Hesperian Health Guides
Flight and Arrival
HealthWiki > Where Women Have No Doctor > Chapter 29: Refugees and Displaced Women > Flight and Arrival
Having identity documents from either the United Nations or the authorities in the country of refuge can give refugees some protection against being forced to leave (deported).
Once settled, a family will likely face a situation very different from their old home. People from small communities may find themselves in large, crowded camps that are organized differently from a traditional village or town. Or they may live in cities, trying to avoid capture by government authorities. They may be very far from their old homes, in cultures and environments that are completely new to them.
More than half of the world’s refugees do not live in camps. Many have settled in cities and towns. They face the constant threat of being arrested, trafficked, harassed, discriminated against, and sent back to their home countries against their will.
In addition, these refugees often face:
- a community that does not want them there or does not speak their language.
- difficulty getting new documents like identity papers or work or travel permits.
- fear of being forced to leave their new home.
- danger from war or other nearby violence.
- not knowing if they can ever return to their old home.
- no access to medical care, including mental health services.
These challenges make it difficult for refugees and displaced people to adjust to their new living conditions. Refugees who live in a refugee camp or are recognized by the government of their new country or the United Nations may have some protection and resources. But displaced people do not have these protections.