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The forgotten refugees deserts of Africa, in the rice lands of Asia and on the mountains of Europe are caught in a state of limbo, with diminishing hope of returning to their native lands and a slim possibility of being granted asylum in a third country. For them, there is no solution in sight. Regardless of persecution, armed conflict and even genocide that have forced them to flee, the world remains unengaged.

When 25,000 or more refugees live in exile for over five years, their situation is considered protracted. There are at least 33 protracted refugee situations today, not including the 16,000 Somali refugees in Ethiopia or the 15,000 Ethiopians in Sudan. Nearly 60 per cent of the world's 9.2 million refugees are living under these conditions either in refugee camps or urban slums. In Africa alone, some 3 million are victims of this crisis situation that remains in the dark. Even more surprising is that refugees are spending longer periods in exile, averaging 17 years in 2003--nearly twice longer than in 1993.

Refugees are spending more of their lives in exile. Children are the most heavily impacted group in this tragic situation. Camps are the only home known to them--a home and a...

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