Masters Thesis: "Liberian Refugees in Ghana: Environmental Security Implications of the Indiscriminate Disposal of Municipal Solid Waste

Liberian Refugees in Ghana:Environment Security Implications of the Discriminate Disposal

of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)

MA Thesis Defense

Jenkins Divo Macedo

Presented to

Thesis CommitteeDr. Marianne Sarkis, Ph.D.

Dr. Anita Häusermann Fábos, Ph.D.

Dr. Jude Fernando, Ph.D. 26th March, 2012

Research Question

This study explores what environmental threats are associated with the

indiscriminate disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) in the local

environment at the Buduburam Refugee Settlement (BRS).

Problem Statement

Municipal solid waste continue to be environmental threat at the BRS in

the midst of the UNHCR/NCS’s solid waste collection and disposal

system.

Background of the Buduburam Refugee Settlement

Gomoa-East District, Central Region, Ghana

The settlement was established in 1990.

Currently hosts about 11,000 Liberian refugees and others.

2000 UNHCR/NCS established the MSW system at the

camp

UNHCR terminated all humanitarian services in 2003 and

this impacted the MSW program.

Methodology

Data CollectionMixed Methods Research

Quantitativeo Survey

Qualitative o Free-listo Pile Sortso Semi-Structure Interviewso Focus Groups

Geospatial MSW Digital Photograph

Ethical Consideration IRB GRB Approval

Limitations Time Tensions

Ethical Consideration and Limitation

Data Analysis

Unit of Analysis Environmental threats of MSM disposal

Quantitative Data SPSS Version 18

Qualitative Data Atlas.ti version 16.0 Anthropac version 1.0

Geospatial Data ArcGIS version 10.0

Municipal Solid Waste IFEU GHG Emissions MS Excel Database System

Result & Discussion

1. Land Pollution“The Central Region District Assembly cannot help because the amount of solid waste that is produced from the camp on a daily basis surpass those that are produced in other towns and as such DA does not have the capacity to assist” (District Chief of Gomoa-East, Environment and Health Unit, Ministry of Environment, Ghana).

“Solid waste can be found in all communities on this camp. Some refugees just don’t care where waste is disposed. This is a sign of lack of responsibility of Liberian refugees” (Refugee in Focus Group).

Results & Discussion, Continued....

2. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Disposed and

recycled waste emits 219,604 tonne CO2-eq/yr

Recycled waste saves -6,028 tonne CO2-eq/yr last year

213,576 tonne of CO2-eq/yr from total MSW

Recycled waste Disposed of waste Total MSW

Debits 2188.91081225606 217414.925084073 219603.835896329

Credits -6028.11820280138 0 -6028.11820280138

Net -3839.20739054531 217414.925084073 213575.717693527

-25,000

25,000

75,000

125,000

175,000

225,000

GHG emissions

tonn

e C

O2-

eq/y

r

Result & Discussion, Continued...

3. Water-borne Disease

“When it rains human fecal contaminants get into the nearby neighborhoods and water sources causing the outbreak of cholera, diarrhea, dysentery and other water-borne diseases” (Follow-up Interview with the Chief Administrator, St. Gregory Catholic Clinic).

“The cases of illnesses here at the camp are very high. So, we do have new incidence everyday of the week of sickness such as malaria, typhoid fever, cholera, diarrhea and measles” (Interview with a Nurse, SGCC, Buduburam Refugee Settlement).

Research Question Revisited

What environmental threats are associated

with the indiscriminate disposal of

municipal solid waste (MSW) in the local

environment at the Buduburam Refugee

Settlement (BRS).

Conclusions

The indiscriminate disposal of municipal solid waste in the local environment at the refugee camp threatens both refugees and local host communities to increase vulnerability to the outbreak of water-borne diseases, increased emissions of GHG and land pollution.

The withdrawal and termination of all humanitarian assistance to the refugee population exacerbates the deteriorating sanitary conditions at the camp.

How does my study relates to IDSC?

Work with refugees and forced migrants

Environmental threats impact refugees and host relations.

Develop programs to address environmental threats in refugee settings

Next Step

Sign and submit MA Thesis to Academic Affairs at IDCE

Submit for publishing

Consider exploring my data to see what next to what about.