Working with traumatized refugees on the Balkan route

Abstract

In the past several years Serbia has been in the center of the so-called "Balkan route", a pathway for refugees from the Middle East and Central Asia. In March 2016 the Balkan route was closed and this measure reduced the number of daily arrivals and prolonged the stay of refugees in Serbia. A brief overview of the current situation is given, together with some previous experiences in psychosocial programs for the displaced population during wars in former Yugoslavia and current psychosocial programs and interventions. Several short examples are presented to point out some aspects of those experiences that might have relevance to our understanding of the psychological trauma and possible ways of treatment.

“Imagine, 7 Years Without a Future”: A Qualitative Study of Rejected Asylum Seekers' Life Conditions in Norway

“…Life situations that are so difficult that one cannot manage without psychotropic or sleep medication, and where one considers “salvation” through ending one's life, are manifestations of the severity of these violations. Based on our study, as well as on others (Chavez, 2012 ; Jovic, 2018 ), it seems legitimate to argue that living under such conditions is equivalent to severe and long-lasting social suffering due to avoidable violence imposed by external others (Galtung, 1969 ).…”

“I Have No Capacities That Can Help Me”: Young Asylum Seekers in Norway and Serbia – Flight as Disturbance of Developmental Processes

“…Mobile teams were organized comprising a medical doctor and a nurse to attend to refugees' physical and medical needs using a set of interventions known as medical first aid (MFA). The teams also comprised a psychologist, responsible for providing psychosocial first aid (PFA), and a translator (Jovic, 2018). Guidelines for brief psychosocial interventions for refugees were developed that included: 3 The Inter-Agency Standing Committee is an inter-agency forum for coordination, policy development and decision-making involving the key UN and non-UN humanitarian partners.…”

“…In March 2016, the EU and Turkey signed an agreement to reduce the number of refugees entering Europe by sending migrants crossing from Turkey into Greece back to Turkey and by increasing border security ( Weber, 2016 ). The endeavor to close the Balkan route has only been partly successful, but it has made the flight more difficult and dangerous ( Weber, 2017 ; Jovic, 2018 ).…”

A cross- sectional study of refugees in Norway and Serbia: Levels of mental distress and social-demographic risk factors

“…However, the closure of the Balkan route did not entirely prevent refugees from crossing the border to Europe ( Eleni et al, 2018 ), it only made it more difficult to do so. Consequently, the flight has become increasingly more dangerous ( Arsenijević et al, 2017 ), and the stay in transit countries, like Serbia, severely prolonged ( Jović, 2018 ). Despite a decrease in refugees to Europe, migration caused by war and conflict continues to rise on a global basis.…”

“…Refugees in Serbia are housed in asylum centres and transit centres. The centres offer a shelter, limited non-food items and meals, while non-governmental organizations (NGOs) provide medical and psychosocial services ( Jović, 2018 ). Overcrowding, lack of privacy, and poor hygiene have been addressed as issues in some of the centres ( Belgrade Center for Human Rights and International Rescue Commitee 2018 ).…”