Refugees, Care of

Health Risks Facing Refugees

Armed conflicts and natural disasters are the two main reasons that individuals might seek refuge in another country. Recent civil wars in particular have been characterized by significant human rights abuses against civilians. In such cases, governments either cannot ensure the safety of citizens, or target individuals and communities as part of a political goal. Climatic disasters, including hurricanes, droughts, earthquakes, and tsunamis can also cause populations to flee their countries in search of shelter and survival. In recent years, the majority of the world's refugees have resulted from armed conflict, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

According the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its subsequent protocols in 1967, a refugee is a person who is outside their country of nationality or residence, and has a well-founded fear of persecution due to their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership of a particular social group. Refugees can also be groups of people who leave their country due to aggression, occupation by an outside force, foreign domination, or events seriously disturbing the peace in their country of origin. In order to legally remain within a country of asylum, individuals must be granted refugee status from the government of the host country. Refugees face a significant number of health risks due to the tenuous situations in their home countries, and during flight and resettlement. Disasters, whether they are natural or human-made, can have both direct and indirect effects on the health of refugees. Physical violence and trauma, infectious diseases and epidemics, malnutrition, and vitamin deficiencies are the leading public health threats facing refugee populations. These health impacts can be exacerbated when individuals are exposed to prolonged conflict before fleeing, or when they must travel significant distances on foot before reaching their location of settlement.

Exposure to physical violence and trauma during armed conflict, natural disasters, and the process of migration are common among refugees, and have direct health impacts. For example, widespread sexual [Page 568]violence against women and girls is often prevalent during armed conflict, displacement, and within refugee camps, particularly in recent conflicts in Sierra Leone, Darfur, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Individuals affected by natural disasters can also be affected by trauma due to destroyed homes and infrastructure, and interpersonal violence. Exposure to traumatic events can produce both physical and psychological injury. Such injury can result in various mental health conditions, including anxiety, clinical depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Mental health disorders are associated with greater morbidity and mortality, and can result in long-lasting implications on the health and well-being of refugees and their families.

...