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The impacts of forced migration

Forced migration can be referred as refugees who may be homeless and seek for a safe country
to live in because of natural disaster or unavoidable crisis in the home country. In most of the
cases the reasons are limited to acute situations like famine or war though in recent days it is
more likely to be for war.

More strikingly it has become a buzzing issue recently because of climate change induced
migration triggered by global warming and mainly war driven migration due to conflict zones in
many Middle East and African countries. Unlike voluntary migration forced migration has
drastically changed the facet of the world structure by vandalizing the life of millions of people
of both migrant and domestic inhabitants. The upcoming discussion will be focused on to dig out
those aspects from a global perspective.

Human migration is actually a pre-historic phenomenon which evidently exists now. Migration
occurs all over the world regardless of the form it takes: social, cultural, political, economic etc.
In reality refugees are frequently mixed up with migrants of other types. In general, people who
deliberately moves from their place with certain expectations without being forced and who are
recognized and backed up by their own state are called voluntary migrants. On the contrary,
people who became bound to leave their place being enforced by any form of maltreatment in
their own country are considered to be refugees. In true sense, forced refugees run away because
of harassment from oppressor of any kind; for instance the contemporary hostility in African
countries is mainly because of the maltreatment of people from Muslim religion by the
Christians.

In 2012, there existed 45.2 million people who were dislocated from their place by force around
the world in accordance with the UNHCR. 23000 individuals moved their residence to shift to
internal or overseas displacement camps in 2012. (UNHCR, 2013). The picture of sub Saharan
Africa alone is overwhelming as this place is flooded with the influx of force migrants
containing more than 26% of the world headcount of refugees. (Lori and Boyle, 2015)

The hazard of such migration starts even in the journey towards camps. In most of the cases the
journey itself routed towards precarious areas since there are international restrictions in borders.
Many people are dying now on the road towards their journey. The recent forced migration led
by the crisis in Syria has pushed thousands of people die on the way, mostly on Aegean Sea
intending to get a passage to Europe. Lack of food, drinking water is also contributing to
casualties.

While fleeing, family members are often separated from others on the way where they dont have
enough means of knowing about their fate since there is no organized structure for that.

Mostly the refugees are flooded to the developing countries where these countries host almost
eight tenth of the total refugee globally taking the greatest onus in their shoulder. More than 2
million of them are residing subhuman life in more or less 50 LDC countries damaging the
health system which is already limping with its structure.

Though collection of appropriate data is not always possible from refugee camps, what is been
collected are really frightening. The over populated camps have very little bearing capacity as
they are designed for such gigantic numbers. Often the sanitation facility is far from being
standard which leads to severe health issues causing death in significant percentage. The far
above the ground density of population always serves for the ground for violence causing deaths
that is frequently reported one. Several study sorted out at least 50% families reporting about
family members involved in violence during research. Most of the cases these led to increased
child mortality rate in those areas which are added to the national figure of the host country.
(Avogo and Agadjanian, 2010)

Recent Syrian crisis has put the so called civilized and developed countries at zedoary. The crisis
was considered at first from humanitarian ground. But as the wave of migrant from Syria has
formed a colossal shape countries from Europe are now very much unwilling to welcome any
more refugees. Photographs of millions of scared migrant faces are hitting the print media who
faces strong blockade from the concerned governments. The once fenced border of euro zone is
now experiencing sophisticated barriers to stop migrants from entering. The countries have
become divided inside regarding this burning issue. Those who are already in those European
camps are leading miserable life considering the basic needs especially the healthcare and
security. Since this crisis referred to be led by the ISIS in Syria, it has given it a religious
framework (Ianchovichina and Ivanic, 2016). Most of the Syrian refugees sure Muslims. Whenever
there is any accusation on the ISIS for any terrorist attack immediately there are so called
revenges on the refugee camps in Germany, Austria, Poland, Hungery misjudging them as same
as terrorists whereas they are also the victims.

Giving pass to those refugees seeking for asylum in their country most countries are faced with
serious economic pressure to cope up with this. Raising migrant influx has put forward question
about applying economic policy and their success is dubious. Though it serves the host countries
with cheaper labor source to accelerate economic growth but it is a cost of generating
unemployment to local workers. As a result the already established antagonistic relation is being
more aggravated. The much focused BREXIT of the U.K from referendum casted maximum
votes from citizens with a notion to push the migrant from different corner of euro zone that they
consider them as rivals for employment.

The world is facing some its greatest challenges in centuries in the form of refugee crisis which
may not seem very much of weight in the naked eyes but its consequences are mind boggling.
The world is acting as a global village in the form of technological advancement in trade and
commerce. All the countries are very much integrated with each other. So such a crisis cannot be
overlooked since we are to face the consequences.
References:

1. Avogo, W. and Agadjanian, V. (2010 ). Forced migration and child health and mortality
in Angola. Social Science & Medicine, 70(1), pp.53-60.
2. Lori, J. and Boyle, J. (2015). Forced migration: Health and human rights issues among
refugee populations. Nursing Outlook, 63(1), pp.68-76.
3. Bahcekapili, C. and Cetin, B. (2015). The Impacts of Forced Migration on Regional
Economies: The Case of Syrian Refugees in Turkey. IBR, 8(9).
4. Sarvimki, M., Uusitalo, R. and Jntti, M. (2009). Long-Term Effects of Forced
Migration.
5. Zimmerman, S. and Zetter, R. (n.d.). Reconsidering the Role of Conflict in the Lives of
Refugees: The Case of Somalis in Europe. SSRN Electronic Journal.
6. Klein, M. and Inikori, J. (1985). Forced Migration: The Impact of the Export Slave Trade
on African Societies. African Economic History, (14), p.220.
7. Forcedmigration.org. (2016). Impact of forced migration upon health Forced
Migration Online. [online] Available at: http://www.forcedmigration.org/research-
resources/expert-guides/forced-migration-and-public-health/impact-of-forced-migration-
upon-health [Accessed 16 Oct. 2016].
8. Bbc.co.uk. (2016). BBC Bitesize - Higher Geography - Causes and impacts relating to
forced and voluntary migration - Revision 4. [online] Available at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/z8g334j/revision/4 [Accessed 16 Oct. 2016].
9. Landry, J. (2016). Displaced populations and their effects on regional stability | Forced
Migration Review. [online] Fmreview.org. Available at:
http://www.fmreview.org/fragilestates/landry.html [Accessed 16 Oct. 2016].
10. Ianchovichina, E. and Ivanic, M. (2016). Economic Effects of the Syrian War and the
Spread of the Islamic State on the Levant. The World Economy, 39(10), pp.1584-1627.

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