Title:
Mental Health and Psychosocial Wellbeing of Refugees in Egypt
Authors:
Al-Zawawy, M.
Year:
2016
PAGE:
70
Language:
En
Subject:
Humanitarian Assistance
Keywords:
Refugee(s), Asylum, Mental, health, Psychosocial, Egypt, documented, undocumented, VoT, policy(s), Practice(s).
Abstract:
Refugees often suffer from mental trauma due to loss of homes and loved ones, as well as having witnessed war and violence. The threat of trauma is often exacerbated by a lack of financial assets. Moreover, refugees face difficulties integrating into a new society, including language and cultural barriers, limited job opportunities, and problems concerning their legal status. Many of them suffer from poverty, food insecurity, poor quality services, and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). The living conditions of refugees cause and aggravate mental health and psychosocial problems. Policies and practices regarding refugees statuses, rights, and services have a big impact on living conditions of refugees and thereby influence their mental health and psychosocial wellbeing. MHPSS was developed to promote psychosocial wellbeing of refugees and minimize harm. Egypt currently hosts different groups of refugees with different statuses who suffer from many problems. Approximations of the number of refugees in Egypt range from one to three million, including both documented and undocumented refugees and asylum seekers, victims of trafficking (VoT) and stateless persons. Objective and Methodology: Literature and desk review was conducted to study the refugee situation in general and policies and practices related to the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of refugees in Egypt in particular. Findings: MHPSS wellbeing of refugees in Egypt is affected by their living conditions. Poverty, marginalization and lack of access to services as health care, education and community support pose additional risk of mental illness on refugees. Access to services is determined by legal status and/or the country of origin of the refugee. Policy gaps, as well as insufficient and inconsistent practices are a challenge to MHPSS wellbeing of refugees in Egypt. Conclusion: Legal status has a relatively high impact on refugees’ psychosocial wellbeing as it provides some legal protection and access to some services, such as health care. MHPSS for refugees in Egypt is affected by poor coordination, lack of commitment of some stakeholders, insufficient financial resources and the weak capacity of public health system.
Note:
Situation, Policies and Practices
Organization:
KIT - Royal Tropical Institute
,
VU - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Institute:
KIT (Royal Tropical Institue)
Country:
Egypt, Arab Republic of
Region:
Middle East
Training:
Master of Public Health/International Course in Health Development (MPH/ICHD)
Category:
research
Right:
© 2016 Al-Zawawy
Document type:
Thesis/dissertation
File:
PKj6PQjAqm_20170507153049410.pdf