An Analysis of Attempts by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Solving Immigrants and Refugees Problem in the SADC Region: A Case of South Africa

Sustainable learning for refugee children in South African primary schools: A theoretical approach

“…The situation faced by the refugee population daily is contradictory to the provisions of the international framework protecting the rights of all children irrespective of their social, economic and racial status. For example, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 4,16 guarantees all children's rights to safety and education as indicated in Articles 28 and 29 of the document.…”

“…The UNHCR made it clear that the refugee population across the world are continually faced with a host of challenges accessing different services in their countries of residence. 4,16 For example, Koehler, 23 Another study in the United States suggests that Syrian refugee children in Germany and Lebanon were faced with a number of challenges related to coping and integrating effectively into the educational system of their host countries. 24 In South Africa, several complex and unexplained barriers often stand in the way of asylum seekers and refugee family's access to basic amenities, such as health, social welfare and education.…”

“…South Africa constitutes one of the countries accepting a high number of refugees on a daily basis, particularly refugees from the neighbouring South African countries. 4 Although it was observed in the report by the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR), 2018 that the actual number of refugees and asylum seekers in the country as at mid-2018 cannot be easily determined because of a number of concerns raised by different stakeholders. These concerns relate to the methods of data gathering adopted by the Department of Home Affairs and the uniqueness of South Africa's 'nonencampment' policy which meant that refugees in South Africa are allowed to settle in any part of the country provided they have the right documentations and means of sustenance.…”

Interventions supporting the integration of refugee children in the primary school life: Roles of the child’s contexts of development

“…As a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the South African government signed the United Nations 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees, and the 1969 Africa Refugee Convention Act as such is saddled with the responsibility of protecting anyone who, because of the fear of being persecuted or as a result of conflict, natural disaster or civil strife, flee their countries of residence to seek asylum in other countries. 3,4 Consequently, they are faced with the responsibility of 'achieving development and economic growth, alleviating poverty, enhancing the standard and quality of life of the peoples of Southern Africa, and supporting the socially disadvantaged through regional integration'. 3 In spite of this recognition and responsibilities placed on individual countries based on both the national and international legal frameworks, children from the refugee background tend to be on the margins of society, and because of difficulties around documentation and access to other services including education, social welfare and health, their successful integration into the host countries proves to be challenging.…”

“…3,4 Consequently, they are faced with the responsibility of 'achieving development and economic growth, alleviating poverty, enhancing the standard and quality of life of the peoples of Southern Africa, and supporting the socially disadvantaged through regional integration'. 3 In spite of this recognition and responsibilities placed on individual countries based on both the national and international legal frameworks, children from the refugee background tend to be on the margins of society, and because of difficulties around documentation and access to other services including education, social welfare and health, their successful integration into the host countries proves to be challenging. 5,6 Regardless of the reasons for migration, generally, the refugee population continue to experience a host of challenges and continue to struggle for survival in their countries of first asylum and/or host country.…”