Comparative Studies of the Challenges Faced by Urban Refugees

今天，难民署所服务的“一半以上的难民”生活在城市地区。然而，难民署2009年新的政策框架与实地现实之间仍然存在着重大脱节。一个关键问题是难民登记程序。居住在城市地区的难民没有得到庇护国的登记，也没有获得法律的居留地位：无论是在尚未批准甚至签署《难民公约》的国家，还是在有正式程序照顾难民的签署国。缺乏工作权利同时增加了对服务提供者的依赖，也增加了在困难情况下对跨国网络的依赖。许多难民服务提供者在法律的灰色地带帮助弱势群体。城市难民问题取决于庇护国的政治意愿。

Today, "more than half the refugees" UNHCR serves now live in urban areas. However, there still exists a major disconnect between newly UNHCR policy framework of 2009 and the reality on the ground. One crucial issue is the process of registering as a refugee. Refugees living in the city areas have not been registered by asylum countries and not given a legal status of residence: whether in countries which have not ratified or even signed the Refugee Convention, or in signatory countries which have formal procedures to cater for refugees. The lack of work rights concomitantly increases dependence on service providers and, also, increases the reliance on transnational networks in difficult situations. Many refugee service providers operate in a legal grey area helping disadvantaged populations. The problem of urban refugees is dependent upon the political will of asylum countries.