Permanent Refugee Status

Various influences have suggested that millions of people will be displaced by climate, sea level rise, war, disease, etc. The prospect is no longer theoretical. There are now 58,000,000 refugees, which is now only becoming apparent because 600,000 have spread out towards Europe. Refugee status was temporary but has become nearly permanent for many. The average time spent in a refugee camp is now 17 years. A generation is being born that will see camp living as normal. Camps are frequently remote from established infrastructure and opportunities, reinforcing the permanence of residency. Shelter technology is improving, but that is only making refugee camps more livable, not eradicating the causes or creating solutions.

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“Better Than A Tent, Worse Than A House” – Slate