Australia, 2/15/2013

The applicant, a member of the minority Shia population in Pakistan, was recognized as a refugee owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted by the Taliban. Flooding is recognized in country of origin information as contributing to displacement in the part of the country where the applicant had his origin, and the existence of flood-displaced Sunnis is a relevant factor in determining the availability of an internal relocation alternative.

United Kingdom, 10/13/2010

Three HIV positive women supporters of the opposition in Zimbabwe unsuccessfully resist removal on the basis of discriminatory denial of food aid and medical treatment.

Australia, 10/26/2000

This case relates to disasters/climate change as the High Court of Australia, in obiter dictum, referenced natural disasters and catastrophes when discussing the definition of “refugee.” The court pointed out that individuals who move across international borders due to such circumstances do not qualify for refugee status under the Refugee Convention.

United Kingdom, 10/18/2006

In the decision Lady Hale makes a statement obiter dictum concerning the limited scope of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. She states: ‘People fleeing national and international wars, famine or other natural disasters are referred to as refugees, and offered humanitarian aid by the international community, but they do not generally fall within the definition in the 1951 Convention.'

United States, 2/7/2014

An obiter dicta case affirming the statement in the case of Maria Sosa Ventura that the Refugee Convention does not apply to people fleeing disaster.

United States, 11/23/2010

A case that examines the relationship between Temporary Protected Status and enforced removal from the USA, establishing that the grant of TPS 'permit[s] certain aliens, such as the respondent, to remain in the United States with work authorization, but only for the period of time that TPS is effective.'

Canada, 6/30/1993

A leading case in international refugee law where the Court articulates a clear distinction between people with a well-founded fear of being persecuted, and people who leave their countries in the context of disasters.

United Kingdom, 7/6/2000

Lord Hope quotes Dawson J when the latter refers by the way to epidemic, natural disaster and famine in the context of the definition of the refugee in the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.

Australia, 8/23/2000

Considering if positive action from the state is necessary to establish persecution for a Convention reason the court considered the example of a national authority engaging in discriminatory denial of disaster relief. The Court observed that ‘it is inappropriate to insist that some positive conduct be present before the Convention definition can be brought into play.’

Australia, 2/15/2013

The applicant, a member of the minority Shia population in Pakistan, was recognized as a refugee owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted by the Taliban. Flooding is recognized in country of origin information as contributing to displacement in the part of the country where the applicant had his origin, and the existence of flood-displaced Sunnis is a relevant factor in determining the availability of an internal relocation alternative.