Getting Familiar with Databases & Searches

UNHCR Population Statistics Database
Yesterday, I met with Ms. Koble, one of the professors leading my independent study. The meeting was extremely helpful. She gave me the debrief on what I had already done and provided me with 2 new database to get familiar with, one of them being: the UNHCR Population Statistics Database. At first glance, I was astonished at how absolutely comprehensive the database is. I read the UNHCR Population Statistics Database General Notes. Here, I gathered important information. For example, the fact that Palestinian refugees are not included in their statistics. Instead, they are under a special agency: the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The UNHCR data specifically is on the following populations: refugees, asylum-seekers, returned refugees, IDP, returned IDPs, stateless persons, and others of concern to UNHCR.

Define:
Others of concern:
refers to individuals who do not necessarily fall directly into any of the groups above, but to whom UNHCR extends its protection and/or assistance services, based on humanitarian or other special grounds.

I also read the UNHCR Statistical Online Population Database: Sources, Methods, and Data Considerations. The three main providers are government agencies, UNHCR field offices, and NGO's. The UNHCR also details the strengths,  weaknesses, difficulties, and limitations of collecting this type of data.

The actual database itself seems very extensive and allows for very specific searches. Based off the two pictures I selected for today's post, I decided to test out searching for information by selecting the following:

The results showed there are over 30,000 refugees and 14,000 asylum seekers residing in Germany in the year of 2012. Another example, is that 

France had over 3,000 refugees from the Congo the same year. Unfortunately, the oldest year the data goes back is to 2000. I cross referenced UCDP/PRIO Armed Conflicts Dataset and the UNHCR Dataset by using my list of internal conflicts to enter in information into the Population Statistics database. 

The Journal of Refugee Studies:
Another useful reference I learned about was The Journal of Refugee Studies. A new volume comes out every two - three months and first began in 1988. I have been skimming through the titles of articles. I read the abstract for those that I find to be applicable to our topic. So far, other than very specific cases, I have not found many articles that pertain to the information I am seeking.

Introduction

It only seems appropriate to start my research on the subject of refugees soon after June 20^th, World Refugee day. World Refugee Day was established in late 2000 by the United Nations.

"There are now more than 45 million refugees and internally displaced people – the highest level in nearly 20 years"

- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Introduction:

For the next month, I will be doing research on the difference in migration patterns amother other interesting characteristics on the subject of refugees. I will start by particularly looking at high and low skilled refugees coming from states with internal conflicts. It is safe to assume that in most cases, the high skilled population in a country has a higher chance than the low skilled population of leaving a country once they sense internal turmoil. This the case for a multitude of reasons including: higher chance of getting accepted to obtain a visa, sufficient funds to relocate themselves and their families, and education and skills that allow for job opportunities in other countries. I will be looking at conflicts from the last 20 to 25 years. My goal is to find literature and statistics that pertain to the difference in cost-benefit analysis, the difference in amount of time it takes to flee country when conflict begins, and other interesting information on high and low skilled refugees.

Define:
I determined it would be best to begin with a few essential definitions of terms that I will be seeing regularly throughout my journey. While trying to cover the bases, I found this helpful poster:

In addition to this, I believe the following terms are also essential:

Diaspora: 

the dispersion of any people from their original homeland (Oxford dictionary)

Forced Migration:

 a general term that refers to the movements of refugees, internally displaced people (those displaced by conflicts, within their country of origin) as well as people displaced by natural or environmental disaster, chemical or nuclear disasters, famine, or development projects. (UNHCR)

Return Refugee: 

The population category of Returned refugees refers to refugees who have returned to their country of origin. In returnee situations, UNHCR seeks to reintegrate former refugees as soon as possible by targeting both returnees as well as receiving communities. Partners are actively engaged to provide development assistance. For statistical purposes, only refugees who have returned during the calendar year (January-December) are included in the population of concern to UNHCR. In practice, operations may assist returnees for longer or shorter periods, however.(UNHCR)

Return IDP:

Returned IDPs refers to internally displaced persons who have returned to their place of origin or habitual residence. In returnee situations, UNHCR seeks to reintegrate former IDPs as soon as possible by targeting both returnees as well as receiving communities. Partners are actively engaged to provide development assistance. For statistical purposes, only IDPs who have returned during the calendar year (January-December) are included in the population of concern to UNHCR. In practice, operations may assist returnees for longer or shorter periods, however.(UNHCR)

UCDP/PRIO Armed Conflict Dataset:

Before diving into different articles, I looked through the UCDP/PRIOArmedConflict Dataset to give myself a well-rounded picture of conflicts that have cause people to cross borders in the last 20 years. Here, I realized the importance of thoroughly reading the code book to fully grasp the set of data I was reading through. I was somewhat surprised to how many states experienced conflict the last 20 years with very few years of peace in between.