Refugees in Focus

1 (a)
Main Points
Problems
 Refugees have to acquire a plot of land to construct shelters.
 Refugees live in makeshift structures and tents that offer little protection from rain, wind, sun
and cyclones
 There is also a threat to health due to lack of sanitary facilities and shortage of potable water
 Overcrowding also leaves too little space for refugees to move around or to cultivate crops for
home consumption
 Unemployment is almost a permanent problem among refugees and leads to low purchasing
power
 Many children of refugees are deprived of education and are illiterate.
 Illiteracy denies children of the possibilities of living according to modern standards.
 The refugee problem creates a clash of cultures, especially between ethnically, religiously,
racially and linguistically dissimilar groups

Solutions
 Wealthy nations should provide aid to refugees
 The waste lands of the host country can be converted into legal residential areas
 Each family should be given a plot of land and equipment for the purpose of growing crops
 Children should be sent to school where they will learn academic subjects and will be trained
in agriculture and farming
 The youngsters will be able to set up small business enterprises by grouping themselves into
cooperatives, so they can improve their economic conditions
 Citizens of the host country should welcome refugees and should create an atmosphere
conducive to tolerance
 Refugees should be allowed to practise their religion and speak their language while
respecting the culture of their neighbours
 refugees should be given the right to citizenship, and later they will also be allowed to engage
in the political affairs of the country

Page 113
Opinion: ‘The plight of refugees is one of the worst tales in human history’
Advice: ‘Refugees should be given the right to citizenship’
Fact: ‘The United Nations and its organs are already providing refugees with facilities...’