UN High Commission on Refugees

Dear Delegates,

My name is Frankie Kin San Wong and I will be your Director for the UN High Commission on Refugees. I am currently a sophomore in Pforzheimer House. I am concentrating in Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology (think stem-cell and the aging population) with a secondary in Sociology. I was born in Hong Kong when it was still under United Kingdom’s rule but moved to Orange County, CA (yes. THE OC) when I was eight. Unfortunately, I do not know how to surf and I do not have an amazing tan. Instead, I have always enjoyed driving down Pacific Coast Highway in a convertible; I enjoy the wind blowing at my face, especially when coupled with a magnificent sunset/sunrise.

I first encountered Model UN when I was a freshman in high school. At my high school, Model UN was not a club, but a class, and I enrolled in it simply because all of my friends were in it. However, I immediately fell in love with the issues that we talked about and went on to become Secretary-General of my high school’s conference.

When I arrived at Harvard, I was hesitant to participate in any Model UN activities because I wanted to try something new, but my love for the organization was far too great. I quickly joined the International Relations Council, the umbrella organization for HNMUN and six other international relations programs. I was extremely impressed by this organization and was an Assistant Director for HMUN and HNMUN 2010 for UNHCR and NGOs. In addition, I have also been privileged to be able to travel with the Intercollegiate Model United Nations Team. This past year, I have been to NCSC 2009, UPMUNC 2009, and PICSim 2010. It is a privilege to be able to work at HNMUN 2011 as the Director of UNHCR because I believe that not only are the topics that we will be discussing in committee important, but also you, the delegates, are passionate about them. I cannot wait to see what you can bring to solve the issue, and please feel free to email with any questions or concerns you may have regarding the topics! I look forward to seeing all of you in committee!

Sincerely,

Frankie Wong
Director, UN High Commission on Refugees
Harvard National Model United Nations 2011

Topic Area A: Food Security and Nutrition of Refugees

It is the host nation’s responsibility to ensure that refugees have access to a sufficient amount of nutrient-rich food and safe water because these elements are essential for health, survival, and the general welfare of life. This right to freedom from hunger and malnutrition is supported by current international initiatives such as the Millennium Developmental Goals, the United Nations humanitarian reform process, the Reinforcing Efforts to Address Child Hunger, and the internationally recognized Right to Adequate Food. UNHCR has striven to improve the nutritional status of refugees, with an emphasis on women and children. UNHCR has also highlighted the improvement of food security and nutrition of refugees as a key objective in the UNHCR’s Global Strategic Objectives for 2008-2012, These efforts to solve the problem of malnutrition in refugee settings have been ongoing and current initiatives have included the distribution of micronutrient blends in refugee populations that are entirely dependent on food that lacks vital nutrients. In addition, widespread distribution of vitamin A and edible oil has also been implemented. Despite these efforts in reducing the level of malnutrition, information from the Health Information System, surveys, and nutrition-related databases show that the number of identified cases in micronutrient malnutrition has remained at a high level. A universal indicator of malnutrition is the measurement of globally acute malnutrition (GAM) and severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in refugee populations illustrates this pressing issue. In nations with a high number of refugees, such as Kenya and Tanzania, close to 20% of the population experiences GAM and 5% of the population experiences SAM. Moreover, there is a clear link that exists between nutrition and public health. Mass displacement of refugees often results in a high rate of malnutrition, which often leads to sickness and death. While shortage of food also makes refugees more vulnerable to problems such as sexual abuse, children who receive poor quality diets often display delayed childhood development.

Topic Area B: The Role of Sustainable Environmental Management on Refugees

It is the UNHCR’s belief that forced displacement should not result in detrimental changes to the environment. In addition to the basic necessities within refugee camps such as safe, clean drinking water and nutritional food, the physical structure and location of refugee camps or settlements could potentially have a negative impact on the local environment because these factors add pressure to the ecosystem and create environmental concerns. In the worst scenario, refugee activities could result in irreversible changes to the ecosystem which include: the extinction of animal and plant species, the destruction of ecosystems, the depletion and/or long-term pollution of ground water supplies within the region, and destructive factors to the economy of the host nation. Thus, strategies and actions need to be implemented to address key environmental issues to prevent environmental degradation from taking place. Moreover, there is also a need to identify environmental changes that could prevent economic and social progress within the host country. If these problems could be addressed, a healthy environment would protect refugees and other members of the community, contribute to sustaining the livelihoods and essential aspects of the residents, and allow the host nations the opportunity to reduce poverty and achieve a high level of sustainable development in their nations. It is also important to note that sustainable environmental management programs cannot maximize their efficiency without the active involvement of refugees or internally displaced people, as conflicts could arise as an increasing number of people compete for a decreasing amount of resources.