Causes and Consequences of Migration - Literature review Example

CUC100 Assignment: Persuasive Essay Name Institution Introduction Since the past few decades, the international community has been increasingly becoming acknowledging the significant social, economic and ecological impact that large streams of refugee populations bear on the host countries. The recent Syrian crisis has highlighted this. Spiraling conflict, radical extremism, global terrorism and forced displacements of individuals threaten to reverse a great deal of the social, economic and environmental sustainable development progress that has been realized in recent years (Alix-Garcia & Saah, 2010). The presence of large refugee population flows compounds the already prevailing pressure on social, economic and ecological resources challenges sustainable development in the host countries. In this discussion, sustainable development is perceived to be development that meets the needs of the present refugees and host countries without jeopardizing the ability of future generations to satisfy their own needs (UNHCHR, 1997).The major stakeholders in this issue are the international community like (UNHCHR), development agencies (like UNEP) human rights activists and organizations, state governments, local people, host countries, refugees as well as the media. This paper attempts to explain the issue of accommodating refugee population flows from a social, economic and environmental perspective, and suggest how sustainable outcomes can be achieved. Economic Perspective The world today millions of people continue to cross national, regional and international boundaries besides being denied a life of dignity. In some circumstances, refugees become a serious drawback to, or threat that can potentially jeopardize, the development goals and objectives of the economy of the host state (UNHCHR, 1997). In fact, today their adverse consequences are only be felt during the refugee problem, but also stretch to the future after the issue is addressed. The first immediate impact is increased competition for local scarce resources, including land, water, housing, food, and health services (Alix-Garcia & Saah, 2010). After a certain period, their presence scales up demand for education, health services, transportation, employment, and energy (Kerr & Kerr, 2011). They may exert more inflationary stress on prices, increase the rate of unemployment or cause substantial depression in wages. In other circumstances, the existence of a large proportion of refugees can lead to considerable alteration of flow of goods and services with the host population, besides bearing tangible implications for the welcoming countries balance of payment (Cortes, 2004). A good example of market disturbance would be an increase in housing demand for both the expatriates and the personnel involved in addressing the refuge problem. In such a scenario, increased establishment of relevant physical structures might potentially cause significant increase in the prevailing rent. Despite benefiting the local property owners, these construction activities can bear adverse impact on the low- and fixed income earners in the local population like government officers. Also, this might enhance scarcity and unavailability of construction materials for the local population, which could further cause inflationary effects (Hadley, Zodhiates & Sellen, 2007). Equally, higher demand for basic commodities like food can yield price hikes in the local market which will further strain the poor (Hadley, Zodhiates & Sellen, 2007). Additionally, the existence of many refugees in local host areas implies an inevitable extra pressure on the local administration. Host country federal and state authorities are compelled to spend a lot of resources in addressing the urgent demands of the large refugee populations at the expense of the local more pressing development issues (Alix-Garcia & Saah, 2010). These put more pressure on the international community as many host countries will expect help. However, the presence of refugees can also lead to positive economic impacts to the host areas. For instance, the large refugee populations might act as an economic catalyst to the development of the host location (Keane, 2003; Hadley, Zodhiates & Sellen, 2007). This can be in the form of increased demand for locally produced goods and services, accommodation by agencies supplying relief goods and services, new income and job openings for local population, local products purchased by the refugees themselves, as well as attraction of development agencies (Van Hear, 2006). Social Perspective The presence of refugees may brew animosity between them and the hosts (Salehyan, 2008). This can be compounded by communication and understanding challenges arising from language and/or cultural barriers (Segal & Mayadas, 2005). Generally, high influx of refugees can cause security concerns in the local areas in the form of increased crime, theft, and terrorism, among other criminal activities, in particular (Casimiro, Hancock & Northcote, 2007). Similarly, other social challenges like prostitution are further linked to the emergence of refugee camps in some areas (UNHCHRC, 1997). Idleness and poverty might lead to an escalation of socially unsanctioned behaviors among refuges without meaningful occupation (Lohrmann, 2000). The locals might perceive them as an “out” group causing the social ills in the local area (Zimmermann, Bauer & Lofstrom, 2000). This is likely to occur in a remote area that has previously enjoyed periods of quiet and order. Furthermore, the presence of large refugee population streams coupled with the demands on the already overstrained economy, services and the infrastructure can exert additional pressure and enhance competition on social amenities (Martin, 2005). As discussed above, the influx of refugees in a given area might result into scarcity or more strain on the local social amenities such as food, water, electricity, transport, health, education, security and government administration between the two groups (Van Hear, 2014). This can also cause disconnect between the two groups, particularly when the host area is relatively poor, and the refugees are supplied with relief food and services that are not available to them. For example, access to free health and education by refugees can impede the local cost recovery strategy. Also, better wages guaranteed by NGOs working with refugees can attract local health practitioners from local clinics. These issues can drawback ongoing sustainable development efforts seeking to improve the locals’ social wellbeing. Environmental Perspective A sudden and unplanned change can adversely affect a local area. The high influx of refugees is an unforeseen event as the effect on the local environment is never under control because its uncertainty often denies the chance for timely and proper planning of the new habitat (Keane, 2003). Also, refugees can create unforeseen demand for the existing scarce natural resources, including land, energy, water, food, construction materials (martin, 2005). This trend can bear significant impact on the sustainable management, exploitation and re-generation of these natural resources. Other negative impacts of the large refugee population flows on the local ecosystem encompass soil erosion, compromised soil fertility, land degradation, drought, freshwater scarcity, loss of biodiversity, and general climate change, which exacerbate the list of ecological concerns that host areas face (Keane, 2003). They are greater challenges whose adverse effects undermine the potential of many host countries to attain sustainable development. Refugees put the survival of host areas’ ecosystems, and of their biological support systems, at a greater risk. Besides that, waste disposal from individual refugees and refugee camps posses another serious risk to the environment in the sense that harmful or toxic substances in the waste can contaminate local ground water, thus result into serious outbreak of water-borne diseases (UNHCHRC, 1997). Also, heavy refugee movements subject infrastructural facilities such as roads, rails and canals to heavy deterioration which can be attributed to the heavy use leading to accelerated wear and tear, example for movement of food and other basic commodities to refugees (Hadley, Zodhiates & Sellen, 2007). They also cause substantial rise in energy utilization. Solutions for Sustainable Development This paper focuses on improving refugees’ coping capacities, capacity building and the focus on durable alternatives (Sharma, 2015). First, enhancing emergency preparedness and response capacity can help solve the issue. These should not be limited to the international agencies like the UNHRC alone, but should stretch to countries and regions that are more likely to receive heavy immigrant influx. To the highest extent possible, emergency preparedness and response should focus on mitigation and preventive strategies in handling refugee inflows. Social, economic and environmental factors must be factored in mitigating the discussed social, economic and ecological impact of such inflows. Outsourcing help from the international community and development agencies can generate valuable insights for planning how to mitigate possible environmental impacts arising from the presence of refugees in the host area. Second, refugee empowerment after integration either in the host or origin country after voluntary repatriation or in the new country of resettlement or asylum can enhance social, economic and ecological development of the new host countries. In situations where voluntary repatriation is less feasible, opportunities need to be created so that the refugees can engage in the social and economic activities of the local community. This can offer then the chance to contribute to the local development (Van Hear, 2014). Particularly, such opportunities can help the refugees become self-reliant and reach a point where they can meet their basic needs and to free themselves from relief aid (UNHCHRC, 1997).The interventions need to be in tandem with existing and planned development frameworks for the host areas; where possible, these strategies need to be stretched properly to accommodate both the locals and refugees (Van Hear, 2014). This will ensure that their cost do not surpass that of ongoing development projects. Upon return to the county of origin, refugees need to access development programs to empower and improve their productivity (Sharma, 2015). Self-help initiatives, participation in food production or other income-earning activities, involvement in local activities aimed at social, economic and physical infrastructure development, and skill-training programs can help achieve sustainable development. However, this development must strike an appropriate balance between the extent of support provided to meet refugees resettlement needs and the extent at which the support offered to the locals meet their needs, so as to avoid the possibility of conflict between the two groups (UNHCHRC, 1997). The third solution for realizing sustainable outcomes is seeking to compensate for the social, economic and environmental consequences refugees caused on the host area or country. As mentioned earlier, the large refuge population movements result in substantial social, economic and ecological consequence to the host. With this in mind, it will be imperative to help the affected areas and countries to work on these impacts. It is only through assistance, especially for less developed countries, that sustainable development can be achieved at the social, economic and environmental front. Conclusion The presence of large refugee population flows compounds the already prevailing pressure on social, economic and ecological resources challenges sustainable development in the host countries. Previous interventions for the refugee problem have been anchored on the traditional approach that perceived relief aid as the most effective intervention. Nonetheless, this paper diverts from this paradigm to recommend three long-term interventions that can effectively address this issue. Particularly, enhancing preparedness and response to high refugee inflows, baked with refugee empowerment and support of affected host countries in managing impacts caused by refugees can facilitate achievement of more sustainable outcomes. References Alix-Garcia, J., & Saah, D. (2010). 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Economic impacts of immigration: A survey (No. w16736). National Bureau of Economic Research. Lohrmann, R. (2000). Migrants, refugees and insecurity. Current threats to peace?. International Migration, 38(4), 3-22. Martin, A. (2005). Environmental conflict between refugee and host communities. Journal of peace research, 42(3), 329-346. Salehyan, I. (2008). The externalities of civil strife: Refugees as a source of international conflict. American Journal of Political Science, 52(4), 787-801. Segal, U. A., & Mayadas, N. S. (2005). Assessment of issues facing immigrant and refugee families. Child Welfare, 84(5), 563. Sharma, B. B. (2015). Revisiting the United Nations' 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees: A Critical Analysis of the International Refugee Law. Social Development Issues, 37(2), 80-94. United Nations High Commission for Human Rights Standing Committee (1997). 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