ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book focuses on African refugees spread across the content and making their way to Europe seeking protection. It also focuses on refugees from Burma and their experiences in protection spaces across Asia. This chapter deals with the particular challenges for refugees of rural origin who seek refuge in an urban setting. It explores the situation for urban refugees, or in some cases one particular refugee community that exists within a larger refugee population, in a specific locale, each one drawing to the fore the challenges unique to that host country. The chapter also examines the ethnic divisions and conflicts, which persist amongst the Congolese in Kampala and the mistrust that exists within the refugee population as a result. Following the massive response to urban refugees UNHCR issued an update to its urban refugee policy in 2009.
