Palestinian Refugee Camps: from Shelter to Habitat

Palestinian refugees registered with UNRWA and their housing conditions are officially characterized by a “ temporary status” , a situation which has lasted the past sixty years. This article explores this time-paradox by focusing on the host governments’ and UNRWA’s policies affecting the refugees’ housing conditions. After having reviewed available literature, this contribution analyses the current housing situation. Drawing on data from a recent survey, the authors provide insights on areas where intervention is needed. In all UNRWA’s fields of operation, overcrowding, lack of public spaces, humidity and structural defects are the main sources of housing discomfort that camp refugees endure. Host countries’ restrictions as well as the incapacity or unwillingness of larger urban municipalities to incorporate refugee camps in their master plans are among the main obstacles to the refugees’ housing development. Rehabilitation and self-help re-housing programs may offer substantial incentives for housing improvement. The success of such programs depends, among several factors, on the host governments’ good will to provide UNRWA with authorizations, financial support, and land, as well as on the capacity of involving the refugee communities in projects’ planning and implementation.

Panel 3: Encounters of Perpetrators and Victims of Genocides

Panel 3: Encounters of Perpetrators and Victims of Genocides Lina Nikou, University of Hamburg, Germany: “Coming Back Home? Berlin Presents Itself to Refugees of the Nazi Regime Living Abroad” Download paper (login required) Michelle Bellino, Harvard University: “Whose Past, Whose Present? Historical Memory among the ‘Postwar’ Generation in Guatemala” Download paper (login required) Srdjan Radovic, Belgrade University/Institute of Ethnography SASA, Serbia: “Memory Culture, Politics of Place, and Social Actors in the Remembrance of Belgrade's World War II Camp” Download paper (login required) Chair: Michael Nolte and Michael Geheran, Clark University Comment: Omer Bartov, Brown University

Human Trafficking Victims and Their Children: Assessing Needs, Vulnerabilities, Strengths, and Survivorship

Given the increased awareness and attention to human trafficking, including the establishment of federal laws and policies, federally funded task forces that provide law enforcement responses, and specialized victim services, it is important to assess the impact of these procedures and services on survivors/victims of international human trafficking and their immigrant children. By federal definition, certified victims of international human trafficking are eligible for all services provided to refugees in this country, including reunification with their minor children. This research is based on a qualitative study conducted in Austin and Houston, Texas with human trafficking victims/survivors. The project’s goal was to gain an understanding of the needs of human trafficking survivors after their rescue, their overall integration into American life, and the subsequent needs of their immigrant children after reunification. The project objectives examined the factors that either promote or hinder self-sufficiency, the determination of social service needs, and policy and practice recommendations to strengthen survivors, their children and their families living both locally and abroad. For this project, nine (n = 9) in-depth interviews were conducted with adult foreign-born victims of human trafficking. Researchers gathered data using a semi-structured questionnaire that queried about factors that promote or hinder victims’ services and needs. Interviews were conducted in participants’ homes using bilingual research staff and/or trained interpreters, were digitally-recorded, and subsequently transcribed. Participation in this study was completely voluntary. Specific steps were taken to ensure that the participants’ identities were protected. Open coding of data was utilized and the data were subsequently organized or grouped into properties and later developed into contextual themes around the research questions. The findings are grounded with the use of direct quotes from participants. As a result of progressive U.S. policy, many victims of human trafficking are being reunited with their minor children. Immigrant children are one of the largest and fastest growing populations in the U.S. and for a variety of reasons are vulnerable to exploitation. Research also indicates that victims of trafficking are identified by traffickers because of their perceived “vulnerabilities” or lack of opportunities (Clark, 2003). Therefore, it is important that practices and policies are developed to address the unique needs of these families with an eye toward positive outcomes for parent and child safety and well-being. Social service providers are provided a toolkit that may be utilized before and during the reunification period.

Refugee Settlement in Australia: Policy, Scholarship and the Production of Knowledge, 1952 − 2013

Since 1947, Australia has formally resettled more than 750,000 refugees. During that time, researchers have successfully completed more than 150 Masters and doctoral theses and published more than 900 articles, books and reports about issues of refugee settlement in Australia, with about half of them being published in the past 10 years. In this paper, we discuss the development of the production of knowledge about refugee resettlement. We identify trends in the literature, such as the emergence of an ethno-specific focus, and the concern with settlement's psychological and emotional impact, and relate them to policy changes. We suggest that scholars need critically to take stock of the knowledge produced so far and be more cognisant of the international scholarly debate.

Adult Asylum Seekers from the Middle East Including Syria in Central Europe: What Are Their Health Care Problems?

Background Forced displacement related to persecution and violent conflict has reached a new peak in recent years. The primary aim of this study is to provide an initial overview of the acute and chronic health care problems of asylum seekers from the Middle East, with special emphasis on asylum seekers from Syria. Methods Our retrospective data analysis comprised adult patients presenting to our emergency department between 01.11.2011 and 30.06.2014 with the official resident status of an “asylum seeker” or “refugee” from the Middle East. Results In total, 880 patients were included in the study. Of these, 625 (71.0%) were male and 255 (29.0%) female. The median age was 34 (range 16–84). 222 (25.2%) of our patients were from Syria. The most common reason for presentation was surgical (381, 43.3%), followed by medical (321, 36.5%) and psychiatric (137, 15.6%). In patients with surgical presentations, trauma-related problems were most common (n = 196, 50.6%). Within the group of patients with medical presentation, acute infectious diseases were most common (n = 141, 43.9%), followed by neurological problems (n = 70, 21.8%) and gastrointestinal problems (n = 47, 14.6%). There were no differences between Syrian and non-Syrian refugees concerning surgical or medical admissions. The most common chronic disorder of unclear significance was chronic gastrointestinal problems (n = 132, 15%), followed by chronic musculoskeletal problems (n = 108, 12.3%) and chronic headaches (n = 78, 8.9%). Patients from Syria were significantly younger and more often suffered from a post-traumatic stress disorder than patients of other nationalities (p<0.0001, and p = 0.05, respectively). Conclusion Overall a remarkable number of our very young group of patients suffered from psychiatric disorders and unspecified somatic symptoms. Asylum seekers should be carefully evaluated when presenting to a medical facility and physicians should be aware of the high incidence of unspecified somatic symptoms in this patient population.In general, there is no major difference between asylum seekers from Syria when compared to other nationalities of asylum seekers from the Middle East.

Na 1 Nachlass Max Horkheimer, 16 - Korrespondenzen u.a. mit Gerhart Jacoby Gordon (p. I 8, 202-379)

2 Briefe von A. Gandon an Max Horkheimer, Februrar 1936; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an Lloyd K. Garrison, 25.03.1941; 4 Briefe zwischen Moritz Geiger und Max Horkheimer, 01.12.1935, 1935; 1 Lebenslauf von Alvin Johnsson an Friedrich Pollock; 1 Brief von Alvon Johnson an Friedrich Pollock, 39.09.1940; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an Harald Genssler, 04.09.1949; 1 Brief von der George Washington University Washington an Max Horkheimer, 01.03.1939; 2 Briefe von Wolfgang Gerloff an Max Horkheimer, 1934, 1939; 2 Briefe zwsichen Hans Gerth und Max Horkheimer, 28.10.1937, 16.11.1937; 1 Brief von M. Getzer anMax Horkheimer, 04.05.1934; 12 Briefe zwsichen Edgar V. M. Gilbert und Max Horkheimer, 1935-1940; 1 Brief von der Gillespie, Kinsports & Bears Travel Agency New York an Max Horkheimer, 16.04.1935; 1 Entwurf von Max Horkheimer an Morris Ginsberg, Dezember 1935; 19 Briefe zwsichen Morris Ginsberg, Ethel Ginsberg und Max Horkheimer, 1935-1938; 2 Briefe zwischen Robert Morrison MacIver und Max Horkheimer, 18.08.1937, 16.08.1937; 1 Brief von H. Girsberger an Max Horkheimer, 17.08.1938; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an Glass, 24.12.1940; 1 Brief von der Glidden Buick Corporation New York an Max Horkheimer, 05.06.1940; 1 Heiratsanzeige von Vera Gold; 4 Briefe zwischen Oskar Goldberg und Max Horkheimer, 1941, 27.08.1941; 10 Briefe zwischen Hans Goldmann und Max Horkheimer, 1934-1937; 14 Briefe zwischen Alfons Goldschmidt und Max Horkheimer, 1936-1938; 7 Briefe zwsichen dem Greater New York Coordinating Committee for German Refugees, New York und Max Horkheimer, 1937-1939; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an Simon Guggenheim, 24.01.1938; 3 Briefe zwischen Aron Goldschmidt und Max Horkheimer, 02.02.1939, Mai 1942; 2 Briefe zwischen Berta Goldschmidt und Max Horkheimer, 14.01.1941, 25.02.1941; 4 Briefe von Emma Goldschmidt an Juliette Favez, 1938-1940; 5 Briefe zwischen Emma Goldschmidt und Max Horkheimer, 1938-1940; 2 Briefe zwischen Ernst L. Goldschmidt und Max Horkheimer, 08.07.1937, 18.06.1937; 1 Brief von Thea Goldschmidt an Max Horkheimer, 16.04.1935; 14 Briefe zwischen Kurt Goldstein und Max Horkheimer, 1934-1941; 19 Briefe zwsichen Gerhart Jacoby Gordon und Max Horkheimer, 1934-1937;

Los primeros sobrevivientes de la Shoa en Argentina : su imagen y memoria en la sociedad general y judía: 1945-50 (Primera Parte)

En la primera parte de esta indagación histórica se explora la imagen de los sobrevivientes en la sociedad general, con el trasfondo de la política inmigratoria argentina del peronismo entre 1946-50 que discriminaba a los refugiados judíos; después se indaga el lugar de la ayuda a esos sobrevivientes dentro de las prioridades de la comunidad judía organizada. Finalmente, se aborda un aspecto aún no investigado: el esfuerzo solitario de sus familiares residentes en Argentina para procurar, de organizaciones locales comunitarias e internacionales judías, el ingreso y socorro a los sobrevivientes que fueron localizados en los campos de personas desplazadas (DPs) y en otros lugares de Europa. Además se explora el impacto y memoria de la Shoa en los esfuerzos de reconstitución comunitaria a nivel institucional y educativa de la Kheila de Buenos Aires, realizados durante los primeros años de posguerra cuando la ayuda a los sobrevivientes que empezaban a arribar a Argentina quedó librada a la solitaria solidaridad de sus familiares locales y de asociaciones de coterráneos. Dada su extensión, aquí se publica la primera parte de este trabajo, el cual será completado en el número siguiente

Francisco Romero : cartas con intelectuales mexicanos

Francisco Romero (Sevilla, 1891 – Buenos Aires, 1962) es una de las personalidades más significativas de América Latina. Sus escritos, su labor pedagógica, la difusión de su pensamiento y el intercambio epistolar con figuras de renombre internacional dan muestra de ello. En el trabajo nos detenemos en este último aspecto para comprobar su manifiesta intención de construir una red intelectual de filósofos en América Latina. También están presentes las inquietudes editoriales tanto de Romero, como de sus pares mexicanos. Asimismo hacemos hincapié en el tópico del exilio y la Guerra Civil Española (1936–1939) a través de las cartas que el autor argentino recibió de algunos refugiados en México. El análisis de esta fuente histórica nos permite ver el estado del campo intelectual (preferentemente filosófico) de la región en los años estudiados, al mismo tiempo que indica un panorama valioso del contexto histórico argentino y de América Latina.

Entre Francia y la Argentina : las redes humanitarias de la expatriación catalana republicana en la segunda posguerra

Este artículo se propone analizar el universo de prácticas humanitarias en la expatriación catalana republicana en la segunda posguerra mundial haciendo foco en el papel jugado por el intercambio epistolar que se desarrolló entre Francia y la Argentina; y en el modo en que esa correspondencia entre víctimas, familiares, testigos y benefactores localizados a ambos lados del Atlántico permite dar cuenta del funcionamiento de redes de circulación transnacional de ayuda solidaria no exentas de tensiones políticas. El trabajo pretende complejizar el tradicional enfoque estado-nación céntrico de los estudios sobre el exilio republicano español desde el interés por la reconstrucción de los vínculos e interconexiones epistolares entre comunidades de la expatriación (refugiados, evacuados, emigrados, exiliados) en orden a la cimentación de aquellas estrategias y proyectos de ayuda que tuvieron como protagonista al Comité Pro Catalans Refugiats a França del Casal de Catalunya de Buenos Aires. Partimos del supuesto de que la correspondencia constituyó en el mundo disperso de la emigración y el exilio entre la guerra civil española y la segunda posguerra mundial, uno de los instrumentos fundamentales de construcción de puentes, de cimentación de vínculos y de materialización de proyectos colectivos.

Singularidad, anomalía, diferencia, olvido : La derrota de los republicanos españoles en Francia. El testimonio de Diario a dos voces de José María y Manuel Lamana

Diario a dos voces, escrito por José María y Manuel Lamana -padre e hijo- ofrece el testimonio de los respectivos itinerarios de los dos autores por distintos campos de concentración franceses a donde fueron conducidos después de cruzar los Pirineos tras la caída de la II República. El inusual texto de doble autoría y doble fecha de escritura tiene el poder de recuperar un hecho poco conocido de la historia europea del pasado siglo y, al mismo tiempo, desatar reflexiones sobre los rasgos atípicos de un episodio concentracionario ocurrido bajo el arbitrio de un estado democrático. La experiencia, pese a reunir características particulares, se confundirá poco después, sin solución de continuidad, con en el horror de las deportaciones y el exterminio nazis.

El sur de Córdoba en peligro : Acerca de la articulación entre ranqueles y refugiados unitarios (1841)

La Frontera Sur de Córdoba formó parte de la larga extensión conocida como Frontera Sur argentina, con la cual comparte un conjunto de relaciones estructurales definidas no sólo por la desgarradora experiencia de la guerra sino también por el cruce, las conexiones y el diálogo inter-cultural. El trabajo se ocupa de la vinculación de los ranqueles con los unitarios que se refugiaron en las tolderías después de la derrota de las fuerzas de Gregorio Aráoz de Lamadrid que ocupó Córdoba en 1840. Procura establecer cómo la articulación de estas dos fuerzas sociales afectó el ejercicio de la soberanía por parte del gobierno provincial. Se sostiene que los ataques ranqueles integrados por refugiados unitarios habrían puesto en cuestionamiento el ejercicio del poder territorial por parte del Estado provincial