An Anthropological Study on Forced Migration and Social Transformation in East Africa

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25870482
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Area studies; Cultural anthropology
• Research Institution: The University of Tokushima
• Principal Investigator: Naito Naoki 徳島大学, 大学院総合科学研究部, 准教授 (70467421)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 難民 / メディア / ネットワーク / 食文化 / 人道支援 / ケニア / タンザニア / 東アフリカ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study focuses on Somali refugees in Protracted Refugee Situations and examines the ways in which both refugees and hosts construct their living environments. The aim of this study is to examine the socio-economic relationships between refugees and hosts at the Dadaab refugee camp complex in Eastern Kenya during the 24 years following 1991.
Due to the Kenyan policy, refugee cannot move out of the camp except Somalia. Formal Global Support by UN agencies, NGOs and Kenya government provide the place to stay, shelters, foods, medical services and so on. These supports such as money and food activate the local socio-economic system around the camp. Somali refugee, their hosts and the people in Somalia operate trans boarder business activities by using mobile phones and M-PESA. This created new living space by surrounding the camp. This study shows that the digital media can support the marginalized people with limited civil rights in a way.

Free Research Field

文化人類学