Around the world, refugee situations are increasingly protracted, with displacement lasting about 20 years for refugees and more than 10 years for most internally displaced persons (IDPs). As the prospect of return diminishes, the needs of displaced populations shift from immediate subsistence and shelter to long-term economic security and access to livelihoods, housing, education and healthcare, as well as different legal protections. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is particularly affected, shaped by ongoing conflicts and large refugee populations, including millions of Syrians displaced over the past decade and Palestinians who now constitute the world’s longest protracted refugee situation.
On May 14, the Women’s Rights, Human Rights, and Refugees Program hosted a free, public event examining protracted displacement in the MENA region. Panelists discussed how prolonged displacement is reshaping humanitarian responses, host communities, and policy approaches. They also explored connections to recent changes in the U.S. refugee resettlement system and the implications for refugees in Houston and beyond.
This event marked the launch of a new series of policy briefs on protracted displacement in the MENA region. Developed following a fall 2025 workshop at Koç University’s Migration Research Center in Istanbul, the series examines barriers to local integration, the prospects for refugee return as a durable solution, and the broader systems shaping humanitarian aid.
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Agenda
5:30 pm CT — Reception
6:00 pm CT — Introduction by Kelsey Norman, Ph.D., Baker Institute
6:05 pm CT — Welcome remarks by Subhi Khudairi, President, Khudairi Group; Board Member, International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)
6:15 pm CT — Presentation of publication by Ana Martín Gil, Baker Institute
6:30 pm CT — Panel Discussion
7:10 pm CT — Audience Q&A Session
Speakers
Abbie Drozek
Director of Programs, Partnership for the Advancement & Immersion of Refugees (PAIR)
Mary Ghandour
Director of Global Pro Bono, International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)
Ziaulhaq Zia
SAS ASA Supervisor, International Rescue Committee
Moderator
Kelsey Norman, Ph.D.
Fellow for the Middle East and Director of the Women's Rights, Human Rights and Refugees Program, Baker Institute
