percent in August 2014. When the Syrian government began running out of money due to the high cost of war, it printed more and more money to pay their debt. When asking, “Why is Syria poor?” inflation is an inevitable answer. It makes cash lose much of its value, and, as a result, millions of people in Syria have lost their life savings. Businesses have had to close because it is impossible to trade with foreign markets, and food prices have become unaffordable. This means less overall economic security for the Syrian people.
  2. Healthcare: The civil war has decimated healthcare infrastructure in Syria over the past six years. In 2016 alone there were almost 200 attacks on healthcare providers, and forces on both sides have prevented citizens from accessing healthcare as a war tactic. Because of this, diseases such as typhoid, tuberculosis and cholera are becoming endemic again in Syria. Poverty is inextricably tied to healthcare access, and, when a country’s public health system begins to fail, it is much more difficult for people to escape poverty.
  3. Unemployment: Largely due to inflation, many Syrian businesses and industries have closed. Over 50 percent of the labor force is currently unemployed. This creates massive economic insecurity for millions of Syrians Without money, most are unable to access basic human needs such as food, water and shelter. Why is Syria poor? A large reason is a lack of employment opportunities.
  4. Infrastructure: Much of Syria’s basic infrastructure has been lost because of the war. According to the United Nations Development Program, “the supply of electricity and water [in Syria] is unpredictable and major roads are impassable due to destruction or fighting…All of this has aggravated the socio-economic plight of the population.” This lack of infrastructure in Syria greatly increases the vulnerability of the poor.
  5. Education: Fifty percent of Syrian children no longer attend school, and almost half have lost up to three years of schooling. In addition, many school buildings have been destroyed. Education is one of the surest ways out of poverty, so without reliable access to education, many Syrian children are becoming a “lost generation” trapped in a cycle of poverty.
  6. Fleeing Refugees: There are nearly five million Syrians officially registered as refugees. This hurts Syria’s economy as labor flows out of the country, which in turn hurts people in Syria who are already impoverished. The unwillingness of many countries to welcome Syrian refugees further hurts people who are still in Syria because it means refugees are unable to send money to their families.

While it can be easy to get swept up in the ugliness of war, it is important to remember the human stories underneath it and recognize that the answers to the question “why is Syria poor?” present solutions. Organizations such as the UNDP currently have boots on the ground in Syria and are working to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. In 201,6 UNDP implemented 199 local projects that helped more than 2.5 million Syrians. The World Food Programme provides emergency food assistance to 4.5 million people each month. One person can make a difference and help fight poverty in Syria, simply by calling his or her representatives and encouraging them to support legislation that accepts more refugees or provides more funding for international aid. All of these things are steps towards a less poor Syria. And so perhaps the true question is not “why is Syria poor?” but “how can I help?”

– Adesuwa Agbonile

Photo: Flickr

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5 Organizations Fighting Famine in East Africa


According to U.N. Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Stephen O’Brien, the world faces its worst humanitarian crisis since World War II in the current famine affecting certain African and Middle Eastern countries. More than 20 million people in Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia and Nigeria are facing severe starvation and malnutrition. In addition to the U.N.’s push to mobilize aid to these countries, smaller organizations have made a concentrated effort to fight famine in East Africa.

5 Organizations Fighting Famine in East Africa

  1. Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) is a nonprofit organization focused on fighting global starvation, annually producing more than a million meals that are shipped to impoverished countries. FMSC operates in several locations around the Twin Cities, hosting volunteer meal preparation shifts six days a week. The current East African crisis has prompted FMSC to increase its efforts. The organization now aims to produce an additional 10 million meals to reduce starvation in Somalia.
  2. The Léger Foundation has been combatting global poverty and social exclusion for over 65 years. In June 2017, it joined Canada’s growing Famine Relief Fund, which focuses on providing aid to the millions of Africans affected by the famine. While currently responding to humanitarian demand in Cameroon, The Léger Foundation is expanding outreach to other countries afflicted by the famine including Nigeria and South Sudan. As a new member of the Famine Relief Fund, the foundation will see its donations doubled by Canada’s government through the end of June to support famine relief.
  3. SOS Children’s Villages is another member of the Famine Relief Fund dedicated to fighting famine in East Africa. SOS traditionally operates as a nonprofit centered on providing homes for orphaned and abandoned children and has built more than 550 children’s villages. These provide children with food, shelter, education and a family life. The recent famine has prompted SOS Children’s Villages to shift its focus to East Africa. Fundraising efforts are now aimed at alleviating food shortages caused by drought and subsequent livestock loss.
  4. Caritas Australia is a Catholic charity working to end poverty and facilitate global development for people of all backgrounds. Recently Caritas launched a program called Africa Emergency Appeal to mobilize its humanitarian network of partners to respond to the famine in East Africa. Caritas and its partner agencies currently provide local assistance in delivering clean water, sanitation supplies and food such as sugar, beans and maize flour.
  5. Save the Children is a British charity that promotes children’s rights and seeks to improve conditions for children globally through healthcare and education. In response to the famine in East Africa, Save the Children aims to reach children under the age of five and provide aid to those most at risk for malnutrition and diseases such as malaria. With humanitarian infrastructure already in place in the affected countries, Save the Children can turn its focus to fighting famine in ways such as increasing malnutrition screenings in Nigeria or distributing vouchers for supplies in Somalia.

These are just a few of the many organizations that have responded swiftly to the growing humanitarian crisis in Africa. While there is still need for further funding in these countries, these organizations are doing all they can to bring immediate relief and save lives.

– Nicholas Dugan

Photo: Flickr

Reducing the Causes of Poverty in Iceland

Poverty in Iceland
Iceland, known for its breathtaking glaciers and stunning views of the Northern Lights, has an impressive quality of life. Additionally, citizens have long life expectancies due to extensive health care services. Most higher education is free, and the government’s welfare program aims to aid the unemployed, the disabled and young families. Despite these factors, over 6,000 out of 330,000 Icelanders live in extreme poverty. Many of the causes of poverty in Iceland stem from the 2008 recession.

When the economy crashed, almost all of the Icelandic businesses went under. The crash occurred when the banks collapsed, resulting from the banks owing immense debts to foreign countries and businesses.

After the recession in 2008, child poverty increased dramatically. Between 2008 and 2012, the number of children living in poverty nearly tripled. By the end of 2012, 31.6 percent of children in Iceland were living in poverty. According to UNICEF, this increase was the highest among rich countries.

In order to combat the rise in child poverty, Iceland replaced their flat taxation methods with a progressive form of taxation. The government also implemented policies that encouraged citizens to invest in businesses within the nation, improving economic growth.

While these efforts helped fight the causes of poverty in Iceland, tourism has jumpstarted the economy of Iceland and helped bring up employment rates. Last year, almost 2 million tourists came to visit Iceland and explore its beautiful attractions. This is partially a result of airlines offering cheap tickets from the United States to Iceland. Iceland has met this influx of tourists by increasing the number of attractions, restaurants and lodging opportunities to ensure a memorable trip.

The turn of events in Iceland can serve as a model for other countries. Tourism can help any country, but is particularly helpful for developing nations. The influx of money from tourists can benefit the extremely poor by creating jobs and providing them with the resources to pull themselves out of poverty.

While Iceland is still fighting to recover from the rapid increase in poverty from its economic crash, the implementation of policies and the dramatic rise in tourism has lifted Iceland out of the decline. By using tangible ways to fight the causes of poverty in Iceland, the number of people in deep poverty should drop within the next decade.

– Julia McCartney

Photo: Flickr

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10 Important Facts About Refugees in Lesotho


In response to apartheid in South Africa, refugees emerged in Lesotho in the 1960s. These refugees—the majority of whom were South African and children or teenagers—play a crucial role in defining Lesotho’s vibrant society. Here are 10 facts about refugees in Lesotho.

10 Facts About Refugees in Lesotho

  1. Home to fewer than 10,000 refugees, Lesotho began implementing projects to help grant loans and business training to refugees in 1983. Of the 17 businesses which ultimately emerged, only one was run by a woman.
  2. Lesotho has been incredibly welcoming to refugees, ensuring their integration into local Basotho communities and serving as a global paradigm of refugee inclusivity and acceptance.
  3. In 2005, in an attempt to solidify its commitment to refugee protection, Limakatso Ntlhoki of Lesotho held a four-day workshop intended to help people develop the skills for working with refugees and guaranteeing their protection.
  4. Lesotho has been deemed a “South African Development Community” (SADC) alongside fifteen other countries such as Botswana, Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe. Recent statistics indicate that SADC countries are home to approximately 68 percent of international migrants living in South Africa.
  5. In June 2017, the Vodafone Foundation put forward a system for young refugees living in nations, including Lesotho, to gain free and unlimited access to online education using tablets.
  6. During apartheid, Lesotho’s rural regions served as a safe haven for a number of political refugees escaping the wrath of a government who rejected their ideas. However, when the country was threatened by South Africa, they helped a significant number of refugees flee and obtain safety.
  7. The 1983 Lesotho Refugee Act guarantees that the country will provide refugees with the rights laid out by the United Nations Convention and the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees. They also incorporated the criterion outlined by the OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, which rendered their definition amongst the most inclusive in terms of explicating the legal status of refugees in the world.
  8. The former Prime Minister of Lesotho, Chief Leabua Jonathan, attested to the United Nations General Assembly that Lesotho maintained full respect for human dignity, would not use violence towards refugees, and recognized their moral responsibility to help solve their problems through support and openness.
  9. In response to Lesotho’s refugee policies, nations such as India and Thailand praised the nation for its willingness to welcome individuals despite South African threats.
  10. In 2002, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) returned 48 brick homes originally used to house refugees in Lesotho to the country’s government, thereby indicating the true end of apartheid and highlighting the ways in which the nation could be entrusted to maintain respectful living conditions for refugees without external intervention.

These 10 facts about refugees in Lesotho illuminate how the country has, since the 1960s, experienced tremendous success in its relationship with refugees. Ultimately, this undeniable altruism indicates that Lesotho ought to be lauded as an example of how to positively incorporate refugees into societies throughout the world.

– Emily Chazen

Photo: Flickr