STANFORD MODEL UNITED NATIONS

CONFERENCE 2015

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Chair: Olivia Wong, oewong@stanford.edu

Co-Chair: Julia Daniel, jdaniel7@stanford.edu

WELCOME TO THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR

REFUGEES (UNHCR)

Dear Delegates,

We are extremely pleased to have you at the 2015 Stanford Model United Nations

Conference. My name is Olivia Wong, and I am the chair of United Nations High

Commissioners for Refugees (UNHCR). I am a rising senior double majoring in history and

English. Last summer, I studied abroad in Cambridge University where I did an in depth

research project investigating solutions to “solve” ISIS and its refugee crisis. My wonderful and

lovely colleague Julia Daniel is the co-chair. She is a rising junior majoring in Human Biology,

studying how international systems affect health and well-being around the world.

We cannot wait to meet all of you and hear your wonderful and brilliant ideas. While

many challenges lie ahead of us (i.e. solving the Iraqi refugee crisis in relation to ISIS and the

Rohingya refugees in Myanmar), remember that the end goal is to have fun and to learn a lot!

Sincerely,

Olivia Wong, Chair

oewong@stanford.edu

Julia Daniel, Co-Chair

jdaniel7@stanford.edu

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Topic 1: The Rohingya Refugee Crisis

Myanmar’s background: What’s in a name?

Myanmar is a nation of approximately 56

million people located in Southeast Asia.1 The

official language is Burmese, and the country is

90% Buddhist. The capital is Yangon (sometimes

referred to as Rangoon, the British colonial

pronunciation). Life expectancy at birth is 66

years, and GDP per capita is slightly short of

US$5,000.

Following colonization by Britain in the 19th century, Myanmar, then known as Burma

after the Burman ethnic majority, was administered as an Indian province until 1937. In 1948,

the country became independent. Burma was ruled in various capacities by General Ne Win from

1962 to 1988, when he resigned in response to civil unrest. The military soon crushed protests

and took power, and the military junta renamed the country Myanmar, its official title today and

the appropriate name for our use in the UNHCR2. The people and language of the country are to

be called Burmese, although not all Burmese people belong to the Burman majority ethnic group

(more on the minorities in a bit!).

The National League for Democracy (NLD), the main opposition party, headed by Ms.

Aung San Suu Kyi, won a landslide victory over the military in 1990 elections, but rather than

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!CIA!World!Factbook,!2015,!https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/theCworldCfactbook/geos/bm.html!2!For!more!information!on!the!distinction!between!‘Myanmar’!and!‘Burma’,!see!

http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2013/05/whatCsCnameCmyanmar!

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concede power, the junta placed her under house arrest for fifteen years between 1989 and 2010.

After a series of votes largely considered flawed by the international community, and internal

parliamentary selections, Mr. Thein Sein (previous Prime Minister, and generally considered a

moderate in Burmese politics) became president of Myanmar in 2011. Reforms to open the

country to international activity have slowly taken effect, and Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi was

elected to Parliament in 2012. Burmese political parties have begun preparing for elections to be

held in late 2015.

The Rohingya: The Muslim minority of Myanmar

In Buddhist-majority Myanmar, Rakhine (“rock-high-n”) State on the northwestern coast

has long been home to a Muslim ethnic minority known as the Rohingya. Sharing a religion with

the Muslim Bangladeshis just across the border, the Myanmar government considers them

squatters from Bangladesh and refuses to grant citizenship even to those families who have lived

in Myanmar for generations3. The situation renders this community of almost a million

effectively stateless; the Rohingya have no country they can turn to for help abroad, while their

plight within Myanmar is desperate4. They are targets of ethnic violence, discrimination,

disenfranchisement, and forced displacement, and nearly 150,000 live in refugee camps within

Myanmar from which the government forbids exit. Those who manage to leave the country

sneak into or are smuggled into neighboring Bangladesh (200,000 Rohingya refugees5),

Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia, over land or by boat. The trips are harrowing, guided by

illegal smugglers demanding steep fees and marked by little food and risky conditions. It is

nearly impossible to estimate the number of refugees who have died seeking shelter in these

countries. Even for those who arrive, however, they often merely find their way to another

refugee camp, malnourished, ill, and with little access to any resources.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!3!Myanmar!stripped!the!Rohingya!of!Burmese!citizenship!under!the!1982!Citizenship!Act;!see!

http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/15904/lastingCsolutionCtoCrohingyaCrefugeeCcrisisCdependsC

onCmyanmar!4!“The!Rohingya!Crisis”,!European!Commission,!Humanitarian!Aid!and!Civil!Protection,!April!2015!

http://ec.europa.eu/echo/files/aid/countries/factsheets/rohingya_en.pdf!5!It!is!estimated!that!200,000!Rohingya!refugees!are!currently!in!Bangladesh,!but!only!32,000!are!currently!

recognized!as!official!refugees!by!the!government!of!Bangladesh.!See!

http://ec.europa.eu/echo/files/aid/countries/factsheets/rohingya_en.pdf!

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Past responses: The UNHCR’s precedent for action

The situation in Myanmar today includes stateless people (people without citizenship),

internally displaced persons (IDPs), and refugees, all of which are of concern to the UNHCR.

The UNHCR operates based on two UN Conventions on Statelessness: the 1954

Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction

of Statelessness6. The UNHCR is tasked with both protecting the basic needs of those who have

become stateless and preventing the circumstances that cause statelessness at an institutional

level. The UNHCR is currently in the process of a ten-year campaign to wipe out statelessness

around the world and address the needs of those who lack citizenship. Recently, the UNHCR has

worked on establishing streamlined processes to handle stateless people in the Dominican

Republic whose residential status is in jeopardy.

While not originally mandated to assist IDPs, the UNHCR has taken on the role many

times before due to its expertise and existing structure. The UNHCR primarily addresses shelter

needs and camp management for individuals residing in their home country but unable to live in

their place of origin. The UNHCR manages, for example, the establishment and maintenance of

camps and infrastructure to handle the nearly 1.5 million IDPs in Afghanistan and Pakistan7.

The UNHCR also pursues solutions at a global level for protracted refugee situations,

such as that of Afghan refugees in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The UNHCR mobilizes resources,

provides policy and implementation counsel, and partners with government and development

institutions to provide a stable path to reintegration of returned refugees. These efforts are

culture- and situation-specific but generally involve providing for basic needs such as education

and healthcare, while also implementing stabilizing projects aimed at increasing leadership and

self-sufficiency among refugee and ex-refugee communities.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!6!See!more!about!these!Conventions!at!http://www.unhcr.org/pages/4a2535c3d.html!7!2015!UNHCR!regional!operations!profile,!http://www.unhcr.org/pages/4a02d8ec6.html!

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The Rohingya now: Latest developments

2012: Violence erupts between the Rohingya and neighboring Buddhist communities.

Myanmar’s government forces many Rohingya into squalid refugee camps.

Early 2014: Neighboring Buddhist communities, continuing to feel that foreign aid

distributed based on need is going disproportionately to Rohingya communities, continue attacks

and violence. For safety reasons, many aid organizations suspend operations and evacuate staff,

leaving enormous gaps in basic healthcare and education8.

Early 2015: Thailand and Malaysia begin to crack down on human smuggling operations

for migrants and refugees. During this crackdown, dozens of bodies and other grisly evidence

surface, publicizing the deadly nature of these smuggling operations9.

May 18, 2015: The Philippines, although somewhat geographically distant from the

crisis, offers to allow boats with refugees and migrants to land.

May 29, 2015: A summit in Thailand produces weak statements about the problem of

boat people. Myanmar was not in attendance, objecting to (among other things) the name

Rohingya being used, supposedly to legitimize an illegitimate claim to the group’s origins in

Myanmar10. Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand agree to host a limited number of refugees

temporarily, awaiting permanent resettlement elsewhere.

Today it is estimated that 100,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar by sea since the

violence erupted in 2012. The United States, the Gambia, and a small number of other nations

have agreed to assist in the resettlement process11. International condemnation of the refugees’

treatment has thus far been fierce.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!8!ibid.!9!“Burma’s!Nowhere!People”,!Time!Magazine,!June!2015!http://time.com/3908627/burmasCnowhereC

people/!10!“Lost!at!Sea!Unwanted”,!CNN,!May!2015!http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/19/asia/rohingyaCrefugeeCshipsC

explainer/!11!“Lasting!Solution!to!Rohingya!Refugee!Crisis!Depends!on!Myanmar”,!World!Politics!Review,!June!2015!

http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/15904/lastingCsolutionCtoCrohingyaCrefugeeCcrisisCdependsC

onCmyanmar!

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Consider this: Problems a resolution should address

● What is the role of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations

(analogous to the EU, but with far less influence on policy)? To date, ASEAN has

largely followed its policy of noninterference in member nations’ domestic

affairs, despite the desperate situation and its effects on other member nations12.

● Which methods are more effective, cracking down on human trafficking and

smuggling, as Thailand and Malaysia have done, or cracking down on the

Burmese government’s treatment of the Rohingya? Which is more feasible?

Sustainable? In line with UNHCR’s goals as an organization? Who is likely to

favor which methods? What is in the best interest of the Rohingya themselves?

● What would a permanent solution to this crisis look like? Who would have to

make concessions and what would they be? Who can and should take in Rohingya

refugees?

● How should the international community handle the human rights abuses

occurring within and outside Myanmar while respecting national sovereignty?

● How should the international community handle issues of mass statelessness, now

and in the future?13

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!12!See!the!bottom!of!http://www.cfr.org/burmamyanmar/rohingyaCmigrantCcrisis/p36651!13!For!further!discussion!of!possible!solutions,!see!http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/asia/southC

eastCasia/burmaCmyanmar/261CmyanmarCtheCpoliticsCofCrakhineCstate.pdf!page!31!onward!

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Topic 2: Iraqi Refugees and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)

HISTORY AND DISCUSSION

Introduction

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), alias Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

(ISIL), is a Sunni jihadist militant group with an ideology that blends violence, radicalism, and

acts of inhumanity.14 ISIS is currently deemed the most powerful extremist terrorist organization

that threatens the stability of the Middle East and the international community. This case brief

will explore the emergence of ISIS, the challenge it poses to the international community with

regard to human rights violation and Iraqi refugees, sizing of the problem, challenges and past

actions, and possible solutions. Most importantly, it raises question about how delegates of the

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) should address the ISIS dilemma in

relation to the Iraq’s refugee crisis. Before exploring the Iraqi refugee crisis, this case brief will

first give an in depth overview of ISIS in relation to its emergence, long-term goals, and threat it

poses to the international community. Afterward providing a thorough overview of ISIS, this

case brief will then explore how ISIS offensive exacerbates Iraq’s refugee crisis.

In terms of the Iraq’s refugee crisis, this committee is interested in how ISIS influenced

the security situation and consequently, the new and secondary movements of internally

displaced people (IDPs) across central Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. It will examine

how ISIS has monumentally increased IDPs in central Iraq while simultaneously its horrendous

human rights violations have driven Syrian refugees to seek refugee in Northern Iraq. This case

brief will analyze how the UNHCR should address the Iraq refugee crisis in relation to internal

displacement, incoming refugees from Syria, and how ISIS influences this movement within and

across borders.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!14!“Site-wide Navigation,” The Islamic State (Terrorist Organization), Web. 1 Aug. 2015.!

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Background of ISIS

Emergence of Radical Islamic Ideologies

While pinpointing the emergence of radical Islamic ideologies is contentious, leader of

the prominent terrorist organization, al Qaida, Osama Bin Laden declared war on the United

States and other Western nations in February 1998 is often cited as an important beginning. In

Bin Laden’s statement entitled “World Islamic Front Declaration of War against Jews and

Crusaders,” he called all Muslims to join a jihad against the West.15 The success of the infamous

9/11 attack increased the prestige of Bin Laden and al Qaida, encouraging individuals to pledge

allegiance.16 While Bin Laden was killed, he became a martyr and the ideology of jihadism

flourished, forming the cornerstone of al Qaida.

Relationship of ISIS and al Qaida

Over the past decades, al Qaida became increasingly decentralized and amorphous. It

split into different organizations with varying objectives. One organization that emerged was

ISIS, which shared many of the core philosophy of al Qaida, namely the overarching goal of

uniting all Muslims. However, ISIS was publicly expelled from this organization on 3 February

2014.17 Leaders of al Qaida disagreed with ISIS’s targeting of civilians, believing that such

actions alienated the local population. Additionally, the mission of ISIS departed from al Qaida

principally because ISIS sought to land through inciting terror and fear, leading to the violation

of human rights. Unlike the slow and careful rise of al Qaida, ISIS has quickly evolved from a

small rebel group to one of the most successful terrorist organization through its successful

conquest of land. As of June of 2014, ISIS seized Mosul and Iraq. ISIS has intentions to spread

to other regions of the Middle East and already has affiliates in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, and

Nigeria, among others. Moreover, ISIS has grander ambitions to expand its socio-economic

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!15!Rick!Brennan Jr., “The Growing Strategic Threat of Radical Islamist Ideology,” The Growing Strategic Threat of Radical Islamist Ideology, Web, 1 Aug. 2015.!16!Ibid.!17!“What Is 'Islamic State’?” BBC News, BBC, 29 June 2015, Web, 1 Aug. 2015.!!

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political influence globally to North Africa and Europe, providing significant challenges to

international security.

Religious Authority

ISIS also controversially justified the propagation of this violent ideology under the guise

of the Islamic religion. On 29 June 2014, ISIS self-proclaimed itself as a worldwide caliphate,

with Abu Bakr al-Bahdadi being named its caliph.18 The title of a caliphate allowed ISIS to

rename itself Islamic state, and claim religious, political, and military authority over all Muslims

worldwide, effectively erasing national boundaries. While this idea of creating an international

Islamic state was not a new concept, the United Nations, various governments, and different

Muslim groups condemned ISIS caliphate as illegitimate and misleading to people that practices

Islam.

.

Brief History of Instability in Middle East and how ISIS Exacerbates this Destabilization Process

Starting December 2010, there was a revolutionary wave of mass demonstrations and

protests in the Arab world that was known as the Arab Springs. The movement started in

Tunisia with the Tunisian Revolution and spread to different regions of the Middle East. One

region, Syria, experienced political turmoil from March to 2011 when the citizens challenged the

regime of Bashar al-Assad.19 The Syrian government resorted to police and military brutality to

suppress the citizens. Iran and Russia provided extensive military support to re-stabilize the

Assad Regime. Moreover, when the United States withdrew its forces from Iraq from the

ongoing war, the Iranian government increased its military regime to stem terrorist organizations,

namely al Qaida and ISIS.

From 2004 to 2011, the Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad allowed al Qaida and ISIS to use

Syria as a breeding ground for terrorism activities. ISIS had nearly eight years of experiences

combatting both the United States and Iraqi forces, and consequently developed into a

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!18! Ibid.!19!Rick!Brennan Jr., “The Growing Strategic Threat of Radical Islamist Ideology,” The Growing Strategic Threat of Radical Islamist Ideology, Web, 1 Aug. 2015.!

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formidable military force that challenged the Iraqi and Iranian militaries20. Eventually, ISIS used

its military prowess to seize land in various parts of the Middle East, and began to form a

structure of government.

Group’s Financing

Unlike the core of al Qaida and other terrorist organizations that depend heavily on

international donors, ISIS raises money through a wide array of activities. Known as the world’s

richest terrorist organization, ISIS engages in oil smuggling in Syria and Iraq, robbing banks,

taxing its citizens, money laundering in Mosul, kidnapping and ransom, stealing antiquities and

other means.21 Despite monumental attempts from the international community to stem ISIS’s

finances, ISIS has found multiple backdoors to continue its black market fundraising.

Use of Social Media for Recruitment and Fundraising

In addition to ISIS’s successes in the battlefield and its appropriation of religious

language, ISIS has deployed sophisticated social media strategy vis-à-vis Twitter. Starting on 9

June 2014, ISIS members launched series of Twitter accounts claiming to represent ISIS in Iraq

and Syria.22 These accounts actively provided live update to highlight and promote its military

prowess, territorial advances, and widespread terror. ISIS strategically chooses photos or video

clips that have the potential of having a strong impact such as grotesque beheading or suicide

missions. These videos from ISIS that praises the violation of human rights strategically instill

tremendous fear among ISIS’s enemies and garner admiration from rival organizations. On a

grand scale, these videos elicit a visceral reaction from their international viewers, which has led

to foreign fighters worldwide joining the ISIS coalition for its radical appeal.23

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!20!Ibid.!21!Patrick Johnson, and Benjamin Bahney, “Hitting ISIS Where It Hurts: Disrupt Its Cash Flow in Iraq,” Hitting ISIS Where It Hurts: Disrupt ISIS's Cash Flow in Iraq, Web, 1 Aug. 2015.!22!Faisal Irshaid, “How ISIS Is Spreading Its Message Online,” BBC News, BBC, 20 June 2014, Web, 1 Aug. 2015.!23!Jessica Berger, “ISIS and the Foreign-Fighter Phenomenon,” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 8 Mar. 2015, Web, 1 Aug. 2015.!

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SIZING THE PROBLEM

ISIS Global Expansion

In the spring of 2014, ISIS attempted to consolidate its hold on Syrian city Raqqa and

launch a blitzkrieg attack into Iraq. ISIS’s mission, however, is not confided to these two areas.

It has established affiliates in neighboring Middle Eastern countries— Libya, Egypt, Nigeria,

Yemen, Algeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan.24 ISIS has announced its global ambitions to spread

into countries across Africa, Asia, and Europe by leveraging its battle successes, capitalizing on

local grievances, and implementing widespread propaganda, among others.

Foreign Fighter Phenomenon

In August of 2014, ISIS symbolically released a video at the end of Ramadan. It

portrayed worshippers at a mosque and children passing out sweets to break Muslims’ fast for

Ramadan. Additionally, there were scenes of emigrants of all different nationalities repeating a

variation of the following message:

I’m calling on all the Muslims living in the West, America, Europe, and everywhere else,

to come, to make hijra with your families to the land of Khilafah. Here you go for

fighting and afterwards you come back to your families. And if you get killed, then ...

you’ll enter heaven, God willing, and Allah will take care of those you’ve left behind. So

here, the caliphate will take care of you.25

While it is nearly impossible to gage how many foreign fighters join ISIS’s cause, ISIS

has released different videos that emphasize how fundamental foreign fighters have played in

contributing to the overall mission, particularly in the violation of human rights with beheadings

of civilians, sexual violence against women and children, and religious persecution against non-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!24!“Islamic State's Global Expansion.” Islamic State's Global Expansion. Web. 1 Aug. 2015.!!25!Jessica Berger, “ISIS and the Foreign-Fighter Phenomenon,” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 8 Mar. 2015, Web, 1 Aug. 2015.!

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Muslims, among others. This type of information warfare and “glamorization” of human rights

violation pose a challenge to the international community because ISIS is potentially breeding

radical terrorist thought beyond the Middle East.

One of the discussions that delegates may consider is how the UNHCR can wage

counter-narratives that erase the appeal that ISIS created for human rights violation and instead

focuses on raising awareness for those impacted by these human rights violation (i.e. refugees,

asylum seekers, internally displaced people, and stateless people among others).

Internal Instability of the Middle East

While it is unclear what ISIS’s overall goal is, it is undeniable that ISIS strives to

establish Muslim State in the heart of the Middle East. The internal inability of the Middle East

makes the entire region vulnerable to ISIS’s military aggression. Gaining lands in the Middle

East will give ISIS hegemony in the area, which effectively destabilizes the stability of the

Persian Gulf region and provide ISIS with a monopoly over the political and economic oil

enfranchise.26 ISIS will not only have political hegemony over the Middle East, but it will force

the international community into an ethical dilemma of recognizing ISIS as a legitimate political

government form while it clearly has committed human rights violation. Delegates may consider

if military intervention is necessary or justifiable to prevent ISIS from potentially establishing

complete political hegemony over the Middle East.

Human Rights Violation

In March 2014, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted resolution 2170,

which condemned the widespread human rights abuses of extremist groups in Syria and Iraq.

This resolution did not specifically addressed only ISIS’s actions, but also included those of al-

Qaeda’s affiliate, Al-Nusra. The report called these extremist terrorists’ organizations as “gross,

systematic, and widespread abuse” of human rights violations, citing the following examples:

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!26!Graeme Wood, “What ISIS Really Wants,” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 15 Feb 2015, Web, 1 Aug. 2015.!!

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deliberate targeting of civilians, mass executions based on religious beliefs, forced displacement

of members of minority groups, recruitment and use of children, sexual violence, obstruction of

education and cultural practices, and other violations.27 For the purpose of this case brief,

delegates should pay particular attention as to how these violations influence Syrians to seek

refuge in Iraq. Additionally, delegates should simultaneously consider how ISIS’s horrific

actions lead to forced displacement of Iraqi civilians.

Iraqi Refugee Crisis

UNHCR 2015 planning figures for Iraq28

Type of population Origin

January 2015 December 2015

Total in

country

Of whom

assisted

by UNHCR

Total in

country

Of whom

assisted

by UNHCR

Total 2,047,700 512,700 2,019,050 578,050 * PoC planning figures in this table are based on trends and registration data from early 2014. In light of the evolving situation in

the Syrian Arab Republic and Iraq, updated projections will be presented in any forthcoming appeals for supplementary

requirements in 2015 for the Syria and Iraq situations, including the 2015 Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP).

Refugees

Palestinian 12,000 12,000 12,400 12,400 Syrian Arab Rep. 310,000 310,000 400,000 400,000 Turkey 16,000 16,000 16,600 16,600 Various 8,300 8,300 8,550 8,550

People in refugee-like situations Various 2,000 2,000 1,500 1,500

Asylum-seekers

Islamic Rep. of

Iran 6,000 6,000 5,500 5,500

Syrian Arab Rep. 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,200 Turkey 1,400 1,400 1,500 1,500 Various 800 800 800 800

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!27!“Security Council Adopts Resolution 2170 (2014) Condemning Gross, Widespread Abuse of Human Rights by Extremist Groups in Iraq, Syria | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases,” UN News Center, UN, Web, 1 Aug. 2015.!28 “Iraq,” UNHCR News, Web, 30 Aug. 2015. !!

!

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Returnee arrivals during year

(ex-refugees) Iraq 40,000 20,000 35,000 15,000

Internally displaced Iraq 1,500,000 120,000 1,400,000 100,000 Returnee arrivals during year

(ex-IDPs) Iraq 100,000 10,000 90,000 10,000

Stateless Stateless 50,000 5,000 46,000 5,000

Iraq has witnessed a massive new internal displacement due to the mass atrocities

committed by ISIS. In the previous years, there was an already existing 1 million IDPs who fled

violence. ISIS has increased this figure to 3.6 million in the year 2014.29 This figure can be

attributed to ISIS’s series of offensives. For example, in October of 2014, ISIS attacked and

captured the city Hit in Iraq’s Anbar province, leading to the fourth major wave of displacement

in Iraq in less than a year.30 180,000 individuals (mostly Sunnis) fled to Northern Iraq for refuge.

They sought shelter from relatives and friends, as well as the many schools, mosques, and public

shelters that are already hosting Iraq’s IDPs. Previously, Hit had been a safe haven for IDPs who

experienced violence from other parts of Anbar.31 ISIS has adopted a strategy of attacking safe

havens, coupled with its war on terror to constantly redefine and shift Iraq’s border. The shifting

borders and instability in Iraq has led to tens of thousand of desperate Iraqis undergoing multiple

displacements in the course of a year. Delegates should consider how the UNHCR could

establish permanent centers of protection in the midst of ISIS’s war on terror that will endure the

instability and shifting borders. Delegates should also think about how ISIS’s recent seizing of

vast amounts of northern and western Iraq affect the refugee crisis.

ISIS religious persecutions

In addition to the exacerbation of tension between the Sunnis and the Shiites, ISIS has

also targeted the Christian community in the Middle East. ISIS has launched a series of religious

persecutions in the cities it conquest such as Mosul and Karakush city in the Nineveh Province,

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!29!“UNHCR Global Trends 2014,” UNHCR News, Web, 30 Aug. 2015.!30!“Iraq's Displacement Crisis Deepens as Civilians Flee Latest ISIS Offensive,” UNHCR News, !Web, 30 Aug. 2015. !31!Ibid.!

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home to the largest Christian population in Iraq. With regard to the former, in July of 2014, ISIS

gave the Christians in Mosul an ultimatum: convert to Islam or pay an exorbitant “jizya” in

exchange for their security. Many Christians were forced to leave to northern Iraq.32 The

number of Christians leaving to Northern Iraq is expected to increase markedly as ISIS seizes

more land.

Incoming Syrian Refugees and their Challenges

ISIS’s recent offensives in Syria from Kobane have led to refugees fleeing in the Dohuk

province in Iraq having crossed the border from Turkey. In October 2014, 5,400 Syrians from

Kobane entered Iraq (3,600 entered in a span of 72 hours).33 This number is expected to increase

by 10,000 to 15,000 incrementally34. The Syrians fled from Turkey due to the civil unrest, the

high cost of living, difficulties even with UNHCR aid, and family links to people living in the

Kurdistan region of Iraq, among others. After entering the border and being screened by border

authorities, the majority of the asylum seekers go to the Gawilan camp, which was set up in 2013

by previous waves of Syrian refugees.35 The camp, however, has already reached its capacity.

While other refugee camps such as the Arbat refugee camp in the Suleymaniyah province has

been accepting individuals, expansions of these refugee camps must be considered. Currently

Iraq hosts more than 214,000 Syrian refugees, the vast majority residing in Kurdistan.

Additionally, there are more than 1.9 IDPs in 2014, adding to the already existing million of IDP

who fled violence in previous years.36 Consequently, the UNHCR may consider setting up a

reception center along the borders to protect the newly arrived asylum seekers. Delegates should

consider whether efforts have been sufficient, and how ISIS’s recent control of various borders

(i.e. the Syrian and Turkey border) affects UNHCR’s efforts.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!32!“UNHCR: The UN Refugee Agency - United Kingdom,” UNHCR: UN Refugee Agency UK, !Web, 30 Aug. 2015. !!33!“Iraq's Displacement Crisis Deepens as Civilians Flee Latest ISIS Offensive,” UNHCR News, !Web, 30 Aug. 2015.!34!Ibid.!35!Ibid.!36!Ibid.!

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Key Players

United Nations High Commissioners for Refugees (UNHCR)

The United Nations High Commissioners for Refugees (UNHCR), alias UN Refugee

Agency, was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The

agency’s foremost responsibility is to ensure and protect the rights of refugees.37 It is responsible

for leading and coordinating international actions to protect refugees and resolve refugee

problems internationally. The agency promotes that everyone has the right to seek asylum and

find refuge in another State. Additionally, the agency ensures that refugees have the right to

either integrate in the state that they are seeking asylum or return to their home voluntarily. In

the 60 years that the UNHCR has been operating, it has been responsible for helping millions of

people seek refuge.38 Currently, the UNHCR is facing monumental challenges in the Middle

East, particularly with the rise of ISIS. ISIS’s notorious escalation of armed conflict has led to

new and secondary movements of internally displaced people within Iraq and also a rise of

refugees from Syria.

Financial Information for UNHCR

The 2013 budget for Iraq’s operation was 293.7 million USD. In 2014, ExCom-approved

budget was set up at 214 million, which was a significant drop and resulted in the construction of

less shelter construction.39 This figure was largely inadequate due to ISIS’s increased armed

conflict in Anbar and further escalation of violence across central Iraq. Consequently, UNHCR

increased the requirement to over half a billion USD. As for the 2015 budget, it stands at 230.5

million.40 Delegates should consider whether this budget is adequate to meet the needs of the

refugees and discuss how to adequately divide the funds.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!37!“UNHCR: The UN Refugee Agency - United Kingdom,” UNHCR: UN Refugee Agency UK, !Web, 30 Aug. 2015. !38!Ibid.!39!“UNHCR Global Trends 2014,” UNHCR News, Web, 30 Aug. 2015.!40!Ibid.!

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Challenges for UNHCR

With regard to the information warfare discussed earlier in this case brief, ISIS has

launched videos about its successful destruction of UNHCR’s camps.41 In doing so, ISIS has

sought to invalidate UNHCR. Delegates should consider how the UNHCR can combat ISIS’s

information warfare and whether UNHCR should launch its over counter-narrative against ISIS.

Possible Solutions

This case brief will pose possible solutions in solving ISIS more broadly and then delve

into Iraq’s refugee crisis more specifically.

Solving the ISIS Problem:

Humanitarian Assistance

While airstrikes have been damaging the Western reputation, humanitarian assistance to

the citizen of Syria and Iraqi will serve possibly as the best counter-narrative. Millions of the

citizens have become refugees as a result of ISIS’s forced displacement of minority groups42.

The international community could increase spending on humanitarian efforts to provide food,

water, and shelter to these individuals.

Cut Access to Guns

ISIS’s access to weapons is largely due to influx of weapons from the United States and

Saudi Arabia for over a decade. The United States and the international community should shut

down the weapon routes that ISIS has been relying on. While this approach is not the entire

solution, it is one of the necessary steps in stemming ISIS.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!41!Jesse Rosenfeld, The Daily Beast, Newsweek/Daily Beast, Web, 30 Aug. 2015. !42!Ibid.!

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Targeting the Group’s Finance

One of the most popular counter-terrorist attacks has been to target ISIS’s finance. While

traditional measures have focused on disrupting the international financial flow of cash to ISIS,

ISIS financial documents reveal that there is no evidence that ISIS relies on foreign patrons.

Instead, the bulk of its money comes from the lucrative oil industry and taxation. In order to cut

the group’s finances, the international community may help the Iraqis by providing advice on

interpreting the financial information from ISIS.43 However, the Iraqi government principally

has the power to defeat ISIS, especially if it successfully cut ISIS off from access to oil.

Help Iraq Fix its Political Rift

The disillusionment with Iraq and Syrian government has provided strong impetus for ISIS to

expand and gain supporters. A re-structuring of the Iraqi government will heal sectarian rifts and

help strengthen the Iraqi government against ISIS’s military aggression.44 Delegates should

discuss how the United Nations could seek diplomatic response to help establish Iraq and Syria

on firm political footing.

Possible Solutions

The following information is entirely derived from the UNHCR’s website.

● UNHCR should engage with all populations of concern, but its plan should be mainly

oriented towards the protection of refugee.

● Concerned parties include the government of Iraq, the UN County team, humanitarian

stakeholders and donors, and refugees.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!43!Patrick Johnson, and Benjamin Bahney, “Hitting ISIS Where It Hurts: Disrupt Its Cash Flow in Iraq,” Hitting ISIS Where It Hurts: Disrupt ISIS's Cash Flow in Iraq, Web, 1 Aug. 2015.!44!Sally!Kohn, “Obama Can Fight ISIS without Bombs,” CNN, Cable News Network, Web. 1 Aug. 2015.!

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● The UNHCR should also draft a comprehensive response to both the internally displaced

people as well as the Syrian refugee crisis that works with government and non-

government regional partners.

Questions to Consider:

● How should the UNHCR balance the needs of both the IDP in Iraq as well as the influx

of Syrian refugees?

● How can the UNHCR establish a permanent presence in Iraq for refugees when ISIS is

constantly redefining and shifting Iraq’s borders?

● How can the UNHCR combat ISIS’s information warfare of destroying UNHCR’s

refugee camps?

● Is the budget adequate for 2015? If so, how would delegates spend the money? If not,

what should it be and how should the funds be allocated?

● Who should the UNHCR partner with in both Syria and Iraq to draft a comprehensive

responsive for the internally displaced people?

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Works Cited

Irshaid, Faisal. “How ISIS Is Spreading Its Message Online.” BBC News. BBC, 20 June 2014.

Web. 1 Aug. 2015.

Berger, Jessica. “ISIS and the Foreign-Fighter Phenomenon.” The Atlantic. Atlantic Media

Company, 8 Mar. 2015. Web. 1 Aug. 2015.

Brennan Jr., Rick. “The Growing Strategic Threat of Radical Islamist Ideology.” The Growing

Strategic Threat of Radical Islamist Ideology. Web. 1 Aug. 2015.

“Iraq.” UNHCR News. Web. 30 Aug. 2015.

“Iraq's Displacement Crisis Deepens as Civilians Flee Latest ISIS Offensive.” UNHCR News.

Web. 30 Aug. 2015.

“Islamic State's Global Expansion.” Islamic State's Global Expansion. Web. 1 Aug. 2015.

Johnson, Patrick, and Benjamin Bahney. “Hitting ISIS Where It Hurts: Disrupt Its Cash Flow in

Iraq.” Hitting ISIS Where It Hurts: Disrupt ISIS's Cash Flow in Iraq. Web. 1 Aug. 2015.

Kohn, Sally. “Obama Can Fight ISIS without Bombs.” CNN. Cable News Network. Web. 1 Aug.

2015.

Rosenfeld, Jesse. The Daily Beast. Newsweek/Daily Beast. Web. 30 Aug. 2015.

“Security Council Adopts Resolution 2170 (2014) Condemning Gross, Widespread Abuse of

Human Rights by Extremist Groups in Iraq, Syria | Meetings Coverage and Press

Releases.” UN News Center. UN. Web. 1 Aug. 2015.

“Site-wide Navigation.” The Islamic State (Terrorist Organization). Web. 1 Aug. 2015.

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“UNHCR Global Trends 2014.” UNHCR News. Web. 30 Aug. 2015.

“UNHCR: The UN Refugee Agency - United Kingdom.” UNHCR:UN Refugee Agency UK.

Web. 30 Aug. 2015.

“UNHCR: The UN Refugee Agency - United Kingdom.” UNHCR: UN Refugee Agency UK.

Web. 30 Aug. 2015.

“What Is 'Islamic State’?” BBC News. BBC, 29 June 2015. Web. 1 Aug. 2015.

Wood, Graeme. “What ISIS Really Wants.” The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 15 Feb.

2015. Web. 1 Aug. 2015.