About the Authors
Dennis Dijkzeul is professor in the management of humanitarian crises at the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict at Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany. From 2000 to 2002 he directed the Program for Humanitarian Affairs at Columbia University’s School for International and Public Affairs. He regularly consults for international organizations in Africa, Central America, Europe, and the United States. His main interests concern the management of international organizations and the (non)participation of local populations in development and humanitarian programs. He is the author of Between Force and Mercy: Military Action and Humanitarian Aid (Berliner Wissenschaftsverlag, 2004) and, together with Yves Beigbeder, Rethinking International Organizations: Pathology and Promise (Berghahn Books, 2003).
Caroline Lynch is an epidemiologist focusing mainly on malaria. She is currently a doctoral student at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, working on the epidemiology of malaria in highland areas. She has worked for the past five years in various complex emergency situations, the most recent of which were in Somalia, Liberia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She also consults for international organizations, mainly in emergency or refugee situations in Africa.
The Committee on Population was established by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in 1983 to bring the knowledge and methods of the population sciences to bear on major issues of science and public policy. The committee’s work includes both basic studies of fertility, health and mortality, and migration and applied studies aimed at improving programs for the public health and welfare in the United States and in developing countries. The committee also fosters communication among researchers in different disciplines and countries and policy makers in government and international agencies.
The Roundtable on the Demography of Forced Migration was established by the Committee on Population of the National Academy of Sciences in 1999. The Roundtable’s purpose is to serve as an interdisciplinary, nonpartisan focal point for taking stock of what is known about demographic patterns in refugee situations, applying this knowledge base to assist both policy makers and relief workers, and stimulating new directions for innovation and scientific inquiry in this growing field of study. The Roundtable meets yearly and has also organized a series of workshops (held concurrently with Roundtable meetings) on some of the specific aspects of the demography of refugee and refugee-like situations, including mortality patterns, demographic assessment techniques, and research ethics in complex humanitarian emergencies. The Roundtable is composed of experts from academia, government, philanthropy, and international organizations.
Other Publications of the Roundtable on the Demography of Forced Migration
Child Health in Complex Emergencies (2006)
Fertility of Malian Tamasheq Repatriated Refugees: The Impact of Forced Migration (2004)
War, Humanitarian Crises, Population Displacement, and Fertility: A Review of Evidence (2004)
Psychosocial Concepts in Humanitarian Work with Children: A Review of the Concepts and Related Literature (2003)
Initial Steps in Rebuilding the Health Sector in East Timor (2003)
Malaria Control During Mass Population Movements and Natural Disasters (2003)
Research Ethics in Complex Humanitarian Emergencies: Summary of a Workshop (2002)
Demographic Assessment Techniques in Complex Humanitarian Emergencies: Summary of a Workshop (2002)
Forced Migration and Mortality (2001)