Test Your Refugee Knowledge! Trivia Quiz

1. Who is a refugee?

Someone who flees to another city in their country because of conflict.

Someone who does not have citizenship to any country.

Someone who flees their home country because of fear for their lives or freedom.

The 1951 Refugee Convention identifies a refugee as someone who "owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country."

Explanation

The 1951 Refugee Convention identifies a refugee as someone who "owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country."

2. People may be stateless (or lack nationality to any country) as a result of:

Political change of the redrawing of a country's borders.

Laws regulating marriage and birth registration.

Both a. and b.

An estimated 12 million people around the world are stateless. Many do not have the right to vote and struggle to access health care, education or own property.

Explanation

An estimated 12 million people around the world are stateless. Many do not have the right to vote and struggle to access health care, education or own property.

3. What percentage of the U.S. federal budget goes to humanitarian aid?

Less than 1%

11%

24%

In 2011, the U.S. funded the Department of Defense at $513 billion. In comparison, the U.S. provided $1.69 billion for Migration and Refugee Assistance and $865 million for International Disaster Assistance.

Explanation

In 2011, the U.S. funded the Department of Defense at $513 billion. In comparison, the U.S. provided $1.69 billion for Migration and Refugee Assistance and $865 million for International Disaster Assistance.

4. The total number of refugees, IDPs and asylum seekers around the world is:

890,000

2.1 million

43.7 million

If these displaced people formed their own country, its population would rank 31 out of nearly 200 countries in the world, or roughly the same population of Colombia or South Korea.

Explanation

If these displaced people formed their own country, its population would rank 31 out of nearly 200 countries in the world, or roughly the same population of Colombia or South Korea.

5. What can you do to assist refugees, displaced, and stateless people around the world?

Help raise awareness by posting information to social media sites - including this quiz!

Donate to organizations like Refugees International at www.refugeesinternational.org/donate.

Host an event to raise money and inform your friends of the challenges facing refugees.

Contact your member of Congress and tell them to support funding for displaced people around the world.

Go to www.refugeesinternational.org/get-involved to learn more about how you can help!

Explanation

Go to www.refugeesinternational.org/get-involved to learn more about how you can help!

Submit

6. Most gender-based violence is committed by:

Armed rebel groups

Spouses or intimate partners

Militias

According to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), "as many as one in every three women has been beaten, coerced into sex, or abused in some other way - most often by someone she knows, including by her husband or another male family member; one woman in four has been abused during pregnancy." Because relief operations rarely focus on the needs of women, many displaced and stateless women and girls are left without access to basic services or protection.

Explanation

According to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), "as many as one in every three women has been beaten, coerced into sex, or abused in some other way - most often by someone she knows, including by her husband or another male family member; one woman in four has been abused during pregnancy." Because relief operations rarely focus on the needs of women, many displaced and stateless women and girls are left without access to basic services or protection.

7. In 2010, the two largest refugee populations were:

A. Congolese and Colombians.

B. Palestinians and Afghans.

D. Sudanese and Iraqis.

According to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), there were 4.8 million Palestinians and 3 million Afghans living as refugees in 2010.

Explanation

According to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), there were 4.8 million Palestinians and 3 million Afghans living as refugees in 2010.

8. An internally displaced person (IDP) is someone who has received official refugee status but has not left their home country.

True

False

IDPs are people forced from their homes but do not cross a national border. They therefore cannot receive refugee status.

Explanation

IDPs are people forced from their homes but do not cross a national border. They therefore cannot receive refugee status.

9. The country that hosts the largest number of refugees is:

Chad

Pakistan

United States

According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Pakistan hosts 1.7 million refugees, primarily from Afghanistan. That number used to be higher; since 2002, 3.6 million Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan. In addition, nearly one million Pakistanis are internally displaced.

Explanation

According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Pakistan hosts 1.7 million refugees, primarily from Afghanistan. That number used to be higher; since 2002, 3.6 million Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan. In addition, nearly one million Pakistanis are internally displaced.

10. What country currently receives the largest number of asylum requests in the world?

Italy

South Africa

Brazil

An asylum seeker is a person who is seeking to be recognized as a refugee but has not yet received formal refugee status. According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), South Africa received more than 400,000 individual asylum requests since 2008.

Explanation

An asylum seeker is a person who is seeking to be recognized as a refugee but has not yet received formal refugee status. According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), South Africa received more than 400,000 individual asylum requests since 2008.

11. Under its official mandate, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is NOT responsible for stateless people.

True

False

While the UN Refugee Agency’s primary focus is to assist and protect refugees, according to its website, “UNHCR has been given the mandate to work with governments to prevent statelessness from occurring, to resolve those cases that do occur and to protect the rights of stateless persons.”

Explanation

While the UN Refugee Agency’s primary focus is to assist and protect refugees, according to its website, “UNHCR has been given the mandate to work with governments to prevent statelessness from occurring, to resolve those cases that do occur and to protect the rights of stateless persons.”

12. In 2010, how many refugees were officially resettled into the United States?

19,946

73,311

207,716

Of the 73,316 refugees resettled in the U.S. in 2010, 18,016 were from Iraq, 16,693 were from Burma and 4,884 were from Somalia.

Explanation

Of the 73,316 refugees resettled in the U.S. in 2010, 18,016 were from Iraq, 16,693 were from Burma and 4,884 were from Somalia.

13. The average time of displacement for refugees living in camps is:

17 years

8 years

16 months

A survey conducted by USA for UNHCR found that 65% of responders thought the average displacement time was no more than eight years. Only 6% knew that the average time is actually 17 years.

Explanation

A survey conducted by USA for UNHCR found that 65% of responders thought the average displacement time was no more than eight years. Only 6% knew that the average time is actually 17 years.

14. How many people were displaced by natural disasters in 2010?

42 million

25.3 million

560,000

According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center, this number increased from 17 million in 2009 and 36 million in 2008. Over the past several decades, natural disasters have increased in force and frequency. In addition, growing water scarcity, desertification, and decreased agricultural output are causing more people to migrate to support livelihoods.

Explanation

According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center, this number increased from 17 million in 2009 and 36 million in 2008. Over the past several decades, natural disasters have increased in force and frequency. In addition, growing water scarcity, desertification, and decreased agricultural output are causing more people to migrate to support livelihoods.

15. How many UN peacekeepers are there, including uniformed personnel, civilian personnel, and volunteers?

120,830

481,790

1.2 million

According to a UN peacekeeping fact sheet, there is currently 99,133 uniformed personnel from 115 countries, 19,449 civilian personnel, and 2,248 UN volunteers serving in 14 peacekeeping operations. Peacekeepers have suffered 2,900 fatalities since operations began in 1948.

Explanation

According to a UN peacekeeping fact sheet, there is currently 99,133 uniformed personnel from 115 countries, 19,449 civilian personnel, and 2,248 UN volunteers serving in 14 peacekeeping operations. Peacekeepers have suffered 2,900 fatalities since operations began in 1948.