Refugees

The United Nations defines refugees as people who are displaced, either from their home country or from their homes within their home country, and are seeking refuge elsewhere. By 2004, there were an estimated 9.2 million refugees in the world. Some experts believe that there are actually many, many more refugees in hiding. The vast majority of refugees find shelter in Asia and Africa. Asia hosts nearly half of all refugees, while Africa shelters 22%. Eight out of ten refugees flees from one poor country to another neighboring poor country.

What Makes a Person a Refugee?

A wide range of circumstances can make it possible for a person to have legal refugee status. Examples include:

· A human rights activist who is persecuted for his or her criticism of government abuses

· A union leader who is threatened with violence by businesses that have the support of the government

· A member of a religious group that is being suppressed by the government

· A woman who is subjected to repeated physical abuse by her husband in a country where domestic violence goes unpunished

· A member of an ethnic group that is persecuted by the state

· A teacher in a country where intellectuals are denounced traitors

· A person who openly criticizes a rebel group in a country where the government cannot protect its citizens against rebel attacks

· A person who is persecuted because he or she is suspected of opposing the government, even though he or she is not politically active

· The child of an imprisoned political leader who is viewed as a threat by the current government

· The witness to a massacre committed by the military that the government wants to cover up

· A student activist after the government has suppressed a student movement