“Internally displaced persons, or
IDPs, are among the world’s most vulnerable people. Unlike refugees, IDPs have
not crossed an international border to find sanctuary but have remained inside
their home countries. Even if they have fled for similar reasons as refugees
(armed conflict, generalized violence, human rights violations), IDPs legally
remain under the protection of their own government”  SOURCE UNHCR

 

"Latest figures from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) estimate that more than 19.3 million people
were forced to flee their homes by disasters in 100 countries in 2014.
Hundreds of thousands more are still displaced following disasters in
previous years… This annual report, the sixth of its kind, draws on information from a
wide range of sources, including governments, UN and international
organisations, NGOs and media, to provide up-to-date figures and
analysis on displacement caused by disasters associated with rapid-onset
geophysical and weather-related hazards such as earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions, floods and storms". 

 

Click on the image above to go to IDMC and view the report:

 

On 10 December, Human Rights Day, the President’s Appeal 2015-17  ‘Educate to Lead: Nepal’ will
be officially launched.  Sharon Fisher, Soroptimist International Assistant Director of Advocacy says: "As news continues to arrive from
Nepal, we are hearing the situation on the ground continues to be extremely
difficult. Essential supplies have been blocked at the border, preventing
access to daily needs for things like fuel for cooking, not to mention
materials needed to rebuild houses and other infrastructure damaged in the
earthquake.  With your help, the SI
President’s Appeal will bring hope to women
and girls, through projects that will increase access to education allowing
them to rebuild their lives".

 

Click on the image above to read the introduction about the December 10 President’s Appeal.  

 

Video: ‘Before the Crisis, a Plan to Protect: Disaster Risk Reduction’ – Women’s Refugee Commission

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Although refugees and internally displaced persons are
considered to be separate groups, they face many of the same problems. At significant risk of gender-based violence and trafficking,
women and girls are left vulnerable. In addition to providing resources to
physically help the situation that refugees and internally displaced people
find themselves in, services and psycho-social support is also critical. By
supporting women and girls through education, counselling and providing a sense
of community, they are empowered to be more secure and equipped to help
themselves.

“Globally today, we are witnessing
an inexorable intensification of violence in the world’s armed conflicts. The
result is that there are currently 59.5 million refugees worldwide.” Marija
Obradovic, United Nations University.

On 23 October UNHCR said it was
concerned by “credible testimonies" it had received of abuse of refugee and
migrant women and children on the move in Europe. UNHCR spokesperson Melissa
Fleming told a news conference in Geneva: “Refugee and migrant children
moving in Europe are at heightened risk of violence and abuse, including sexual
violence, especially in overcrowded reception sites, or in many locations where
refugees and migrants gather, such as parks, train stations, bus stations and
roadsides.”

So far this year, more than 644,000
refugees and migrants have arrived in Europe by
sea. Of these, just over a third – 34 per cent – are women and children who are particularly vulnerable to
abuse as they transit Europe, UNHCR said.

 

More than four years since the Syria crisis began in 2011,
stories depicting families desperately seeking refuge have now become common
place in the headlines of the worldwide press. Men, women and children cross
borders into Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq, attempting dangerous journeys,
facing terrible uncertainty. What is and always has been a human story – a
human crisis, is now being portrayed as such, on social media and in the pages
of international newspapers.

Read our feature ‘Syria Back to School’ about the work of Soroptimists and UNICEF by clicking on the image above.

  

Active Soroptimist
(AKTIV SOROPTIMIST) Ringerike Soroptimistklubb

Hvalsmoen Trancit Center is
the second largest center for asylum seekers in Norway. The center is run by Hero and is located
in beautiful surroundings outside Hønefoss (Ringerike region). They have 250
permanent residents.. but overall, they may receive 650 or more. Children and
young people who live at the center, stay there for a period of 2-6 weeks, sometimes longer, often up to several months.

 

Each month the club arranges 2 hour
activities in cooperation with local clubs and associations (Athletics Club,
Hønefoss scout Group, Skiing Clubs, football team, Schools, Norwegian Trekking
Association (DNT Ringerike) and more). In addition to this, the club collects clothes for the children and adults and Christmas gifts from the ‘Soroptimist – Santa’
each year. In the Summer of 2015, the club arranged additional activities including football for
the older minors and children’s activities for smaller children. Nine youths from
Hønefoss have also been engaged as ‘activators’ for six days during the summer. A plan for
monthly activities is devised by the club, in cooperation with local school classes, NGOs, sport clubs and scouts and children and parents who stay at
the local Trancit Center for asylum seekers are all invited. The activities are free
and last for two to three hours. Activities include Santa Claus visits, snow
activities, skiing, scout activities, orienteering and cooking. Most
activities are outdoor, or at the Trancit center.

 

The club aims to
improve the women and children’s everyday experience in a Trancit center,
by giving them meaningful activities and linking  together with
Norwegian children and youths. AKTIV SOROPTIMIST became the
largest collaborator and volunteer group around Hvalsmoen Trancit center and
has participated in visits from ministers in Norway.  Their work has inspired several others to become part of their
activities. With the refugee  situation this year, a lot of volunteers
are ready to help. Now a new group – Refugees – Welcome to Ringerike, has the
responsibility for collecting clothes. Other Groups are knitting (Strikk for
Syria), and some teachers teach Norwegian twice a week. All volunteers will now
gather to make a coordinated difference around Hvalsmoen. The participants from
the the Trancit center and the Norwegian youths express great joy and gratitude.

In Autumn, the club were looking to evaluate the project and they hope to
continue into 2016. The Trancit center wish to continue the Collaboration With the
Soroptimist Club.