What’s the difference between an asylum seeker and a refugee?
Do asylum seekers have the same rights as refugees?
The rights and protections of refugees’ vs migrants
Types of refugees
How ChildFund supports refugees and asylum seekers
Help champion the rights of displaced children
Today people all over the world are making the hardest decision of their lives – to flee their homes and leave behind everything they’ve built in the hope of finding a safer, better future.
Globally, over 110 million people have been forcibly displaced with over 36.4 million classified as refugees. Children now make up around 40 percent of the world’s displaced people andnearly 1 in 3 children living outside their country of birth is a refugee child.
When a child is forced to flee their home, they lose almost everything. They often are at a greater risk of:
being unable to go to school,
a wide range of child protection risks,
violence and abuse including forced marriage,
child exploitation, and;
gender-based violence.
As the number of refugee and asylum-seeking children reach record highs, ChildFund is collaborating with partners in countries such as Moldova, Uganda, and Bangladesh to ensure that all forcibly displaced children can keep learning, stay safe and enjoy their childhood.
Each year on 20 June, the world marks World Refugee Day. An international day designed to champion the rights of refugees and asylum seekers to seek safety and advocate for long term solutions to forced displacement. This World Refugee Day, join us in shining a light on the rights and needs of refugee children. Donate todayand help ensure refugee children can keep learning, stay safe and realise their rights.
What’s the difference between an asylum seeker and a refugee?
With UNHCR predicting that 130.8 million people will be forcibly displaced because of violence, persecution, or disasters by the end of 2024, it is important to know the difference between types of forced displacement. This is because whether a person is classified as a refugee, asylum seeker or internally displaced person will impact the type of support they receive from governments and international organisations like the UN.
What is an asylum seeker?
An asylum seeker is someone who:
has crossed an international border,
and is seeking international protection as a refugee,
but their request for refugee status has not been approved.
All people fleeing war, conflict or repression and seeking protection in another country should be treated equally, no matter where they are from.
What is a refugee?
Refugees are those who:
have been forced to flee their country,
and cross an international border because of war, violence, or a well-founded fear of persecution because of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.
To become legally recognised as a refugee, an individual must apply for asylum.
Therefore, while all refugees were once asylum seekers, not all asylum seekers will receive refugee status.
Refugees are often unable to return home or would face threats to their safety if they did.
In international law, refugees are protected under the 1951 Convention related to the Status of Refugees, which outlines the basic rights that must be afforded to all refugees by national governments. States that have signed the 1951 Convention are obligated to protect refugees and ensure their rights are respected. This means that recognised refugees should be granted the same rights as citizens in the country they are awarded asylum.
What is a forcibly displaced person?
Most forcibly displaced people never cross an international border, and instead remain displaced within their own country. A child, family or community could be displaced within their own country due to a variety of reasons, including conflict, violence, or disasters. At the end of 2022, the number of internally displaced people reached an unprecedented high with over seventy-one million people forced to leave their homes and community.
Do asylum seekers have the same rights as refugees?
When we talk about the difference between an asylum seeker and a refugee there can be confusion about the similarities and differences between the two terms. When listening to the news or reading articles on migration, you might notice the terms refugee and asylum seeker being used interchangeably to describe someone who is seeking protection in another country. Yet, asylum seekers and refugees have distinct legal statuses, which impact their rights and protections. This makes it important for us to know the similarities and differences between the two categories.
Let’s delve into the similarities and differences.
Rights of Asylum Seekers
During the asylum process, asylum seekers often face uncertainty and vulnerability, and the rights afforded to asylum seekers can vary from country to country. Asylum seekers from Africa, Asia and the Middle East are often at a greater risk of being denied access to relief and support services when they are seeking asylum.
However, some common rights include:
The right to non-Refoulement: This means that asylum seekers cannot be forcibly returned to a country where they face persecution while their asylum claim is being processed.
Access to Basic Services: While their claim for asylum is being assessed, asylum seekers should have access to basic services, including healthcare, education, and housing.
Work Authorisation: In some cases, asylum seekers can work while their application is pending.
Freedom of Movement: Asylum seekers can move within the host country.
Rights of recognised refugees
Unlike an asylum seeker, a refugee is officially recognised in international law under the 1951 Convention relating to the status of refugees to be a refugee. This grants a refugee access to the same rights as nationals in the country they have sought asylum, including:
Right to Work: All refugees have the right to seek employment. However, refugees can face a variety of challenges securing employment, including discrimination, their qualifications and skills not being recognised in their new country, having limited knowledge of the local job market and limited networks to connect them with potential employers.
Right to Access to Social Services: Refugees have the right to access social services, including education, healthcare, and social support.
Freedom of Movement: Refugees can travel within and outside the host country.
Family Reunification: When refugees are forced to flee their homes, they can remain separated from their families for years. Governments have a responsibility to reunite families through refugee family reunification processes once an individual is granted refugee status.
Regardless of how or in what country a refugee or asylum seeker arrives, everyone has the right to seek asylum in another country. The right to seek asylum is a fundamental human right; however, in lots of countries including Australia the internationally recognised right to seek asylum is not always honoured. ChildFund Australia works to support and advocate for the rights of both groups, recognising their unique needs and vulnerabilities.
The rights and protections of refugees’ vs migrants
The terms ‘refugee’ and ‘migrant’ are often used interchangeably; however, the two terms have vastly different legal connotations. Migration is often understood to be a voluntary process, in contrast, a refugee is forced to cross international borders and seek protection in another country due to persecution or conflict and as a result, refugees are owed specific protections under international law.
Migrants move to a different country for a variety of reasons, including:
to work,
study,
join family, or
because of poverty,
political unrest, or
climate-related disasters.
Unlike refugees, migrants can safely return to their home country if they choose. Countries manage migration under their own immigration laws. However, while there is no internationally accepted legal definition of a migrant just like refugees, migrants are entitled to have their human rights protected and respected in the country they move to.
Different types of forced displacement and refugees
Refugees: Those who have fled their home countries due to persecution or conflict. There are also Religious or Political Affiliation Refugees who are fleeing discrimination based on race or political beliefs. War Refugees, who escape conflict for safety and peace.
Asylum Seekers: Individuals seeking international protection but awaiting official recognition.
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs): Forced to find new places within their own country due to war or disaster.
Stateless Persons: An individual living without nationality or identifying documents. Asylum seekers, refugees, IDPs and migrants could also be stateless.
Economic Migrants: An individual who is moving for financial reasons but not fleeing persecution.
How ChildFund supports refugees and asylum seekers
Globally, children make up 40% (43.3 million) of the world’s displaced people. Most displaced children will spend their entire childhood in displacement struggling to go to school, access basic healthcare or find a safe place to play.
ChildFund collaborates with partner organisations to respond to humanitarian crises and conflict, address the protection risks refugee children face and advocate for children’s rights. We help transform living conditions for refugees residing in camps, minimise protection risks and create safe spaces for refugee children to play and learn.
“It was very scary…Things in the house were shaking from the explosions,” said David.
After sheltering in a neighbour’s cellar, David’s family decided to evacuate their town and seek safety at Displaced Persons Centre (DPC).
“The last time we saw my dad was leading us to the evacuation site. My dad went to save other people, and we stayed where people were waiting for buses to evacuate. We rode the school bus, then the bus broke down and we moved to another one. We drove from Kyiv to Volyn for almost a day. We were very tired on the way.”
The Displaced Person Centre provided David and his mother with food, shelter, and a safe place to rest. David’s childhood has been brutally interrupted by conflict that has left him with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It was at the Displaced Persons Centre that David was able to access the support he needed to manage his symptoms and regain some semblance of his childhood. ChildFund Australia is working with partner organisations in Ukraine and Moldova to provide humanitarian aid and support to children and their families who have been forced to flee their homes due to the conflict.
This World Refugee Day, donate to help transform the lives of all refugee children, and ensure they can keep learning, stay safe and enjoy their childhood.
*Names have been changed to protect individuals’ identities.
As conflicts and humanitarian crises continue to affect children, families and communities around the world, many people are seeking answers and asking questions. One of the most talked-about issues is refugees—what makes someone a refugee, the purpose of refugee camps, and what happens to them now. Misconceptions and uncertainties about refugees are widespread, and to better support them, it is important to gain an understanding of their daily realities and resilience. Below are some key facts and statistics about refugee camps to help keep you informed.
Global Refugee Statistics
Understanding Refugee Camps
What is life for child refugees like in the camps?
Join ChildFund in supporting refugees globally
Facts about refugee camps: FAQs, and how to help
Global refugee statistics
What is a refugee? A refugee is an individual who has fled their home country due to fear of persecution, violence, or conflict. Refugees escape war, political oppression, religious discrimination, or any other form of discrimination.
Learn more about the definition of a refugee here.
Iran is the top refugee-hosting country with approximately 3.4 million refugees.
Understanding Refugee Camps
The purpose of refugee camps is to provide immediate safety during crises and serve as a bridge until permanent solutions (such as resettlement) are found. They protect the health, safety and wellbeing of people who have been forced to flee their homes because of violence and persecution.
Accommodations offered to refugees vary from region to region and country to country. Most refugee camps provide basic necessities such as:
food
water
shelter
healthcare; and
Child-Friendly spaces with playgrounds and classrooms.
Refugee camps can create a sense of community and belonging among refugees attempting to restart their lives in a new place. These camps require aid from local and international humanitarian agencies, NGOs, and governments to function effectively. This support is especially crucial when mass displacement persists for five years or more, such as in protracted refugee situations. Refugees may spend several years, or even decades, residing in camps, with multiple generations growing up in such places. Educational and livelihood opportunities are often made available in these circumstances to provide them with the best possible chance to rebuild their lives
Refugee camp statistics
An estimated 6.6 million people live in refugee camps.
Approximately 2 million people are sheltered in self-settled camps, while the remaining 4.5 million reside in planned and managed camps.
Bangladesh is home to the world’s largest refugee camp, known as Cox’s Bazar, with more than 960,000 people.
On average, refugees in camps are 36 % more likely to live below the national extreme poverty line, meaning that they find it difficult to meet daily basic needs.
What is a basic daily need?
The challenges within refugee camps—such as overcrowding, limited resources and health risks—are significant. Although camps are designed to offer protection and refuge, given their design and purpose – makeshift shelters often built in little time or crowded apartments in cities – there are many risks and dangers. Life in a refugee camp involves constant insecurity and fear, not knowing what tomorrow will bring.
These are some of the daily realities people face living in refugee camps:
Yet, despite hardships, there is incredible resilience and resourcefulness within the camps. It is not uncommon for refugees to create makeshift schools, gardens, and small businesses – things we may take for granted in our daily lives but provide hope to children and their families within the camps.
Crowded Tents: Shelters in refugee camps have limited space, which often can’t accommodate the hundreds of thousands of people who seek refuge there. As a result, families may live in cramped spaces with insufficient roofing (tarps as makeshift ceilings, for example) and no doors or heating. This lack of proper infrastructure increases the risk of pneumonia and other respiratory infections, particularly in colder weather.
Poor Sanitation: Refugee camps frequently experience a shortage of clean water and adequate hygiene facilities, including proper toilets. Consequently, individuals living in these camps are at an increased risk of contracting diarrheal diseases such as cholera. This risk is further exacerbated by the limited, and often entirely absent, medical supplies in the camps.
Food Rations: Refugees typically rely on aid organisations for sustenance, but access to sufficient food is not guaranteed. In many cases, people living in the refugee camps go to bed hungry due to inadequate food supplies. The available food often lacks essential nutrients, which results in children frequently suffering from malnourishment.
Threats to safety: Physical violence and abuse (including gender-based sexual violence) are widespread in camps and often has long-lasting ramifications on a survivor’s mental and physical wellbeing.
What is life for child refugees like in the camps?
Every year, millions of children around the world are displaced due to war and violence. This leaves them with no choice but to seek safety in refugee camps. Some spend their entire childhood and young adulthood in these camps, never knowing a life beyond it. Others, like Mary*, are forced to adapt to a new reality and grow up faster.
Mary with her brothers, David* and John*, at the Palorinya Refugee Settlement in northern Uganda.
A refugee camp is a hard, dangerous place to be a child
Mary was 12 when she and her family were forced to flee their home in war-torn South Sudan. Within a year, she had stopped going to school, lost both her parents, and was left to take care of her two younger brothers all by herself.
Like so many children in refugee camps, Mary, now 17, has experienced tragedy beyond her years. Her father died in South Sudan’s conflict and upheaval, and her mother abandoned Mary and her siblings shortly after they fled to Uganda’s Palorinya refugee camp. Mary lost crucial years of learning living in the camp, working herself to exhaustion to put food on the table and keep her brothers in school. She is one of the 1,600 child-headed households in Palorinya.
Children and young refugees, such as Mary and her brothers, face unique vulnerabilities due to their displacement and challenging circumstances. These include:
Trauma and Stress
Forced Displacement: The experience of fleeing conflict, violence, or persecution can cause immense trauma, anxiety, and depression for children who are suddenly uprooted, without their comforts and forced to grow up before their time – all with little to no access to mental health services.
Loss of Home and Family: Separation from family members and familiar surroundings adds to their distress.
Uncertainty: Higher education and employment opportunities can be non-existent for children, young people and their families living in refugee camps. The uncertainty of their future exacerbates stress and anxiety.
Health Challenges
Sanitation and Hygiene: Poor WASH facilities (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) increase health risks, including the transmission of diarrhoeal diseases such as cholera and dysentery, typhoid, intestinal worm infections, and polio. Unsafe sanitation is a leading risk factor for child deaths in refugee camps.
Access to Healthcare: Refugee children often struggle to access adequate healthcare services, so they don’t receive regular health check-ups or medical support when needed.
Malnutrition: Limited food availability and poor nutrition impact their physical health and can lead to stunting.
Mental Health: Exposure to violence and displacement increases the risk of mental health problems. The uncertainty surrounding their futures can also lead to feelings of hopelessness.
Education Disruptions
Interrupted Education: Many refugee children miss out on formal education due to displacement. Children and young people, especially girls, may trade school for long days of manual labour so they can help feed their families.
Language Barriers: Adapting to a new language and education system can be challenging.
Limited Resources: Lack of textbooks, schools, and qualified teachers hinders their learning.
Protection Risks
Inadequate Housing: Crowded refugee camps or temporary shelters lack privacy and protection from environmental factors (cold weather, natural disasters) and sexual predators (many don’t have doors let alone locks). Without proper infrastructure, children in the camps are exposed to health and safety risks that, in some cases, can lead to early death or have a lasting psychological and physical impact on their wellbeing.
Exploitation: Refugee children are vulnerable to child labour, child marriage, trafficking, and sexual exploitation.
Violence and Abuse: Exposure to violence within camps or during the journey.
Child Soldiers: Both government forces and armed groups have been known to recruit children to fight in conflict, putting them in harm’s way and robbing them of their childhood.
Legal Vulnerabilities
Lack of Legal Status: It is common for refugee children, especially those born in camps, to be denied legal identity. This often leads to them being referred to as ‘stateless’ or ‘undocumented’ persons, which in turn makes it difficult for them to access education, healthcare, and, as adults, marriage and employment opportunities throughout their lives. In some cases, they may not even receive an official burial or a death certificate when they pass away.
Asylum Process: Navigating complex legal procedures to obtain legal protection can be lengthy and overwhelming for children and their families, especially if the process is in another language.
Loss of Childhood, Community and Identity
Responsibilities: Refugee children often take on adult roles to support their families. This includes finding employment opportunities, working in fields, cooking and cleaning, and taking care of younger siblings.
Play and Recreation: Limited opportunities for play and recreation impact their social and emotional wellbeing.
Loss of Identity: Displacement disrupts their sense of belonging as they are away from their cultural context and social networks.
Social Exclusion: Negative perceptions of refugees can result in exclusion and discrimination for children, while their separation from familiar communities can affect their social support.
Disrupted Family Life
Family Separation: When refugees are forced to separate from their families, it can severely affect their mental health as well as their economic and social wellbeing. Separation is one of the primary causes of mental health issues among refugee children.
Parental Stress: Stress and trauma experienced by parents can have lasting effects on family relationships and can lead to intergenerational trauma.
Unaccompanied Minors: Children who are separated from their families are often forced to take on physical and financial responsibilities, which can force them to grow up quickly. In many cases, older children become the primary caregivers for younger siblings, which may mean they forgo their education to work and earn an income to support their families.
Join ChildFund in supporting refugees globally
ChildFund partners with aid organisations, such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and dedicated local partners, to respond to humanitarian crises, address refugees’ vulnerabilities, and advocate for children’s rights worldwide. Understanding the complex nature of the refugee crisis is crucial in effectively addressing the challenges refugees face in camps and facilitating their integration into new societies.
Thanks to our partners’ support and donors’ generosity, we can continue raising awareness and funds to improve living conditions and protect children and families in the camps. Together, we have:
constructed emergency latrines,
established Child-Friendly safe spaces that encompass classrooms and playgrounds,
set up safe spaces where women and girls can seek emotional support and protection from sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV),
empowered men to advocate for women’s rights and prevent SGBV; and
supplied medical resources to curb the spread of disease in the camps.
However, the need for support remains urgent. Much more needs to be done to improve the lives of vulnerable children and their families in refugee camps worldwide. Providing essential resources such as food, shelter, and healthcare can make a significant difference to life within the camp and help protect the childhood and future of refugee children.
