World Refugee Day 2014: Former Unicef Worker Claims 'Refugee Data Falsified for Money'
<http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/> Description: IB TimesBy Ludovica Iaccino | IB Times * <https://uk.news.yahoo.com/lightbox/world-refugee-day-2014-former-unicef-wor ker-claims-165143884.html> Description: World Refugee Day 2014: Former Unicef Worker Claims 'Refugee Data Falsified for Money'View Photo World Refugee Day 2014: Former Unicef Worker Claims 'Refugee Data Falsified for A former Unicef employee has accused humanitarian organisations of lying about refugee numbers for more money and said such bodies see camps simply as profit opportunities. In the week that World Refugee Day <http://www.un.org/en/events/refugeeday/> has brought the issue of displaced persons back to global attention, Katungu Bamswekere has claimed that organisations like Unicef falsify data on refugee camps in order to receive more funds. Bamswekere's claim came as the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said the number of refugees and asylum seekers worldwide has exceeded 50 million. Economic and Political Reasons behind Refugee Camps Bamswekere worked for Unicef in Nairobi until 1998, but she resigned as she no longer agreed with the work it carried out. She claims humanitarian organisations do not help refugees re-reintegrate in society, due to "an immense business linked to emergency humanitarian aid." Uganda has a different policy for refugees There are about 317,000 refugees in Uganda, most of whom do not live in refugee camps but are integrated into society. In 2006 Uganda adopted refugee legislation stipulating that refugees have the right to work in the country and live in the community, rather than in special camps. The legislation was defined as a <http://www.unhcr.org/4a3f9e076.html> "model for Africa". "Millions of dollars from the donors, good salaries for expatriate and local staff...there is an underground war about the total number of refugees in each camp," she told IBTimes UK. "This war is based on false data: if you declare 16,000 refugees you will receive money necessary to assist them. If you declare 40,000, you will receive more." Bamswekere said there are also political reasons that keep refugee camps open for long periods. "Most often the refugee camps are utilised by western powers as military bases for guerrillas" she claimed. "For example, the refugee camps in Goma and Bukavu opened from 1994 to 1996 - where almost 800,000 Rwandan refugees lived - were under the control of genocidal forces that killed one million Rwandans in 100 days. "For two years the genocidal forces launched attacks in Rwanda utilising Goma and Bukavu camps to recruit militiamen and carry out military training. UN agencies like UNHCR or Unicef and NGOs were aware. "Refugee camps are just a business for humanitarian workers and very useful to protect and support guerrillas." Long-term refugees unable to reintegrate According to Bamswekere - who also lived in a refugee camp in Uganda after fleeing the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2002 - refugee camps should only be used for short periods of time. "Refugees have no jobs and little money, while being made promises of work that will never come true," she said. "The psychological damage after two years of permanence in refugees camp is almost irreversible [as people lose the] capacity to build a future because of a permanent status of dependence. "After five years, a person will be unable to reintegrate himself in the society of his original country or the host country." "The Ugandan Government doesn't want permanent refugee camps in its territory. After one year, [the government] promotes and facilitates the refugees' re-integration in the Ugandan society," Bamswekere, who now lives in Kampala, said. "You can stay in Uganda as a refugee as long as you want, and build a new life. The only condition is that you will not be involved in political issues of your country or in Uganda. "This policy offers a hope to the refugees." World Refugee Day is Hypocritical Bamswekere said she personally hates World Refugee Day, which brought the issue to international attention this week. "I find it a form of hypocrisy from West countries and the UN: Why should we celebrate our own captivity? "I will like to see African countries to put under trial all countries and humanitarian agencies that are responsible for the worst of the crimes: force human beings to a vegetative live." IBTImes UK contacted Unicef for a comment, but had not received a response at the time of publication. Thé Mulindwas Communication Group "With Yoweri Museveni and Dr. Kiiza Besigye Uganda is in anarchy" Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi "Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni na Dk. Kiiza Besigye Uganda ni katika machafuko"
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