Topic B Discussion: Refugees and the Vietnam War

 Hi delegates!

I hope your preparation for BMUN 71 is going well! This post will focus on further discussion of Topic B: The Vietnam War.

One aspect of the topic that would be very interesting to look into is the refugee crisis that followed the Vietnam War, which this article from History provides a basic overview of. From the fall of Saigon in 1975 until 1995, more than 3 million people fled as refugees from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, escaping violence and persecution. They mostly sought refuge in other nations in the region as well as the United States, in which there is a sizable population of Southeast Asian refugees and their descendants today.

The human toll of this crisis is immeasurable. It is estimated that between 25,000 to 50,000 refugees died while attempting to leave by sea, as they were often trapped on boats for days without food or water. Many refugees found themselves unwelcome and under-resourced, as there was not a sufficient protocol for nations to accept and resettle them. They lived in refugee camps that were extremely densely populated and had poor conditions and sanitation. Even after resettlement, many Southeast Asian refugees struggled in their new country because of factors such as the language barrier, poverty and an inadequate social safety net, and deep mental and emotional trauma (including conditions such as PTSD) that they experienced in their homeland.

In committee, your nation may not be able to influence the political and military decisions of the war itself, but all nations in the international community can play a part in ensuring that contingencies and frameworks are created to treat refugees with dignity and respect. Consider what could be done to handle this crisis and assist refugees as the conflict unfolds. Feel free to reach out to us with any further questions!