Search Results (34)

Jordan is a relatively small country with limited natural resources, but it faces a burgeoning demand for water, energy, and food to accommodate a growing population, refugee migration, and the challenges of climate change that will persist through the rest of this century. Jordan’s Main Water Conveyance System is the backbone of distributing scarce water resources to meet domestic and agricultural demands. Therefore, understanding how the future energy requirements of this system may change is critical for managing the country’s water, energy, and food resources. This paper applied a water balance model to calculate the energy consumption of Jordan’s Main Water Conveyance System between 2015 and 2050, and the results point to high energy requirements for the future of distributing Jordan’s water. In the base year of 2015, the unmet water demand was 134.55 MCM, and the supplied water volume delivered was 438.75 MCM, while the energy consumption was 1496.7 GWh. The energy intensities for water conveyance and water treatment were 7.11 kWh/m³ and 0.5 kWh/m³, respectively. We examined five scenarios of future water and energy demand within Jordan: a reference scenario, a continuation of current behavior, two scenarios incorporating improved water management strategies, and a pessimistic scenario with no interventions. According to all scenarios, the energy consumption is expected to be doubled by the year 2050, reaching approximately 3172 GWh. It is recommended that Jordan prioritizes solar-powered conveyance and pumping to reduce the projected doubling of energy demand by 2050. Across all scenarios, the demand for nonrenewable energy associated with water conveyance is projected to rise significantly, particularly in the absence of renewable integration or efficiency interventions. Total water demand is expected to increase by up to 35% by 2050, with urban and agricultural sectors being the primary contributors. Full article

Our study aimed to explore the lived experiences of Venezuelan refugee/migrant women and girls with disabilities to guide humanitarian assistance. The data analysed was part of a larger cross-sectional study whereby refugees and migrants in Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil were asked to share the migration experiences of a Venezuelan woman or girl. The sample for this analysis was drawn from one of the survey questions that asked participants whether the woman/girl in the narrative identified as a person with a disability. Thematic analysis using inductive coding was performed. A total of 126 narratives were included in the final analysis, of which four major themes were identified. Venezuelan refugees and migrants with disabilities described experiences of discrimination, violence, and physical challenges, such as exacerbation of symptoms while in transit. In host countries, refugees and migrants experienced a lack of disability-related accommodations in the workplace and long wait times when trying to obtain healthcare. Since discrimination is a cross-cutting issue, human rights awareness highlighting the dignity of persons with disabilities is imperative. Resources and support for Venezuelan refugee and migrant women and girls with disabilities should aim to create accessible employment opportunities, safe and timely access to medical care, and prioritise violence prevention. Full article

This article addresses the development of a human-centered shelter design tailored to meet the specific needs of refugees in the Al-Sahel Region. It focuses on five essential aspects of humanitarian-centered design. The goal is to create a livable unit that accommodates the three distinct phases of an emergency, transitional, and durable situation. We have adopted a non-linear design approach to develop the refugee shelter unit. We engage in discussions with team experts following each data collection phase. The conceptual design of the shelter unit is intended to align with the refugee settlement’s natural growth while maintaining a degree of control over its evolution. We have outlined a spatial configuration for a residential unit designed for three to six individuals and various patio options. Additionally, we have devised plans for an education and healthcare facility, all designed with the same structure to bring a more organized approach to the organic growth of the camp. The design proposal adopts a process-oriented approach, incorporating refugees indirectly in the design and construction of their shelters. While we do not assert that the framework of a ‘refugee camp’ can be sustainable, our goal is to show that its planning, in the absence of alternatives, should adhere to sustainability criteria. Full article

Accessible and high-quality urban green space (UGS) can provide significant benefits to refugee children for their development, health, and well-being. However, few studies have examined the actual accessibility of UGS from refugee children’s perspectives (i.e., with restricted walking radius, particular vulnerability towards barriers such as traffic infrastructures and disconnected road forms) and related them with other environmental or social burdens under the context of environmental justice. It is necessary to explore related evidence and investigate the underlying causes since refugee facilities are primarily located in areas with restricted social and environmental resources strongly related to attributes of environmental justice. This paper investigated (1) availability, accessibility, and attractiveness of UGS in 30 refugee accommodation locations in Berlin using GIS and Space Syntax, (2) environmental burdens using the Berlin Atlas of Environmental Justice, and (3) neighbourhood characteristics. Findings indicate that 63% of refugee accommodations have availability of green space that is above average official standards, but from refugee children’s perspectives, 60% of the locations have limited access to UGS, lower attractive green spaces, and most locations face multi-environmental burdens. Currently, little guidance focuses on ensuring equal access to and the usability of UGS for specific socioeconomic and demographic groups, such as refugee children. Therefore, this paper has contributed empirical materials to begin such research and develop inclusive decision-making strategies in environmental and health policy to ensure the provision and high quality of UGS for refugee children who need it. Full article

This study explores the mental health challenges encountered by Sri Lankan camp refugees, a population often marginalized in mental health research, and analyzes a range of factors including socio-demographic characteristics, living conditions in camps, and psychological variables. In quantitative mental health research, linear regression serves as a conventional approach for assessing the influence of diverse factors on mental health outcomes. However, this method fails to accommodate non-linear relationships between mental health variables and predictors and relies on stringent model assumptions that often do not align with real-world conditions. This study introduces a model-agnostic, advanced machine learning/artificial intelligence (ML/AI) technique, glmboost, as a viable alternative to linear regression. The glmboost algorithm is capable of fitting non-linear prediction models while also conducting variable selection. Moreover, the coefficients obtained from the glmboost model retain the same interpretability as those derived from linear regression. While the glmboost model identifies several key factors including post-migration living difficulties, post-traumatic stress disorder, difficulty in sleeping, poor family functioning, and lower informal support from families as markers of declining mental well-being among the Sri Lankan refugees, the linear regression overlooks vital predictors such as family functioning and family support, highlighting the importance of utilizing advanced ML/AI techniques like glmboost to comprehensively capture complex relationships between predictor variables and mental health outcomes among refugee populations. Thus, by introducing a novel, data-driven approach to mental health risk assessment, this study paves the way for more precise and efficient analyses and interventions in refugee settings, with the potential for improved resource allocation and personalized support, thus revolutionizing mental health service delivery in challenging environments. Additionally, it contributes to the academic discussion on refugee mental health while emphasizing the pivotal role of advanced data analytics in addressing complex health issues within humanitarian contexts. Full article

Recent treatment of accommodation and arrival infrastructures for asylum seekers and refugees has fuelled international research on refugee reception policies in urban environments and on the consequences of related initiatives of the European Union and international organizations such as the UNHCR. Using Athens as a case study, this article provides empirical evidence to revive the theoretical treatment of the importance of arrival and accommodation infrastructures in urban areas in transition. We collected and compiled data from four sources: the 2011 population census, the 2018 ESTIA accommodation program and the UNHCR Site Management Support (SMS) Reports of Temporary Accommodation Sites and Reception and Identification Centres (RICs), and a primary survey of services for asylum seekers and refugees. After the geocoding of data, we calculate indices for key dimensions of the segregation of accommodated asylum seekers and foreign nationals. We discuss the findings, seeking to highlight how the location and the composition of accommodation infrastructures has been influenced by a wider process of urban change and adaptations to global forces, leading not only to the transformation of inner-city zones but also suburban and peri-urban areas. Full article

Shelters are vital for affected people after a disaster because of the accommodation, safety, and security. In this paper, we analyze the shelter site selection criteria for disaster preparedness applying the best–worst method under interval type-2 fuzzy sets. The proposed approach utilizes the advantages of fewer pairwise comparisons with the best–worst method and better reflection of uncertainty with interval type-2 fuzzy sets. For this reason, the criteria are determined based on a literature review and the opinion of nine disaster experts. The experts have worked as disaster officers in a variety of locations, including Sivrice (Elazığ), Pazarcık, and Elbistan (Kahramanmaras) and Syrian refugee camps such as Nizip container city. In this step, 6 main criteria and 25 sub-criteria are evaluated using the proposed approach. According to the nine experts’ opinions, the most important main criterion is determined as proximity. Distribution center capacity, adequate distribution logistics personnel, available electricity, distance to settlement, and landslides and flooding are also determined as the five most important sub-criteria. For disaster preparedness, responsible organizations and managers should consider these important criteria for temporary shelter site selection. Full article

In this article, we argue that Direct Provision in Ireland is a state approved form of gendered carcerality which creates and exacerbates conditions of gendered violence. Direct Provision is a system of processing asylum seekers in Ireland where they are temporarily provided accommodation while they wait for a decision on their refugee status claim. This article shows how carceral practices are layered and gendered, making some spaces and bodies more carceral than others. These carceralities increase the institutional burden which agglomerates in human bodies and makes the lives of an already precarious population unliveable. Through a review of the strategies adopted by the government in relation to migrants, undocumented workers and asylum seekers, this article shows how the gendered experiences of certain asylum seekers like mothers and sexual violence survivors become the political site where state approved carceral practices and gendered violence merge. Full article

Land management in crises requires quick solutions, which, without proper knowledge and experience, can lead to harmful interventions in established cities. In this regard, when choosing areas for placing critical infrastructure, such as temporary residences for refugees or field hospitals, it is essential to take into account not only the existing experience of scientists and experts on the topic but also the opinions of those who are intended to benefit from these services and of the people who live nearby. The purpose of this study was to identify the needs and opinions regarding the placement of critical infrastructure and facilities for those forcibly displaced as a result of the war in Ukraine (based on the example of Lviv, Ukraine) and the effects on the residents of Warsaw (Poland) as a city that faced a powerful wave of migrants from Ukraine. In the summer of 2022, a survey of 81 internally displaced persons who lived in two modular towns in Lviv was conducted. During 2022–2023, the residents of Warsaw were surveyed concerning the essential criteria for emergency site locations and their attitudes toward refugees from Ukraine. The results of our research showed that for internally displaced persons in temporary shelters in Lviv, it was vital to provide for their basic needs, along with a sense of security, and to encourage the unity of the people living nearby. A significant result of the survey indicated the necessary yet undesirable infrastructure facilities within a radius of up to 1 km around residents’ homes. It was determined that the most important objects, which should be placed within the limits of pedestrian accessibility, were bomb shelters, medical institutions, centers for administrative services, and others. In return, the most undesirable infrastructure facilities were military facilities, burial sites, and memorial complexes, etc. The results of the Warsaw survey were related to the criteria for choosing sites for the placement of significant critical infrastructure facilities and also demonstrated the positive attitude of the citizens toward the immigrants from Ukraine and their readiness to help if needed. The results could serve as a solid basis for the selection of plots for constructing temporary accommodation for refugees and internally displaced persons in European cities during crisis events. Full article

In the efforts to mitigate the ongoing humanitarian crisis at the European sea borders, this work builds detection capabilities to help find refugee boats in distress. For this paper, we collected dual-pol and quad-pol synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data over a 12 m rubber inflatable in a test-bed lake near Berlin, Germany. To consider a real scenario, we prepared the vessel so that its backscattering emulated that of a vessel fully occupied with people. Further, we collected SAR imagery over the ocean with different sea states, categorized by incidence angle and by polarization. These were used to emulate the conditions for a vessel located in ocean waters. This setup enabled us to test nine well-known vessel-detection systems (VDS), to explore the capabilities of new detection algorithms and to benchmark different combinations of detectors (detector fusion) with respect to different sensor and scene parameters (e.g., the polarization, wind speed, wind direction and boat orientation). This analysis culminated in designing a system that is specifically tailored to accommodate different situations and sea states. Full article

Following the announcement of the retreat of troops from Afghanistan, the Spanish Government organised the so-called “Antigone Operation” for the evacuation of Afghan collaborators. The most relevant ministries were involved in the response. The Ministry of Health, through the Foreign Health Department, performed the health control on arrival. The whole operation was conducted at an air base. It included the health control of refugees composed of temperature measurement, a basic visual control and a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) rapid antigen test for those over 12 years of age; the assessment of their basic needs (food and hygiene); identification and security procedures; and the initial administrative processing. The refugees were accommodated in a temporary facility at the base, where they waited to be transferred to their final destinations. Between 19 and 27 August 2021, 2168 refugees arrived on 17 flights; 680 of them were children under 12 years of age. One thousand four hundred and ninety-nine rapid antigen tests were performed, with one positive result. “Antigone Operation” is unprecedented in Spain and is one of the most complex operations carried out in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic required the establishment of a health control system on arrival, performed by Foreign Health, which contributed significantly to the overall success of the operation. Full article

As research subjects, refugees have numerous potential vulnerabilities. This study aimed to examine the ethics- and trauma-informed challenges of implementing a mental health research protocol with Syrian refugees living in Portugal. Guided by the integrated meaning-making model, the research project “Journeys in Meaning” employed a mixed-methods cross-sectional design to explore posttraumatic cognitive processing in refugees using two phases of data collection: two focus groups (Phase 1) to test the protocol and 39 in-depth individual interviews (Phase 2) to implement the protocol. Results examine the strategies used to address the following: methodological challenges related to protocol design, participant recruitment, and language; ethics- and trauma-informed challenges aimed at minimizing harm and maximizing benefit to participants that followed social justice principles; and perceived compassion fatigue on the part of the researcher following repeated empathetic exposure to traumatic content. Findings suggest the need for adaptive approaches to research with refugee populations that challenge strict compliance with the traditional principles of “do no harm” and researcher neutrality, and that accommodate individual and community complexities. Full article

Being able to explore and play in quality open spaces in the neighbourhood is crucial for refugee children since refugee facilities often have inadequate playspaces indoors and outdoors. Access to meso-environment playspaces (around refugee accommodations) would provide refugee children with the opportunity for optimal physical, cognitive, emotional and social development and support their social inclusion. This study explores refugee children’s access to play areas in meso environments with six study sites in Berlin. Active space for refugee children’s play is assessed using: (1) open-source data collection, (2) method notions of perceived distance and spaces, (3) staff survey with site investigation and (4) space syntax theories of potential accessibility. Results indicated the fact of unequal playspace distributions for refugee children in Berlin with children-oriented assessment. The utilisation of space syntax in the context of refugee children is relatively unexplored. This study is thereby contributing to the space syntax literature by exploring the broader application potential of its methods. Further studies should broaden study sites with more precise environmental measures. Full article

The recent COVID-19 pandemic uncovered some already existing but somewhat hidden inequalities in different countries. Many features of inequalities that pre-existed the COVID-19 pandemic for a long time were uncovered due to this radical shift in living arrangements globally. This paper focuses on one particular feature of these inequalities: housing situation of one Iranian asylum seeker in a heim (refugee accommodation) in Germany. Contributing to an understanding of how political resistance can be exercised through personal biographies, the paper differentiates between the notion of ‘unhome’ from home by discussing three factors: choice, anchor and the significant of others. The paper contributes to the growing scholarships around home in migration and its intersection with personal narratives. Full article

The study aims to evaluate the Knowledge, Attitude and Perception (KAP) of different societal groups concerning the implementation of targeted community-based mosquito surveillance and control interventions in different citizenship regimes. Targeted surveys were carried out within Malakasa camp for migrants and refugees, neighboring residential areas and urban areas in the wider Athens metropolitan area to investigate different knowledge levels and the role that both local and migrant communities can play in the implementation of community-based interventions based on their attitudes and perceptions. A scoring system was used to rate the collected responses. Results indicate different levels of KAP among the various groups of respondents and different priorities that should be considered in the design and execution of community interventions. Findings indicate a lower level of Knowledge Attitudes and Perceptions for the migrants, while the rate of correct answers for Perception significantly improved for migrants following a small-scale information session. The study highlights disparities in the levels of knowledge for certain public health issues and the feasibility of certain approaches for alleviating health-related challenges such as mosquito-borne diseases. Findings suggest that essential preparedness is needed by public authorities to respond to public health challenges related to migration and the spread of vector-borne diseases. Full article