Shining the light on refugee lives

Author: Anindita Rochili, PallCHASE Communication Member

For June 20, the World Refugee Day, let us first look back in time. After World War I and II, guidelines and conventions were set to answer for actions that displaced individuals and families; this portion of history gave rise to the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol. With the possibility of having their rights violated (e.g., due to conflict, other circumstances, etc.), refugees may seek sanctuary with the support and protection of the international community. In such documents, refugee rights and the non-refoulement principle are emphasised.

One option to provide shelter and protection is through setting up refugee camps, which is meant as a temporary settlement for those who were forced to flee. Such accommodation may also have other services to sustain the livelihood of the refugees, especially if their stay is prolonged. While an internationally recognised standard is expected to be achieved, it may not always be possible under some circumstances, which may result in varying or unpredictable outcomes. For example, with lower access to certain services, especially in fragile settings or environment with limited resources, the health and well-being of the refugee population can be compromised, as mentioned by WHO:

• “(…) Refugees and migrants often face worse health outcomes in countries of transit and destination (…)
• Social, political and economic exclusion can result in poverty, homelessness and exploitation, which can create a higher risk for noncommunicable diseases.”

The types and prevalence of these non-communicable diseases (NCDs) may vary. For example, among adults, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, musculoskeletal, and chronic respiratory diseases may be observed in the Middle East (Amara & Aljunid, 2014; Saleh et al., 2021). Patients may arrive at the host country with unmet healthcare needs, especially after facing a harsh journey from their country of origin. A responsive and low-cost approach is needed, and may be achieved with collaborations between the government and organisations, both local and international, in order to address the concerns of the multiple aspects of their well-being. 

Even with limited funding, global collaborative actions have resulted in a ‘whole-of-society spirit’ among UN member states, civil society, institutions and companies to improve refugee lives through interventions in health and sanitation, education, employment, and housing. Sustained efforts, including prevention, could lead to better outcomes, offering refugees a better chance and a brighter future. 

Success stories of admirable individuals may also serve as motivating examples. In the UK, John Kasensa was inspired to be a mental health nurse after escaping the war in Democratic Republic of Congo. He lost his family, endured the trauma of war with other people, and experienced the kindness of strangers. Volunteering led him to working in healthcare, where he enjoyed helping others find their personal path to recovery (as reported by the BBC). From Sudan, there is Yuol Akoy Yuol, who moved to Australia to study IT and co-founded a youth association for refugees, also with the encouragement of a youth worker. An actor named Henri Szeps, was born in a Swiss refugee camp and adopted by another family in the same country. He had to repeatedly adapt to different cultures and environments until he settled in Australia with his family and built a career in entertainment. He eventually won many awards and got married with kids, while also staying in touch with those who helped him (as reported by the Refugee Council of Australia). Another example is a Syrian refugee, called Muneer, who had to move with his family to Türkiye, where he needed to start over from zero. With the help of the Danish Refugee Council, he began painting to earn an income and pursue his artistic talent. 

For some individuals and families in the Middle East, many are still unlucky. For Palestinians who called Gaza or the West Bank home, anger is the prominent emotion (as reported by NPR). As Samir Musri put it:

“(…) Hospitals were bombed. So yes, it is a massacre, and people are very angry in the camp.”

Each and every single individual has their own identities, and aspirations in life. Be it for themselves, their families, their country, or what they wanted to see in the world, and what they may wish for. Not all, however, have optimal health and well-being, nor the support they may need to achieve their dreams, let alone to have a normal life. In the same NPR report, an older woman mentioned that she has stopped cooking and sleeping. She has been in Jordan for such a long time, but she wishes to see Gaza again, where her heart is.

Elsewhere around the world, one can still find inspiration in another’s passion and day-to-day resilience. Another refugee from Democratic Republic of Congo called Bemerik, who has been living in Uganda, is conveying his family and grandmother’s Indigenous wisdom through vegetables: “I need to first have food.” He hopes to teach others and pass down what he knows – this is where he finds happiness, where he could also encourage others to not give up. While for youth, it may be about expressing themselves through music. Last year, for World Refugee Day, UNHCR presented the Ukrainian sisters (Fo Sho: Betty, Siona and Miriam) who chose to fight through their songs and amazing voices (Youtube). “As we were recording we forgot about being refugee or war in Ukraine. This is something special. For us, it’s huge.”

Amidst violence and destruction, choosing to remain true to oneself and creating genuine connections with others may not only be an act of resistance but also an embodiment of hope and humanity. Being whole and looking ahead is perhaps the way to move forward.

Resources

1. Akik, C., Ghattas, H., Mesmar, S., Rabkin, M., El-Sadr, W. M., & Fouad, F. M. (2019). Host country responses to non-communicable diseases amongst Syrian refugees: A review. In Conflict and Health (Vol. 13, Issue 1). BioMed Central Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-019-0192-2
2. Amara, A. H., & Aljunid, S. M. (2014). Noncommunicable diseases among urban refugees and asylum-seekers in developing countries: A neglected health care need. In Globalization and Health (Vol. 10, Issue 1). BioMed Central Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1186/1744-8603-10-24
3. Danish Refugee Council. (n.d.). Not too old to start over. https://help.drc.ngo/en/how-we-work/life-as-a-refugee/not-too-old-to-start-over/
4. Guo, P., Alajarmeh, S., Alarjeh, G., Alrjoub, W., Al-Essa, A., Abusalem, L., Giusti, A., Mansour, A. H., Sullivan, R., Shamieh, O., & Harding, R. (2023). Providing person-centered palliative care in conflict-affected populations in the Middle East: What matters to patients with advanced cancer and families including refugees? Frontiers in Oncology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2023.1097471
5. Naja, F., Shatila, H., El Koussa, M., Meho, L., Ghandour, L., & Saleh, S. (2019). Burden of non-communicable diseases among Syrian refugees: A scoping review. BMC Public Health, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6977-9
6. Jones, Jax. (2023, June 20). These Ukrainian sisters are creating sounds you can’t ignore || We Were Here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1bTucs9v6s
7. Oakley, Gaz. (2023, June 20). I Meet The Mushroom King: The Farmer That’s Inspiring The World. https://www.youtube.com/embed/w-Rz9TDqG0E?autoplay=1
8. Parry, Louise. (2024, May 12). ‘Fleeing war gave me insight into treating trauma’. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0w0kdwdr4eo
9. Refugee Council of Australia. (2019, January 20). Henri’s story. https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/henris-story/
10. Refugee Council of Australia. (2018, December 28). Yuol’s story. https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/yuols-story/
11. Ryan et al. (2023, November 23). We visited a camp for Palestinians and heard despair for Gaza — and anger at America. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2023/11/23/1214179757/gaza-israel-hamas-palestinians-jordan-refugee-camp
12. Saleh, S., Abdouni, L., Dimassi, H., Nabulsi, D., Harb, R., Jammoul, Z., Hachach, N., & El Arnaout, N. (2021). Prevalence of non-communicable diseases and associated medication use among Syrian refugees in Lebanon: an analysis of country-wide data from the Sijilli electronic health records database. Conflict and Health, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-021-00411-3
13. UNHCR. (2021, April 6). Refugee Camps Explained. https://www.unrefugees.org/news/refugee-camps-explained/
14. UN. (n.d.). Refugee Law. https://www.un.org/ruleoflaw/thematic-areas/international-law-courts-tribunals/refugee-law/
15. UN. (2023, December 13). Global Refugee Forum opens amid ‘crisis of humanity’. UN News. https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/12/1144767
16. WHO. (2022, May 2). Refugee and migrant health. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/refugee-and-migrant-health