Refugee cities would be special-status settlements in which refugees would be legally allowed to engage in meaningful, dignifying, and rewarding work.
Displaced people could thus provide for their families and contribute to the economic and social development of the host countries and their homelands.
Refugee cities present a pragmatic and feasible next-step solution to the problem refugees face. Rather than waiting to see if refugees will be allowed to work anywhere, refugee cities offer them the opportunity to develop their potential in a defined space now, while displaced, and in the midst of the political standstills over nationwide integration efforts.
For host governments, a refugee city would provide a solution that:
- Addresses the reality of refugees streaming across their border, whether the host country has welcomed them or not
- Brings host countries closer to compliance with the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, improving their international reputation, and
- Turns refugees from being a burden to a benefit – from a drain on public resources and source of social unrest to productive generators of income, jobs, and foreign investment.
Communities surrounding the refugee city would benefit from increased investment and economic activity in the area. That activity tends to produce “spillover” benefits: new businesses with which to exchange goods and services, new consumers, and development of surrounding infrastructure.
Practically speaking, we envision these settlements being implemented in 3 stages:
We encourage you to look at all three stages to get a more complete picture of the process.