Ford Institute for Human Security publishes research on
the safety of refugee camps in Africa
As a follow up to a pilot study done in 2006, the Ford Institute for Human Security recently published findings on the safety of civilians living in internally displaced persons (IDP) and refugee camps. The report, What Makes a Camp Safe?, is one of only a few such initiatives to document IDP camps and analyze the data for use in developing policies.
The purpose of the report was to further understand the factors that lead to child abductions and violence against IDP and refugee camps. Simon Reich, director of the Ford Institute, led the study. He and his team of researchers used 27 factors, ranging from camp population to proximity to roads, to analyze 1,503 camps in seven African countries.
The study's findings indicated that several factors affect the security of IDP and refugee camps, including camp protection, duration of the conflict, proximity to international borders and conflict zones, and access to water. This research will aid international policymakers as they begin to create more uniform legislation to address the growing concern of refugee camps.
Reich will present his research to the ENOUGH project, whose mission is to end genocide and crimes against humanity in Washington, DC. In May, Reich will brief the United Nations Office of Children and Armed Conflict in New York City, where he will speak to representatives from other UN agencies, federal officials, leaders of NGOs, and various national governments.
For the full report, visit www.fordinstitute.pitt.edu. For the official press release, click here.
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