Author: Robert Scherrer

2017 has been a year where natural calamities were seen in all the continents. From floods, hurricanes earthquakes, droughts to landslides every continent has had some deadly natural disasters.
Floods in South Asia:
South Asia suffered close to 1600 deaths in incidents related to flooding and landslides. The monsoon-related rain and floods struck millions of people in Nepal, Bangladesh, and India. India alone has reported the death of about 600 people while thousands of camps for relief and supplies have been set up.
Sri Lanka also suffered massive losses due to floods, and that affected more than 415600 and 220 killed. Since then as many as 250 people have died due to epidemics. The country is still in need of potable water and shelter.

Landslide in Columbia and Congo:
A massive landslide in Morocco’s southern city has taken the lives of more than 300 people and also caused injuries to 200 others in April. Two weeks later disaster struck again as another landslide triggered due to rains claimed 17 people and 12 people suffered injuries. The residents of these cities were unaware and hence the casualty count more, also heavy rains made matters worse.
In August this year, Congo also experienced a landslide where 174 people lost their lives. 280 children became orphans and what they need is safe shelter away from the area of landslides.

Earthquake in Mexico: Mexico city suffered a magnitude 7.1 earthquake on the 19th of September, and that claimed more than 225 people. This disaster stuck on the same day of the 25th anniversary of the deadly 1985 earthquake which took thousands of lives.

Avalanche in Afghanistan: Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan received heavy snowfall due to which there was an avalanche. As per reports, the death toll was reported to be 157. The most damage was to Afghanistan, as many as 300 homes got exterminated. Those who were killed in this disaster were majorly women and kids.

The President of United States has indicated that he wants to close the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program for the immigrants. This program was started by the ex-president Obama that benefited more than 7,50,000 immigrants.

What is DACA?:
It is a program, in which young people who migrated from other countries, have been living here for a long time and who do not have the required documentation are protected from being deported. These young people arrived as children here as immigrants with no documentation or authorization and these people are called as the Dreamers. The kids who are below the age of 16 and are residing in the country from June 15, 2007, are qualified for DACA. These immigrants cannot be aged more than 30 as per the guidelines set by the Homeland security set in 2012. As per the government records, DACA has approved close to 787580 residents since the Obama government started this program. Though the DACA does not allow such immigrants to become permanent U.S citizens, it will enable them to study in college, apply for jobs, get driver’s license.

Impact of withdrawing this program:
If this program is ended, nearly 800000 people’s lives are likely to be affected. Trump has agreed to give a breather of six months to the Congress so that they can come up with measures to deal with this situations. By then the Congress can make laws and legislate them so that the migrants can stay in the United States. But what is unknown is how the Congress can resolve this issue and get the bill passed.

There are a few supporters of DACA program, and that includes Paul Ryan who is the House Speaker. These people have approached Trump and asked to continue with this program till the Congress finds a viable resolution. Top Republicans were reported saying that the Congress has to come up with solutions for this matter.