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Refugees and Migration

Seven-year-old Pedro with his dog. Many from his community in Mexico seek work in the US but CAFOD partner Fomento is helping migrant workers improve their situation [Sarah Smith-Pearse]

War, natural disaster, persecution, or the search for work, are all reasons for millions of people to leave their homes and seek refuge elsewhere

Refugees should receive the same rights and support as any other foreigner who is a legal resident – including the right to work, freedom and movement and from degrading treatment. They also should have access to medical care and schooling

Internally displaced persons are those who flee their homes for the same reasons as refugees, but remain within their own country.

Urbanisation

An economic migrant is someone who leaves an area or a country voluntarily to seek work and a better life. In many countries, people migrate from the countryside to the cities in search of work.

More than 600 million urban dwellers in poor countries live in what the World Health Organisation regards as life- and health-threatening conditions, due to overcrowded housing, dangerous land sites and lack of basic services.

For poor communities, urbanisation results in high costs for essentials such as transport, education and housing – many households in cities spend more than a third of their income on rent and face high prices for water and other services.

Girl stands at a refugee camp in Kibati near Goma in eastern Congo November 9, 2008 [REUTERS/Finbarr O' Reilly, courtesy www.alertnet.org]

Rebels cause further suffering

Over the past two months thousands have been left homeless, dozens killed, and hundreds of children and young adults abducted by the Ugandan Lord Resistance Army (LRA) operating in Northern Congo

Tanjibul, 14, is a community disaster risk volunteer. He helps organise evacuations to the nearest cycline shelter when early warnings are sounded [CAFOD]

Surviving the weather in Bangladesh

Benedict D’Rozario and Mizanur Bijoy from Caritas Bangladesh and Prodipan tell us how climate change affects life in Bangladesh

Nuns listen to a speech by a Christian leader in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata August 29, 2008 [REUTERS/JAYANTA SHAW, courtesy www.alertnet.org]

Christians forced to flee after attacks in India

The CIDSE network, of which CAFOD is a member, is calling for “immediate action” to end ongoing violence in Orissa, eastern India

CAFOD partner International Aid Network (IAN) is using footbal to help refugee children integrate into Serbian society. [Photo:]

Playing for hope and a future

The International Aid Network is using football to help refugees in Serbia integrate into society

Advent Appeal 2008

CAFOD Advent Appeal: Please send a message of support to kids this Advent at a special school run by a CAFOD partner

Shine a light in the darkness

Please sign our petition calling on the world's largest mining company to listen to communities in the Philippines worried about the effect mining will have on their land - plus send a personal message of solidarity to the people of Macambol

World Gifts 2008: Gifts that make a world of difference

Buy a World Gift

Browse our new range of alternative gifts that act as two presents in one – something for you to give to friends or a relative, while the real gift changes the life of someone living in poverty

Published on 30/07/2003, last updated on 05/02/2008

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