First published in the Baptist Times 3 June 2011
Exploring away from the tourist trail while on holiday in the Gambia, a photographer friend, David Forsyth, came across a community of refugees living in wretched conditions - rundown housing, scarce food and inadequate medication, exploited by local employers - and claiming that for the past ten years they had been denied help with basic needs by the local UN Refugee Council office.
How could this happen? The integrity of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, based on the Geneva Refugee Convention, is established - dating back to the early 1950s, since when the UNHRC has won two Nobel Peace Prizes and helped an estimated 50 million people restart their lives.
UN inspectors from Geneva visit the Gambian office regularly. Yet the refugees believe Geneva may be unaware of their existence. A local pastor explained, 'It is not clear to us if the problems faced by the refugees have been allowed by the UNHRC locally, in Banjul, regionally (Dakar) or internationally (Geneva). That's why we demand investigation at international level.'
When the women's representative received a tip-off that inspectors from Geneva were on their way from Banjul airport, a group of refugees hoping to meet them gathered outside the local office - but staff called police to disperse the 'rabble' before the visitors arrived.
David learned that in Gambia, a country with a population of around 1.5 million, there are around 1500 families from African war zones. The refugees told him that those from neighbouring countries were given aid, but many who had fled violence in Liberia, Ivory Coast, Togo, Senegal and Somalia met further suffering when aid was withheld.
They said refugees' representatives were bypassed; aid was given to some individuals who were instructed, 'Don't tell anyone,' and confidential information about refugees was disclosed to outsiders, putting them at risk.
Some were told they had no official status, or that the 'cessation clause' meant they no longer qualified as refugees, but the pastor confirmed that, under the refugee charter, this was not the case. 'The refugees in question are still recognized by the UNHCR and the Gambian government; they have not yet come to the cessation clause. But a minority suffer continuous intimidation, arrest and harassment because they have not been issued with their ID cards. We have complained over and over again to the UNHCR in Gambia, to no avail.'
Over a few days, David met more than a hundred people, many too frightened to talk but thirty agreed to be video-interviewed. Their stories are shocking.
With no advocacy, food aid or safe shelter, women still traumatised and physically injured by rape have been given jobs locally only on condition they sleep with the bosses. The choice is prostitution or leaving their children to starve.
Education for children, guaranteed by UNHRC agreement, has proved inaccessible for many who, with no transport, food or medical care, simply can't get there or don't have the stamina to concentrate.
One woman in labour was refused admittance to the local hospital because she was a refugee. She was left on the ground outside while she gave birth to her child, which died.
Refugee representatives contacted a local newspaper, which asked the Country Officer for his side of the story. He told the reporter the number of people was small and their needs had been met - then summoned them and said their refugee status had ended and 'Go home now.' Since then, the women's representative and others have been evicted from their makeshift shelters and made homeless.
Community leaders have given David a signed letter, requesting him to contact the UN in Geneva and make their case known.
In human terms, the chance of a small group of non-status refugees being heard against the voice of officialdom is unlikely. Even if heard, they risk a 'solution' that may make their lives even worse.
God help them.
