Global Refugee Crisis Research Articles

The impact of international NGOs on refugee support and policy influence: A global analysis

The global refugee crisis has placed unprecedented demands on humanitarian systems, with international Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) playing a crucial role in supporting refugees and influencing related policies. This comprehensive review explores the multifaceted impact of international NGOs on refugee support and policy influence across diverse global contexts. By synthesizing current research, policy documents, and case studies, this paper aims to enhance understanding of NGO contributions to essential services for refugees, their strategies for policy advocacy, and the complex dynamics between NGO activities and government initiatives. The review examines the effectiveness of NGO interventions in key areas such as healthcare, education, and livelihood support, analyzing their methods of policy influence through advocacy, research, and direct engagement with policymakers. It also evaluates refugee perceptions of NGO support compared to government assistance, revealing varied experiences across different contexts and types of aid. Furthermore, the paper investigates the alignment between NGO activities and official government policies on refugee management, highlighting both collaborative successes and areas of tension. The analysis reveals that while NGOs have made significant contributions to refugee welfare and policy development, challenges remain in coordination, sustainability, and adapting to diverse cultural contexts. The paper concludes with a discussion of future research directions and recommendations for enhancing NGO effectiveness in refugee support and policy advocacy, emphasizing the need for improved coordination, cultural sensitivity, and evidence-based practices in addressing the global refugee crisis.

EXPRESS: Resourcing Hope: Refugee Agentive Consumption Acts in Protracted Displacement

The global refugee crisis presents a complex challenge, with millions experiencing protracted displacement in inhospitable conditions. This study examines the lived experiences of Syrian refugee women in Lebanon, focusing on how they resource hope and maintain well-being amid forced liquidity and uncertainty. Drawing on ethnographic interviews with 26 Syrian refugee women, we uncover the profound effects of changed consumer roles and the critical function of agentive anchoring acts of consumption in resourcing hope. Our findings reveal that refugees employ four types of anchoring acts—domesticity, spirituality, self-care, and socializing—to momentarily restore normalcy, affirm dignity, and enhance well-being. These acts serve as vessels for resourcing and mobilizing hope, allowing refugees to ‘live through’ their present circumstances while aspiring for a better future. We introduce the concept of hope as a social resource that can be collectively shared and mobilized, highlighting the dynamic interplay between hope and hopelessness in refugee experiences. This research contributes to understanding how marketing and service systems can improve refugee well-being in protracted displacement, offering insights for stakeholders to create conditions that foster rather than inhibit subjective well-being among vulnerable consumers experiencing protracted displacement and involuntary liquidity in global modernity to resource hope.

Lay-Led Intervention for War and Refugee Trauma

The global refugee crisis disproportionately affects the Muslim world. Forced displacement often results in trauma-related mental health issues. Effective psychotherapy exists, but there are barriers to uptake by refugee groups as well as a lack of culturally appropriate interventions. To examine the efficacy of a brief, lay-led, mosque-based intervention, Islamic Trauma Healing (ITH), adapting empirically supported cognitive behavioral principles to improve mental health and well-being. In a randomized clinical trial, 101 participants received ITH or active assessment but delayed intervention (waiting list [WL]) in mosques and virtually in Seattle, Washington, and Columbus, Ohio, and were assessed through 12-week follow-up. Data were collected from July 14, 2018, through July 14, 2022, and data analysis was conducted from March 13 to July 31, 2023. United States-based refugees from Somalia who experienced a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) Criterion A trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reexperiencing or avoidance. Analyses were intention-to-treat, using full information likelihood for missing data. Islamic Trauma Healing included psychoeducation, discussion of the lives of prophets who had undergone trauma, and informal prayer turning to Allah about the trauma, incorporating cognitive restructuring and imaginal exposure. Lay-leader training is purposely brief: two 4-hour sessions with weekly supervision. The primary outcome was PTSD severity (measured with the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale for DSM-5 [PDS-5]). Secondary outcomes included depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), somatic symptoms (Somatic Symptoms Severity-8), and quality of well-being (World Health Organization Five Well-Being Index). Analyses were intention-to-treat. Analyses were based on all 101 randomized participants (92 [91.1%] women; 9 [8.9%] men; mean [SD] age, 46.5 [12.02] years) with baseline mean (SD) PDS-5 score of 31.62 (16.55) points. There were significant differences in PTSD severity (d = -0.67), depression (d = -0.66), and well-being (d = 0.71), comparing ITH vs WL after the intervention. Gains were maintained through 12-week follow-up. Islamic Trauma Healing was consistent with religious and cultural practices (mean [SD], 3.8 [0.43]) and promoted community reconciliation (mean [SD], 3.8 [0.42]). In this randomized clinical trial of a brief, lay-led mental health intervention, ITH proved superior to WL. The findings suggest that ITH has the potential to provide an easily trainable and scalable intervention, incorporating Islam and empirically supported principles, that addresses the psychological wounds of war and refugee trauma. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03502278.

Islamic Legal Perspectives on Refugee Protection and Welfare: A Case Study of Malaysia

This article examines the refugee crisis in Malaysia from the perspective of Islamic law, addressing the challenges arising from the absence of a formal legal framework for refugee protection. Through a legal normative approach and in-depth interviews with Islamic authorities and NGOs, this study investigates Islamic principles related to refugee welfare. The findings of this study reveal that Malaysia has an ethical and legal responsibility under Islamic law (domestic and legal normative) to protect and support refugees despite not signing the 1951 Refugee Convention. This study emphasises the potential role of Islamic authorities as part of the government body in administering, coordinating, and implementing Islamic welfare efforts to meet the needs of refugees. By aligning refugee support with Islamic values, Malaysia can improve its ability to provide comprehensive care and protection to refugees, fulfilling religious and humanitarian duties. This integrated approach could serve as a model for other Muslim-majority countries, promoting a more inclusive and compassionate response to the global refugee crisis.

How integration of refugees into national health systems became a global priority: a qualitative policy analysis.

Despite a long history of political discourse around refugee integration, it wasn't until 2016 that this issue emerged as a global political priority. Limited research has examined the evolution of policies of global actors around health service provision to refugees and how refugee integration into health systems came onto the global agenda. This study seeks to fill this gap. Drawing on a document review of 20 peer-reviewed articles, 46 global policies and reports, and 18 semi-structured interviews with actors representing various bilateral, multilateral and non-governmental organizations involved with refugee health policy and funding, we analyze factors that have shaped the global policy priority of integration. We use the Shiffman and Smith Policy Framework on determinants of political priority to organize our findings. Several important factors generated global priority for refugee integration into national health systems. Employing the above-mentioned framework, actor power increased due to network expansion through collaborations between humanitarian and development actors. Ideas took hold through the framing of integration as a human rights and responsibility sharing. While political context was influenced through several global movements, it was ultimately the influx of Syrian refugees into Europe and the increasing securitization of the refugee crisis that led to key policies, and critically, global funding to support integration within refugee hosting nations. Finally, issue characteristics, namely the magnitude of the global refugee crisis, its protractedness and the increasing urbanicity of refugee inflows, led integration to emerge as a manageable solution. The past decade has seen a substantial reframing of refugee integration, along with increased financing sources and increased collaboration, explains this shift towards their integration into health systems. However, despite the emergence of integration as a global political priority, the extent to which efforts around integration have translated into action at the national level remains uncertain.

Decisions with general scope in the light of special sectoral regulations in the Hungarian administrative system

AbstractIn the 21st century, the two administrative instruments that have the greatest impact on the legal situation of members of society, administrative enforcement and administrative legislation, have been and are being confronted with a number of social challenges (global economic crisis, refugee crisis, epidemics and pandemics). The challenges of the 21st century require public intervention to provide a rapid, accurate and effective response to the problems that arise, while ensuring legality and the protection of the rights of the citizens. The first responses to social problems are provided by sectoral regulations, which may conflict with general rules of administrative procedure. The study analyses administrative decisions of general scope in the light of special sectoral regulation and review the points of conflict with general rules of administrative procedure. The study concludes with a proposal.

FROM SOCIAL TIES TO SPATIAL BELONGING: RETHINKING HOME IN REFUGEE STUDIES WITH A FOCUS ON DEEP HALDAR’S BLOOD ISLAND

The forced displacement of millions due to war, persecution, and environmental disasters presents a significant challenge to the international community. Refugee Studies, a field dedicated to understanding the experiences of refugees, has traditionally focused on social interaction and integration. However, this emphasis overlooks the profound impact displacement has on refugees' sense of place and home. This article argues that a more nuanced understanding of the refugee experience requires incorporating insights from spatial theory and the concept of "home tactics."The article begins by examining the limitations of the dominant social interactionist paradigm in Refugee Studies. It critiques the "nomadic subjectivity" model, which views refugees as essentially mobile, and the policy-oriented use of "place rootedness" as a tool for resettlement. Drawing on the work of Catherine Broome, the article proposes a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between refugees and place. This includes acknowledging the strategic use of place claims for political purposes while recognizing the genuine emotional attachment refugees have to their lost homes.The concept of "home tactics," developed by Mariano Ortega, offers a valuable framework for understanding how refugees navigate displacement. Home tactics refer to the everyday actions and practices refugees undertake to create a sense of familiarity and belonging in their new environments. The article explores how home tactics transcend economic and political strategies, reflecting deeply personal and emotional connections to land and space.The book "Blood Island" by Deep Haldar serves as a powerful case study for examining home tactics in action. The article analyzes how displaced Bengalis in Dandakaranya recreate a sense of home through rituals like the "Posto Mela" harvest festival. These performative acts connect them to their past and the land they lost. Furthermore, the article explores the embodied dimensions of home and belonging, highlighting the profound sensory connection refugees maintain with their lost homelands.The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of studying refugee narratives to gain deeper insights into their experiences. By analyzing narratives, we can move beyond theoretical frameworks and understand how refugees themselves perceive displacement, place, and home. Incorporating these insights into refugee policy and practice is crucial for developing ethical and sustainable responses to the ongoing global refugee crisis.

Enhancing Refugee Protection: A Case Study of the Global Protection Cluster Approach and Local Wisdom Integration for Rohingya Refugees in Aceh, Indonesia

This article examines the implementation of a global protection cluster approach and local wisdom for Rohingya refugees in Aceh, Indonesia. The global protection cluster approach emphasizes collaboration between various stakeholders to ensure the protection and assistance of refugees. This approach is complemented by the integration of local wisdom, which takes into account the cultural, social, and economic aspects of the host community, to create a more sustainable and inclusive environment for Rohingya refugees. The Indonesian government, local government, and communities in Aceh have been commended for their generosity and support to the Rohingya refugees. Guided by Presidential Regulation No. 125 on the Care of Refugees, UNHCR works with authorities, partners, NGOs, and humanitarian actors to ensure refugees' basic needs are fulfilled. However, the number of Rohingya refugees making dangerous sea voyages in the Asia Pacific region has increased, indicating their growing desperation and the ongoing persecution they face in Myanmar. By combining the global protection cluster approach and local wisdom, this article highlights the potential for improving the lives of Rohingya refugees in Aceh. The outcomes of this approach can contribute to the development of more effective and sustainable solutions for the global refugee crisis.

The Acculturation and Adaptation of Syrian Refugee Students: A Systematic Review of the Literature

In the contemporary landscape, we confront the global refugee crisis, a complex phenomenon rooted in a confluence of political, economic, and social factors. Refugees are compelled to immerse themselves in unfamiliar cultures, often markedly distinct from their places of origin. As they navigate the intricacies of integrating into novel social and cultural milieus, the concepts of acculturation and adaptation assume paramount significance, particularly within the sphere of education. The primary objective of our review paper is to provide a meticulous and systematic examination of academic studies undertaken to illuminate the experiences and outcomes of the acculturation and adaptation processes among Syrian refugee students in Turkey. To accomplish this, we conducted comprehensive keyword searches across ten English-language databases and three Turkish-language databases. In the initial sweep of the literature, we identified a total of 591 pertinent studies. Subsequently, following rigorous scrutiny, we selected and included 14 full-text articles, authored in both English and Turkish, spanning the period from 2011 to 2022, for our analysis. These fourteen articles were assessed and reported in accordance with the PRISMA criteria. Our analysis of the available sources revealed that language proficiency emerged as the most pivotal variable influencing educational outcomes and adaptation to the host culture. Indeed, our findings underscore the pivotal role that educational institutions play in facilitating the acculturation and adaptation of Syrian refugee students.

Caring for resettled refugee children in the United States: guidelines, challenges and public health perspectives.

The global refugee crisis has become an urgent, pressing humanitarian issue, with an estimated 37 million children forcibly displaced from their homes due to conflict, persecution, violence and other human rights violations by mid-2022. Of these children, only a small percentage are eligible for resettlement in a new country. This narrative review examines the physical health needs of resettled refugee children (RRC) in the United States. By analyzing nutrition and growth, infectious diseases, and general health care/screening measures, a set of comprehensive, evidence-based guidelines and public health perspectives are formulated to facilitate ongoing discussion to ensure that RRC receive equitable health care access. An urgent call to action emphasizes cross-border collaboration between governments, public health experts, refugee populations, and disease preparedness authorities in order to prioritize the physical health of RRC. This review will provide primary care providers, public health professionals, social service workers, and community advocates with up-to-date recommendations to meet the health needs of RRC in the U.S.

Enhancing food security for refugees through land use planning and land banks

The global refugee crisis had placed a critical spotlight on the issue of food security for displaced populations. This article delved into an investigation of the pivotal roles that land use planning and land banks played in mitigating food security challenges among refugees. Often uprooted from their homes due to a range of hardships, refugees frequently found themselves in unfamiliar regions with limited access to resources and opportunities for livelihoods. Ensuring their food security became of paramount importance. The research question under scrutiny in this study held substantial relevance and had been the subject of scrutiny in numerous scholarly works. However, it was noteworthy that this research question remained relatively underexplored within the Ukrainian context. The study first discussed the pivotal role of land use planning in granting refugees access to arable land, diversifying their livelihoods, and developing essential infrastructure. Secondly, it underscored the importance of land banks in securing land rights for refugees, making investments in infrastructure development, and promoting responsible land resource management. This research underscored the pressing need to address food security among refugees on a global scale. It highlighted the significance of fostering self-sufficiency, economic empowerment, and long-term resilience through the implementation of land use planning and land banks. As the global refugee crisis continued to expand, the adoption of these strategies became increasingly imperative to support those in need and ensure a more secure future for displaced communities worldwide.

Mental Health Condition of the Children in Humanitarian Crisis: A Study in Rohingya Kutupalong Camp

In August 2017, the Rohingya genocide erupted into a global refugee crisis, as a large number of Rohingya refugees fled Myanmar for Bangladesh. This global public health epidemic carries a significant mental health impact. Myanmar's combat situation, trauma, as well as post-migration situations such as resettlement camp environments, could lead to serious mental health issues. The purpose of this study was to learn more about the children's experience in Myanmar from Bangladesh's Kutupalong refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, as well as their present mental health situation. The research was designed as a qualitative study, and 13 children were chosen as participants. The study was completed in 2018. The information gathered was transcribed, triangulated, and thematically analysed. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and somatic symptoms were all cited by the majority of respondents. They frequently suffered from flashbacks, nightmares, panic attacks, suicidal ideation, trauma, palpitation, sleep disturbances, and physical aches for no apparent reason. Because of the time restrictions, this study was able to produce concise results. This research could aid in understanding potential mental health interventions for Rohingya refugee children.

Mediated communication and refugee resilience: A social psychological model

The global refugee crisis, exacerbated by the Russian aggression in Ukraine, was caused by the unprecedented migration of millions fleeing wars, conflicts, and persecution. In this context, social psychologists are increasingly focusing on the role of mediated communication in promoting resilience among refugees. This article explores how mediated communication can foster resilience, drawing on social psychology theories and empirical research. We present an overview of the global refugee crisis and the challenges refugees face, including those affected by the ongoing war. The concept of resilience and its relevance to refugees is introduced, discussing the role of social support, coping strategies, and positive emotions in fostering this vital quality. We analysed the role of mediated communication and main characteristic, which can play important role for mental health problem prevention. Mediated communication, as a powerful tool to promote refugee resilience, is examined, highlighting its ability to provide access to social support networks, favour connection and belonging, and facilitate access to information and resources. Understanding the cultural and social contexts in which refugees use mediated communication, including issues of gender, age, and cultural norms, is essential for effective interventions. We concluded that interventions can address the unique challenges faced by refugees, such as displacement, war trauma, and social isolation, as well as the specific needs of Ukrainian refugees from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Potential challenges and limitations of mediated communication in promoting resilience among refugees, such as privacy and security issues, social isolation, and disinformation, are also discussed. Research perspectives are empirical verification of conceptual model of mediated communication potential for refugees’ resilience and develop the evidence based recommendation for future psychoeducation and mental health promotion interventions

Global Refugee Crisis as a Threat to Peace: Insights and Outlook

The world has been witnessing a rising number of forcibly displaced persons in the backdrop of the Ukraine War and several intrastate and inter-state conflicts. Widespread and large-scale displacements have created a new global catastrophe that threatens peace everywhere in the world. It is true that peace, whether perceived as a means or an end, is the greatest pursuit of human society. Although the world has seen remarkable progress of human civilization and enormous economic and technological changes in the past decades, it is marked by enduring conflicts, disputes, war and violence. Ironically, the world remains a place where people have been pursuing self-seeking goals in highly individualistic cultures. States remain hostage to power politics with an abiding focus on geopolitical and economic interests. The refugee crisis in the world demonstrates limitations of the global order based on distribution of power and capitalism. Refugee crisis is a trend not a blip. Precisely, it is the outcome of conflicts and persecution at intrastate, inter-state, regional and global levels. The United Nations through its manifold activities – security, development, cultural and environmental- has been contributing to peace, but the crisis persists. In this context, the paper is an attempt to understand the relations between the refugee crisis and peace in order to find ways of mitigating the sufferings and traumas of refugees worldwide. The paper argues that the ongoing global refugee crisis has assumed a formidable challenge to peace in the world that needs an urgent attention from the global community before it gets too late. It strives to remind the global community about the need for repatriation of growing number of refugees in the world.

Mediated communication and refugee resilience: A social psychological model

The global refugee crisis, exacerbated by Russian aggression in Ukraine, has been caused by an unprecedented migration of millions of people fleeing wars, conflicts, and persecution. In this context, social psychologists are paying increasing attention to the role of mediated communication in promoting resilience among refugees. This paper explores how mediated communication can promote resilience, drawing on theories of social psychology and empirical research. An overview is provided of the global refugee crisis and the challenges faced by refugees, including those affected by ongoing wars. The concept of resilience and its importance for refugees is presented, and the role of social support, coping strategies, and positive emotions are discussed in fostering this vital quality. The role of mediated communication and its main feature was analysed, which can substantially prevent mental health problems. Mediated communication is considered a powerful tool for promoting refugee resilience, highlighting its ability to provide access to social support networks, promote connection and belonging, and facilitate access to information and resources. Understanding the cultural and social contexts in which refugees use mediated communication, including issues of gender, age, and cultural norms, is crucial for effective intervention. It is concluded that interventions can address the unique challenges faced by refugees, such as displacement, war trauma, and social isolation, including the specific needs of Ukrainian refugees from different cultural and linguistic traditions. Potential challenges and limitations of mediated communication in promoting resilience among refugees, such as issues of confidentiality and security, social isolation, and misinformation, are also discussed. Future research perspectives include empirically testing the conceptual model of the mediated communication potential of refugee resilience and developing scientifically based recommendations for future psychosocial interventions and mental health promotion

Eliminating viral hepatitis B and C in times of war and increasing global refugee crisis

Eliminating viral hepatitis B and C in times of war and increasing global refugee crisis

Unfairy Tales and Other Refugee Stories: Creating Relations through the Humanitarian Imagination in Mohsin Hamid's Exit West and Helen Oyeyemi's Gingerbread

Contrary to many analyses of refugee narratives that focus on how their subject matter becomes compromised by issues of authority, believability, and expectation, this article explores how refugee novels such as Mohsin Hamid's Exit West and Helen Oyeyemi's Gingerbread lean into such problems in a way that appeals to the humanitarian imagination. These novels recognize the incomprehensibility of the refugee experience and play upon this reality by intermixing their stories with fairy tale elements. In doing so, the tropes of fairy tales provide these stories with greater narrative flexibility while making the unfamiliar realities of refugees comprehensible through familiar narrative structures. In this article, I interrogate the function and effect of this fusion of genres in Exit West and Gingerbread, examining how this practice both overcomes the narrative obstacles refugees face and reveals the allowances and limitations of the humanitarian imagination amid the current global refugee crisis.

A Scoping Review of Needs and Barriers to Achieving A Livable Life among Refugees with Disabilities: Implications for Future Research, Practice, and Policy

ABSTRACT Purpose Refugees with disabilities are extremely vulnerable, yet little is known about their needs and barriers to achieve better wellbeing. This scoping review aims to synthesize published research on experiences among refugees with disabilities to identify gaps and priorities to inform future research and action plans amid the global refugee crisis. Method We searched 15 databases and included articles published in English between 2000 and 2022. Studies were included if they were empirically based peer-reviewed studies with a focus on disabled refugees and asylum seekers. Articles were excluded if they were: (a) review studies, (b) solely focused on mental health issues, (c) focused on non-refugee populations, (d) medical-related topics. Studies were each reviewed independently by two researchers. Data from the included articles were charted, interpreted, and synthesized. Results We identified 34 relevant studies. Findings indicate that refugees with disabilities have diverse needs, including education, healthcare, employment, social benefits, and social connections and social acceptance. However, systematic barriers, such as discrimination at both policy and interpersonal levels, legal issues, and poverty, prevent these needs from being met. Discussion This scoping review demonstrates the lack of sufficient and appropriate resources and services catering to the diverse needs of refugees with disabilities. Further quantitative and/or mixed-method research is needed to generate large-scale policy intervention. Future policies and programs should focus on institutional arrangements and advocacy efforts to facilitate disabled refugees’ access to professional and inclusive healthcare services, with other supportive social services provided.

International Family Nursing Association: toolkit of resources for caring for refugee/migrating families.

To report the experience of the International Family Nursing Association (IFNA) Practice Committee on developing a Toolkit of resources to care for refugee/migrating families as a response to the global migration and refugee crisis. Qualitative and descriptive study, experience report, which describes the development of a toolkit of resources for caring for refugee/migrating families. The development of this Toolkit of resources to care for refugee/migrating families is supported by current literature related to family-centered evaluation and intervention, culturally sensitive practice based on family strengths; statements of positioning on immigrant and refugee families; and nursing and health organizations that addressed the health of the refugee family. The dissemination of the resources available in the Toolkit can support nursing practices, drive qualified approaches to assessments and interventions, capable of promoting family resilience as they adapt, providing well-being, and leading to the healing of traumas and adversities experienced by families in the process of migration or refuge.

Resilience on an emotional rollercoaster: Refugee entrepreneurship under adversity

The political turmoil, civil war, economic crisis, and breakdown of the political systems in the Middle East and many African countries led to the global refugee crisis in 2015. Since then, policymakers and academics have recognized the entrepreneurial potential of refugees. Compared to migrants, due to forced displacement, refugees face significant adversities, such as psychological trauma and substantial institutional barriers. Consequently, refugee entrepreneurs need to develop and maintain a high degree of resilience to pursue an entrepreneurial path despite adversities. However, previous studies have treated resilience as a mere personal trait of refugees, neglecting its multi-layered, dynamic aspect. Against this background, this study examines how refugee entrepreneurs' resilience emerges and develops, and it analyzes the factors that influence the maintenance of their resilience. Based on 52 interviews with refugee entrepreneurs in Germany, this study finds that the fragile, unstable nature of refugees' resilience depends on various factors at the individual, relational, and institutional levels during venture development. Based on the findings, we theorize the dynamic process view of refugee entrepreneurs’ resilience.