International protection of environmental refugees

Das, Onita

Abstract

UNEP in its 2009 Conflict to Peacebuilding Review reports that at least eighteen violent conflicts have been fuelled by environmental degradation or natural resource exploitation or both since 1990 and that at least 40 percent of all intrastate conflicts over the last six decades or so have had some link to natural resources. Such violent or armed conflicts are having negative impacts on the lives of millions of people, undermining their security and livelihoods and disrupting any notion of sustainable development. Recently, the worst drought in more than half a century has affected an estimated 10 million people in East Africa and Somalia had been hit the hardest. On 3rd August 2011, the UN declared famine in up to five areas in drought-ravaged Somalia. Somalia, having been torn apart by brutal conflict over the last two decades continues to suffer from political, economic and social instability. This paper, using Somalia as a case-study questions the traditional analyses of conflict and instead takes into account the increasing link between environmental pressures and violent conflict in developing countries. This paper will explore whether the current drought and ensuing food crisis will exacerbate conflict amongst the Somali people. From a sustainable development and conflict-prevention perspective, this article will also attempt to ask and answer the crucial question as to whether the UN Security Council should intervene in Somalia not because the current situation is a humanitarian catastrophe but because non-intervention may worsen the conflict situation and threaten peace and security in the region?

Citation

Das, O. (2012, September). International protection of environmental refugees. Paper presented at SLS Conference, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: SLS Conference
• Conference Location: University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
• Start Date: Sep 11, 2012
• End Date: Sep 14, 2012
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2012
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: environmental refugees
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/944337
• Publisher URL: http://www.conference.legalscholars.ac.uk/bristol/abstract.cfm?id=138
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : SLS Conference