With a warm embrace: World Refugee Day 2024

Forced to flee your home or driven out. Escaping war, persecution, or even natural disasters. These are a reality for millions of refugees around the world. The most notable, recent, and long-standing atrocity happening displacing millions right now is the conflict between Israel and Palestine. For decades the Palestinian population has been violently pushed out of their homes and forced to seek refuge by Israeli forces. This ongoing conflict led to the Israel-Hamas War, one still being carried out right now, with the retaliatory attack on Israeli land by the militant group named Hamas on October 7th initiating the war.

Despite the war being discussed on the news, what is happening right now, as said above, has been ongoing for decades, starting in the 1940s. As such, over that entire period Palestinians have been displaced all over the region, to bordering countries such as of Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt , and even to countries outside, such as within Europe, with majority arriving in the 1960s to the European continent.

However, this cruel reality is not as simple as simply relocating. Many refugees end up remaining in refugee camp for prolonged periods of time, years, decades even, with generations living in camps together being a common occurrence.

While refugee camps are necessary and allow refugees to find safe harbour from whatever the reason they fled, they are far from an ideal living situation. Large amounts of people crammed into small living spaces naturally means an increased hardship, not just mentally, but also physically. Many deaths during times of conflict and displacement are a result of other, indirect causes, with infectious diseases being one of the more notable ones. Areas such as refugee camps, ones with a higher human density, would naturally increase the risk of disease spreading and epidemics breaking out. While there are successful preventions of these breaking out, according to the UNHCR and their partners, it is far from perfect, with many precautions still having to be taking place: water, sanitation, hygiene, and shelter conditions.

Data showing statistics from UNHCR refugee camps globally shows that the 15 most common and most widespread cases were from: Measles, Meningitis, Cholera, Influenza like illness, Water Diarrhoea, Dengue Fever, Shigella, Hepatitis E, Polio, Acute Jaundice Syndrome, H1N1, Varicella, Rubella, Pertussis, and Giardiasis; 7 of which are transmitted through faecal-oral route, 7 are airborne diseases, and one vector borne (mosquito). This is obviously not including other health related hygiene issues such as sufficient and appropriate menstruation products, sexually transmitted diseases, and food scarcity.

And while these are not what the majority of refugees all over the planet face, it is still happening in the poorest and most dangerous areas of the world. As a result of the Israel-Hamas War, many Palestinian refugees are forced to endure the harsh conditions mentioned. Additionally, given this specific situation, within Israel itself, receiving aid is also proving to be difficult. In the case of this conflict it is known that Israeli forces are not above using military force to attack these camps directly (such as the camp in Rafah on the border with Egypt), transforming seeking help into a deadly endeavour, in addition to attacking known aid worker locations, preventing additional resources from continuing their help.

Knowing this, it begs the question, why is this still happening? While it is impossible to prevent atrocities from happening, be it natural, or man-made, what we do know is that we can help. In the case of Palestinian refugees, while many Arab countries are now, as a result of the 2023 Israel-Hamas War, hesitant to take in more Palestinian refugees due to the fear of retaliation by Israel, we do know that they are slowly starting to implement some safety procedures, as in the case of Egypt, setting up a camp as contingency in case Israel continues with a ground offensive on Rafah. This shows at least one party is willing to lend a helping hand, potentially, with more in the future to follow. Although, one can hope that ideally this conflict will end as peacefully and quickly as possible.