Exposure to Traumatic Experiences Among Asylum Seekers from Eritrea and Sudan During Migration to Israel

Abstract

Little is known about the experiences of displaced individuals en route to destination countries. We investigated the reported prevalence of exposure to traumatic experiences during migration among a consecutive sample of adult asylum seekers (n = 895 Eritrean, n = 149 Sudanese) who sought health services in the Physicians for Human Rights Open-Clinic in Israel. Percentage of Eritrean and Sudanese men and women who reported witnessing violence (Eritrea: men: 41.3 %, women: 29.3 %; Sudan: men: 16.8 %, women: 22.2 %) and/or being a victim of violence (Eritrea: men: 56.0 %, Women: 34.9 %; Sudan: men: 51.9 % women: 44.4 %) during migration varied by gender and country of origin. Findings highlight the need for a well-coordinated international cooperation to document and prevent these transgressions.

Medical condition and care of undocumented migrants in ambulatory clinics in Tel Aviv, Israel: assessing unmet needs

“…Additionally, MHA may lack family support, as the majority are single. Some may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorders due to harassments and attacks they experienced during their terrestrial voyage to Israel [14]. Interestingly, we did not find association between the country of origin and the severity of disease or the need for further referral to secondary and tertiary health care.…”

“…Yet, a greater proportion of women were referred to other medical settings, as a result of a greater need for gynecological care, which had not been available fully at the clinics. A recent publication from Israel has suggested that MHA have high rates of psychological problems as a result of stress and assault they experienced during their voyage to Israel [14]. It is therefore recommended that the clinics include gynecological and psychological secondary care consultation to meet the medical needs of the migrants.…”

Applying a community-based participatory research approach to improve access to healthcare for Eritrean asylum-seekers in Israel: a pilot study

“…However, as our study shows, one should also note substantial prevalence of symptoms potentially associated with mental health needs. These may be related to experiences before, during and after migration [ 16 , 17 ]. With regard to post-migration risk factors, our findings support prior studies [ 14 ] showing that precarious employment and the related social insecurity are major stressors in the lives of many asylum seekers, compounding the threats related to living in legal instability and a largely hostile environment.…”

“…Beyond that, Palestinian medical facilities in East Jerusalem offer comparably inexpensive rates [ 14 , 15 ]; yet accessing them can be problematic in terms of time and travel costs. The few existing studies on the health of asylum seekers in Israel point to considerable delays in treatment onset [ 12 , 14 ] and substantial unmet reproductive and mental healthcare needs [ 16 , 17 ]. A special report by the State Comptroller [ 10 ] notes that “without adequate health care in the community the medical needs of some of the non-deportable foreigners are neglected until they become matters of emergency care.” (p.63) It further points out that “[t] he absence of [corresponding] budgetary resources is liable to harm also the hospitals’ economic stability” (ibid.)…”

Zur Lebenssituation und Zukunftsperspektive von eritreischen Geflüchteten: Geflohen nach Israel – deportiert nach Ruanda/Uganda – gestrandet in Kampala

“…Siehe auch den ausführlichen Bericht von Amnesty International "Forced and Unlawful" (2018) (https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/MDE1584792018ENGLISH.PDF, S. 32 <02.03. 2020>).17 Vgl Nakash et al (2014). sowie detailliert: Human Rights Watch (2014): Human Trafficking in the Sinai: Refugees between Life and Death, https://www.hrw.org/report/2014/02/11/i-wanted-liedown-and-die/trafficking-and-torture-eritreans-sudan-and-egypt <03.03.2020>.…”