1. Infectious Disease in
Nathan
Refugee Populations
Ahlgrim

2. “Thanks to the Jordanian MOH's vigilance and support from WHO, UNICEF, and other partners, to date no major infectious disease epidemics have occurred, but outbreaks appeared and risks are increasing.”
“The Katindo temporary treatment centre consisted of an elementary school building and compound… The Rwandan physicians operating the centre were trained in specialities other than internal medicine.”

3. Refugees are granted special protections
Non-refoulment
Same protections as
citizens
Countries like Lebanon
actively avoid refugee
camps (Loveless, 2013)
The refugee situation:
Entitled to certain rights and services by the host country. Non-refoulment even when illegal entry
If the host country rations goods/services, the refugees get the same cut.
Camps are not preferred – but it is inevitable when under a huge burden
commissioner-for-refugees/
UNCHR (2013)

4. Modern refugee camps are not confined to ‘tent cities’
Areas in red: more than 900 people for every hectare
One third of the world’s refugee’s live in camps.
Al Zataari camp in Lebanon
Relatively low density is possible because of the urbanization of refugees

5. Syrian refugee crisis More than 2 million refugees seeking asylum
1 in 6 people in Lebanon are Syrian refugees
Many remain unregistered
UNCHR (2014)

6. Health Management and Crises
An enormous mobilization by local and international NGOs.
The UN has pledged $6.5 billion.
Not all needs are met.

7. In war-torn areas, infrastructure does not mean treatment
The result: the hospitals that are left standing are often vacant.
Most providers are volunteers or with an NGO
Healthcare professionals are often in the class that is able to escape.
Infants die because energy to incubators cut, amputations for many treatable injuries because of a lack of supplies and expertise.
crisis-spirals-as-doctors-flee/

8. Health concerns of refugees before displacement
Lack of vaccinations within Syria endanger the camps and urban populations
An estimated 80,000 children affected by the Syrian conflict infected with Polio
Polio and measles have made a comeback in these at-risk populations
Un.org
Unicef.org

9. Potential dangers: Cholera in Goma
Goma Epidemiology Group (1995)

10. How Syria is different
Even so, the longer the conflict extends, the worse the health status of incoming refugees
“Middle income disease burden”:
Exacerbation of existing illnesses

11. Bibliography
Abu Sa’Da, C. & Serafini, M. (2013). Humanitarian and medical challenges of assisting new refugees in Lebanon and Iraq. Forced Migration Review, 44.
Goma Epidemiology Group (1995). Public health impact of Rwandan refugee crisis: what happened in Goma, Zaire, in July, 1994? The Lancet, 345,
Loveless, J. (2013). Crisis in Lebanon: camps for Syrian refugees? Forced Migration Review, 43,
Murshidi, M. M., Hijjawi, M. Q., Jeriesat, S., & Eltom, A. (2013). Syrian refugees and Jordan's health sector. The Lancet, 382(9888),
Parker-Magyar, E. (2013, December 26). As if Syria didn't have enough problems, now a polio epidemic looms. The Guardian. Retrieved February 28, 2014, from government-blockades
Siddique, A., Akram, K., Zaman, K., Laston, S., Salam, A., Majumdar, R., et al. (1995). Why treatment centres failed to prevent cholera deaths among Rwandan refugees in Goma, Zaire. The Lancet, 345,
UNCHR (2007). Convention and protocol relating to the status of refugees. Geneva.
Urban Refugees. (n.d.). UNHCR News. Retrieved February 27, 2014, from