Urban refugees, displaced from their homes and seeking safety and a better life, face numerous challenges on a daily basis.
Refugees have no legal protection or easy access to healthcare, education, and employment. Their Host Country do not want them and they do not want to help them, either.
Economic issues
Urban refugees are not given work permits so they cannot earn money. The fact they cannot work legally adds to the cycle of Poverty. It also creates dependency on the outside help.
Housing Issues
Finding housing is a challenge for Urban Refugees. They mostly rent ONE ROOM FLATS that are literally one room for the whole family. These One Room Flats do not have kitchen. Typically they use small Propane stoves to cook on. There is no privacy-as the whole family shares this one room. They have tiny bathrooms which is good .
Educational issues
Host countries do not allow Refugee Children to go to local schools. That means they must find alternative ways to educate their children. Often Christian groups start Refugee Schools that are poorly funded and lack teaching materials but it still provides structure to the children and opportunities to learn and interact with others. The problem with taking kids to Refugee school is that Immigration Police can put the whole family in Jail if they stop them on the Bus Stop or see them on the Road. Each time they stick their head out of the door…they can potentially end up in Prison. Other side of the issue is…if they never go out -they go crazy being in a small room all the time. So they do take risks for their own sanity and for the sake of the kids.
Healthcare issues
Urban refugees can go to local Hospitals in case of Emergency, but they must have money. Which Refugees do not have. They cannot have surgery if they do not have money . Mostly the amount they charge for medical care is very small amount in our Currency but to them it is a big amount and often Refugees go back home without receiving any help .Often Refugees die for that reason, as well. Most Refugees do not talk the local language and need translator to go with them and help them deal with the Medical System.
Isolation issues
Urban refugees are socially isolated because they don’t have freedom to walk around town and go visit their Refugee Friends. Any time they go out, they are at risk of being taken to jail by the Police. They do take risks because for their own mental health they must go out sometimes. So they do to Church at times. They must go to buy food once a week if someone sends them money. These are necessary risks and it creates change in their daily routine .As a whole ,being Refugees is depressing and creates anxiety.
Protection issues
Urban refugees often live in constant fear of arrest, detention, and deportation. Without legal protection, they are vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, and human rights violations. This lack of security further contributes to their overall sense of anxiety.
NOBODY WANTS TO BE A REFUGEE – WOULD YOU ??