President’s Corner: Obama’s speech and displacement in the Muslim World
By Kenneth Bacon Mon, 06/08/2009 - 18:11
President Obama’s speech to the Muslim World in Cairo was a complete home run.
He highlighted the shared religious values of peace and justice that unify the People of the Book--Jews, Christians and Muslims who live by their Holy texts, the Talmud, the Bible and the Koran. He addressed the differences that currently divide the faiths, and he proposed paths for dialogue, partnership and peace in the future.
Inspired by New Supporters at the Afghan Embassy
By Megan Fowler Wed, 04/08/2009 - 19:19
I am always inspired when people hear about Refugees International's
work for the first time. Last night, Ambassador Said Jawad and his wife
Shamim hosted a group of some 100 influential supporters and new
friends of Refugees International at the Embassy of Afghanistan. They were
there to learn about our recent mission to Afghanistan and the latest
work we are doing to improve the lives of Afghan refugees.
Afghanistan and Pakistan: Bold Reforms Needed
By Patrick Duplat Fri, 03/27/2009 - 01:00
The big news today in Washington circles is the announcement of President Obama’s new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. He revealed significant increases in military and civilian personnel in Afghanistan, as well as higher levels of assistance for both countries. There’s bound to be disagreements over whether this is the appropriate course of action, but Obama is undeniably making the region a top priority of his tenure.
Pakistan: The Real Price of Eleven Billion Dollars
By Patrick Duplat Tue, 02/17/2009 - 19:12Since September 11, 2001, the U.S. government has provided Pakistan with $11 billion in military aid, a staggering sum in both absolute terms and when compared with non-military assistance. Not surprisingly, Pakistan wants this financial and logistical support to its armed forces to continue. President Asif Ali Zardari, in a recent Washington Post op-ed, urged the U.S. to “give [Pakistan] the necessary resources – upgrading [their] equipment and providing the newest technology – to fight terrorists…”
Gain the Trust of the Afghan People
By Patrick Duplat Wed, 02/04/2009 - 02:00
Vice President Joe Biden visited Afghanistan just one week before the inauguration, indicating the new administration’s foreign policy priorities. It is clear that America’s “to do” list in Afghanistan is a long one. But the first order of business should be regaining the trust of Afghans.
After seven years of international presence, the country is still facing tremendous challenges: a weak government, a fledging economy, a serious humanitarian situation and a growing insurgency. As the Vice President himself said on his return, "The truth is that things are going to get tougher in Afghanistan before they're going to get better.”
President’s Corner: Holbrooke’s Challenge in Afghanistan and Pakistan
By Kenneth Bacon Mon, 01/26/2009 - 16:03
Richard Holbrooke, the Obama administration’s special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, knows first hand that peacemaking can be dangerous and difficult. He dedicated To End A War, his book on the negotiations that ended the war in the Balkans 15 years ago, to three colleagues who died in the early stages of that effort.
In announcing the appointment last week, President Obama said: “There is no answer in Afghanistan that does not confront the Al Qaida and Taliban bases along the border, and there will be no lasting peace unless we expand spheres of opportunity for the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan.”
The rhetoric of “humanitarian crisis”
By Joel Charny Wed, 01/07/2009 - 18:39
Crises are the stock and trade of humanitarian agencies. Yet there is no consensus or clarity in the emergency response field as to what constitutes a humanitarian crisis. In a saturated global media environment, the temptation is great for agencies to designate particular situations as humanitarian crises to get attention to a neglected group of vulnerable people or to stigmatize the responsible parties. The rhetorical leaps from “difficult situation” to “humanitarian crisis” to “massive humanitarian crisis” to “the world’s worst humanitarian crisis” are as easy as skipping over a puddle.
President’s Corner: Refugee Problems Facing Obama
By Kenneth Bacon Mon, 12/29/2008 - 18:12Barack Obama may not know it, but soon he will have refugees on his mind.
In a recent interview with TIME Magazine, the president-elect talked about the foreign policy priorities that will occupy him and his secretary of state, Hillary Clinton.
"There’s no doubt that managing the transition in Iraq is going to be a top priority," he said. "Managing a more effective strategy in Afghanistan will be a top priority. Recognizing that it is not simply an Afghanistan problem but it’s an Afghanistan-Pakistan-India-Kashmir-Iran problem is going to be a priority." He also said that “The Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be a priority."
All of these crises are characterized by displacement problems. Here is a rundown:
Afghanistan: Humanitarian Space Amid Escalating Violence
By Limnyuy Konglim Thu, 08/28/2008 - 03:56
This past May, Refugees International conducted a mission in Afghanistan to assess the humanitarian response to the needs of Afghan returnees. Amid preparations for the trip, we were very concerned about the security situation in Afghanistan and took extra lengths to ensure that our staff would be safe.
Afghanistan: Seeking Neutral Space
By Kristele Younes Mon, 06/09/2008 - 03:22
Yesterday, Laura Bush was in Afghanistan, hailing the progress made since 2001 in the reconstruction process. She spent nine hours total in country, flying from Kabul to Bamyan, where she stayed within the four walls of a New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team compound. From there, the media reported, she could see the empty spaces left by the destruction of the giant Buddhas in 2001, the world’s best-known reminder of the Taliban brutality.
- « first
- ‹ previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
Refugees International (RI) advocates for lifesaving assistance and protection for displaced people and promotes solutions to displacement crises.
We are an independent organization, and do not accept any government or UN funding.
We are an independent organization, and do not accept any government or UN funding.