Outline
1.0 Introduction
· Who is a refugee?
· Reasons that force someone to become a refugee
· Thesis Statement: Consequences of being a refugee and the consequences experienced by the host countries
2.0 Literature Review
· Various problems experienced by refugees as indicated in the five sources used, three journals and two website articles.
3.0 Results and Findings
3.1 Consequences of Refugees
– Straining host’s countries financial budget
(a) Psychological Consequences
– Insecurity, hopelessness, demoralization, depression, memory problems
(b) Social problems
– Assimilation in a new cultural set up, language barrier
(c) Heath Problems
– Poor health care system, lack of enough medical personnel and facilities, poor living conditions
4.0 Conclusion
· A plea to the minister of immigration and citizenship to make necessary changes in the department that can enhance the well being of refugee.
Abstract
Refugees which refer to all people outside their country of nationality due to various reasons like fear of being persecuted due religious, political or social reasons are usually exposed to a lot of problems. Various studies conducted in Australia illustrate that any person forced to be a refugee by circumstances experience heath, psychological and social problems and threaten the well being of an individual. The host country also faces a lot of consequences like financial strain since it is forced to provide for the needs of the refugees. It is therefore upon the minister of immigration and citizenship in Australia to make in necessary changes that can limit the number of refugees entering the country and promote the well being of the rest.
1.0 Introduction
A refugee is any person outside his country of nationality due to various reasons such as fear of persecution due to political, social, religious or any other reason[1]. Currently, due to various factors like increased violence, natural disasters and civil wars, the number of refugees is on the increase. It is usually the duty of the host country to take good care of them and most countries in the world make provisions in their budget to help them cope with the problem. In addition, there are a lot of non governmental organizations that offer humanitarian support to such groups of people. However, although the movement strives to meet the basic needs of refugees, they undergo a lot of misery and problems. For instance, they are always exposed to a lot of health hazards as they live mostly in camps where there is usually a problem of utilities like clean water and other sanitary facilities. Apart from that, they are also bound to suffer psychologically due to problems like insecurity, injustices, inability to relate well with new people and discrimination, to mention just a few. Bent on that, this paper shall focus on the major consequences of refugees and the consequences of countries hosting them either on temporal or permanent basis.
2.0 Literature Review
Studies indicate that refugees face a wide range of problems. According to Coffey, et al[2] a research which was conducted to investigate the consequences of the all the experiences of refugees detained in an asylum indicated that they suffered from problems like depression, memory disturbances, hopelessness and demoralization, fear, insecurity problems and persistent anxiety. In general, the research indicated that refugees suffered a great psychological harm even after release. According to the studies of Zion, Briskman and Loff[3], health conditions of asylum seeker detention in Australia are far much below standard since it is not even easy for nurses and other healthcare professionals to offer health services in an ethical manner. The same study indicates that refugees in such places are striped off their rights as human beings. The condition arises from lack of proper health care facilities and proper programs necessary to assist nurses and other practitioners in providing medical care. The main problem addressed in the article is failure to deliver medical care ethically due to lack of proper structures that enhance the same.
According to the studies of Atwell, Gifford and McDonald-Wilmsen, [4] the future of the refugees is always affected by the problems caused by difficulties in resettlement and difficulties to learn a new language among others. The same study indicates that youth and young people are seriously affected since they usually arrive at the host country with a lot of education and employment aspirations which are never fulfilled. Stein [5] illustrate that little research concerning the problem of refugees has been conducted and as a result, many people are still not aware of their needs and problems. Due this, they usually face a problem of not being recognized not only by other citizens in the host country but also by the administration. Countries that accommodate refugees face a lot of problems. For instance, in a country like Australia, studies of Atwell, Gifford and McDonald-Wilmsen[6] indicate a total of about thirteen hundred refugees are resettled in the country every single year. Such a high number contributes greatly the increased expenditure of a country especially bearing in mind that resources are already scarce. Although there are still some international organizations that offer humanitarian aid, it is still the duty of the host country to ensure that all the refugees obtain basic needs and other needs like medical services.
3.0 Results and Findings
3.1 Consequences of Refugees
As highlighted earlier, the host government and the humanitarian support agencies try their best to see to it that refugees acquire their basic needs. However, as much as they may try, the needs of a refugee are many ranging from physical, social and psychological. In most cases the government only provides physical needs as there are no well developed structures to take care of the other needs. In addition, due to the high number of refugees, it may not be possible to offer personalized services to all the refugees in the country. A country hosting refugees goes through a lot but the financial burden is the major problem.
(a) Psychological Consequences
A lot of refugees in Australia suffer from mental and psychological conditions. Some of the conditions reported were inclusive but not limited to depression, concentration, memory problems and anxiety. In addition, being in a strange country exposes them to injustices and a lot of insecurity. The stress associated with settling in a new place also contributes greatly to the psychological problems. Moreover, the problem is aggravated by the fact that most of them are exposed to an environment that is dehumanizing as it is characterized by lack of some human wants and isolation. Most of the refugees also have their own personal problems like worry due to broken family ties. Such an environment does not only demoralize but also leads to[7].
(b) Social problems
Refugees of all ages undergo a lot social problems. To begin with, settling in a new environment requires someone to establish a new social relation which is not easy especially due to isolation. In addition, most of them are usually forced to learn a new language in order to be assimilated in the new environment. Finding any form of employment becomes a challenge especially to refugees who may not have had any formal training in their original countries. It is also quite challenging for parents to guide their children appropriately especially on maters concerning education especially due to the fact that countries contain different education systems[8].
(c) Heath Problems
Health is an issue of concern in many refugee settings due to poor living conditions and poor medical conditions. Nurses who are employed to work in such settings consider it a role conflict to work in such settings because even though they are expected to provide medical care to the refugees, the organization that employs them undermines good health and contributes greatly to the health problems of the refugees. Moreover, most of the refugees do not seek health services as they ought to. There is a lot of mistrust between the patients and the healthcare providers contributing to difficulties in providing proper medical care. Nurses who are usually the key people in providing health services in asylums usually do not have the power to demand for proper health care standards and are usually threatened every time they try to make any demands. In addition, resource and facilities in such settings are also scarce and below the required standards. There are a lot of health problems faced by refugees that may be beyond the scope of this paper indicating clearly that healthcare system in asylums exposes refugees to a lot of health consequences[9].
4.0 Conclusion
Australia may not have had a long history of hosting refugees but that does not imply that the country does not face any problem due to presence of refugees in the country. Research has indicated that the number of refugees continues to increase a situation which burdens the country to quite a great extent. Nevertheless, as much as the refugees are taken care of, research has indicated that being a refugee exposes a person to social, economic, psychological and health problems. The minister of Immigration and Citizenship can therefore consider revisiting the issue of refugees and make the necessary changes to enhance their wellbeing because they are humans and deserve to be treated as such.
Bibliography
Atwell, Rebecca, Sandra M Gifford, and Brooke McDonald-Wilmsen. “Resettled Refugee Families and Their Children’s Futures: Coherence, Hope and Support.” Journal of Comparative Family Studies 40, no. 5 (2009): 677-697.
Bridie. Refugees in Australia . 2005. http://www.actnow.com.au/Issues/Refugees_in_Australia.aspx (accessed August 13, 2010).
Coffey, Guy J., Ida Kaplan, Robyn C. Sampson, and Maria Montagna Tucci. “The meaning and mental health consequences of long-term immigration.” Social Science & Medicine 70 (2010): 2070-2079.
Stein, Barry N. The Experience of Being A Refugee: Insights from the Research Literature . https://www.msu.edu/course/pls/461/stein/MNREXP1.htm (accessed August 13, 2010).
Zion, D, L Briskman, and B Loff. “Nursing in asylum seeker detention in Australia: care, rights and witnessing.” Journal of Medical Ethics, no. 35 (2009): 546–551.
[1] Bridie. Refugees in Australia . 2005 Para 1. http://www.actnow.com.au/Issues/Refugees_in_Australia.aspx (accessed August 13, 2010).
[2] Coffey, Guy J., Ida Kaplan, Robyn C. Sampson, and Maria Montagna Tucci. “The meaning and mental health consequences of long-term immigration.” Social Science & Medicine 70 (2010 pp. 2070): 2070-2079.
[3] Zion, D, L Briskman, and B Loff. “Nursing in asylum seeker detention in Australia: care, rights and witnessing.” Journal of Medical Ethics, no. 35 (2009): 546–551.
[4] Atwell, Rebecca, Sandra M Gifford, and Brooke McDonald-Wilmsen. “Resettled Refugee Families and Their Children’s Futures: Coherence, Hope and Support.” Journal of Comparative Family Studies 40, no. 5 (2009): 677-697.
[5] Stein, Barry N. The Experience of Being A Refugee: Insights from the Research Literature . n. d. Para 3) https://www.msu.edu/course/pls/461/stein/MNREXP1.htm (accessed August 13, 2010).
[6] Atwell, Rebecca, Sandra M Gifford, and Brooke McDonald-Wilmsen. “Resettled Refugee Families and Their Children’s Futures: Coherence, Hope and Support.” Journal of Comparative Family Studies 40, no. 5 (2009 pp. 678): 677-697.
[7] Coffey, Guy J., Ida Kaplan, Robyn C. Sampson, and Maria Montagna Tucci. “The meaning and mental health consequences of long-term immigration.” Social Science & Medicine 70 (2010 pp. 2074): 2070-2079.
[8] Atwell, Rebecca, Sandra M Gifford, and Brooke McDonald-Wilmsen (2009 pp. 677)
[9] Zion, D, L Briskman, and B Loff. “Nursing in asylum seeker detention in Australia: care, rights and witnessing.” Journal of Medical Ethics, no. 35 (2009pp. 550): 546–551.
