April 10, 2008

Dear Educator,

Teachers' Corner brings the latest refugee news from around the world to your classroom. The UN Refugee Agency's (UNHCR) E-alert is created for educators like you who are teaching about refugees, human rights, and tolerance. In this update:

1. Iraqi crisis fuels rise in asylum seekers in industrialized world
2. Bird's eye view of a refugee's world
3. News to use

1. Iraqi crisis fuels rise in asylum seekers in industrialized world

For the first time in five years, asylum applications in industrialized countries are on the rise. This increase is largely due to greater numbers of Iraqis seeking asylum. Approximately 338,000 Iraqis applied for asylum last year in 43 industrialized countries, a 10 percent rise compared to 2006. The number of Iraqis applying for asylum almost doubled in one year, from 22,900 in 2006 to 45,200 last year.

Iraqi asylum seekers in industrialized countries, however, represented only 1 percent of the estimated 4.5 million Iraqis uprooted by the conflict, with more than 2.5 million people displaced inside Iraq and another 2 million Iraqis in neighboring countries such as Syria and Jordan.

In 2007, the top five countries of origin of asylum seekers were Iraq (45,200), the Russian Federation (18,800), China (17,100), Serbia (15,400) and Pakistan (14,300). Apart from Iraqis, other groups recording a significant rise in applications last year were Pakistanis (up 87 percent), Syrians (up 47 percent) and Somalis (up 43 percent).

The United States was the main country of destination for asylum seekers in 2007, with an estimated 49,200 new asylum claims in 2007, accounting for 15 percent of all applications in industrialized countries.

Who is an asylum seeker? When people flee their own country and seek sanctuary in another country, they apply for asylum – the right to be recognized as a refugee and receive legal protection and material assistance. An asylum seeker must demonstrate that his or her fear of persecution in his or her home country is well-founded.

For more information about asylum seekers and other helpful terms, download "What is UNHCR?" here.

Read more about the Iraqi refugee crisis.

2. Bird's Eye View of a Refugee's World
Google Earth's new mapping program takes you on a virtual reality tour with the UN refugee agency of some of the world's major displacement crises and the humanitarian efforts aimed at helping the victims.

The first use of this geospatial tool focuses on refugees and displaced people located in remote areas of Chad, Iraq, Colombia and Sudan's volatile Darfur region. Sit in front of your computer and, with a few clicks, see, hear and develop an emotional understanding of what it is like to be a refugee.

Highlighted are not only the physical area of the camp and surrounding country, but key parts of daily life such as education and health in photo, text and video format. Within seconds, Google Earth brings the daily life of a refugee camp into your home thousands of kilometers away.

If you have already downloaded Google Earth, start your journey here.

3. News to use
Mexico: Mexico appoints child protection officers to help young migrants
The Mexican government's National Institute of Migration (NIM) has appointed 68 child protection officers as part of a pilot project aimed at addressing the needs of unaccompanied young migrants arriving in Mexico.
Learn more about refugee children.

United Kingdom: UN refugee agency chief concerned about global food shortages
UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres has expressed concern about the impact of global food shortages on the world's most impoverished people and urged world leaders to support a World Food Programme call for critical funds to address soaring food and fuel prices.
Learn more about nutrition and food security for refugees.

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