REFUGEES AND MIGRATION: THE ROLE OF SOCIAL WORKERS IN PROVIDING PRACTICAL SUPPORT AND PROTECTION SERVICES TO THE REFUGEES.

ABSTRACT: Refugee as a human displacement has gained greater worrisome prominence in the internationaldiscourse as the number of refugees and internally displaced persons in the today’s world continues to rise with newer experiences and challenges. At the local and international levels, people have been forced to flee as a result of natural and man- made factors. The objectives of this research were: to review and analyze the knowledge and thinking about refugees and displaced persons through existing research and experience , to highlight the reasons for this mass movement of people , to look at the plight of these refugees , suggest that social workers can do to ameliorate the plight of refugees and recommend strategies for mitigating migration generally as guide for future work and implementation for refugee services.The methodology adopted in the research includes, structured interview,literature review and analysis and focused group discussion (FGD). The finding arising from this research showed that people have been displaced due to environmental/ecological factors, socio- economic depression, political stability, violence/war, terrorism,persecution, growth in population, ethno-political conflict/tension, breakdown of state structures an institutions among others.Also, findings showed that refugees ad IDPs face pitiable physical,emotional,psychological tension/trauma, economic resources lack and human rights abuse which shows that social workers role in stemming and mitigating migration and the plight of refugees cannot be over emphasized.Against this backdrop, the researcher recommends that government at all levels should provide for the human and materials need of the people, ensure peace and harmony, integrate policy thrust, resources and needs of the refugees into all aspects of national development planning. Also, nations should be alive to the protection, support and assistance programmes for the refugees and internally displaced persons as relief officials and agencies become more dedicated and committed to their duties and responsibilities of providing professional services and support good for the refugees, displaced persons and society.Similarly, more social workers should work in refugee and IDPs camps to provide professional services and support beneficial to those vulnerable persons as well as to see to the strict enforcement and implementation of the 1995 UN convention and the 1967 protocol among signatory nations.

KEYWORDS: Refugees, migration, internally displaced persons and social work