Introduction

Looking at refugee health needs

The connected global issues of state fragility and forced migration have become critical domestic and foreign policy topics for several nations. Millions of people have been forcibly displaced due to war, conflict, poverty, political instability, human rights violations, and environmental factors and find themselves living as refugees either internally within a country or outside.

Forced migration often results in serious health consequences for displaced people who are often exposed to multiple risks and vulnerabilities. There is limited insights on how refugee/migrant health responds and develops in different parts of the world and whether refugee health needs are being met adequately.

Refugee populations’ health can be affected by factors including the migration process itself, their social and legal status in destination countries, the length of their stay, and their language skills. But, despite recommendations – by the Global Forum on Migration and Development, for example – to develop cost-effective healthcare models for various migration scenarios, little has been done so far.

The Global Refugee Health Research Network (GRHRN) is a response to the need to address serious health consequences for people displaced due to war, poverty, political instability, human-rights violations and environmental factors, who find themselves living as refugees. Pressing issues around refugee health needs include: adolescent sexual and reproductive health; women’s health; gender-based violence, trauma and psychosocial health and wellbeing; and the policy context for refugee health.

GRHRN brings together academics, policy makers and practitioners from across the world to address the health needs of refugees, through research and policy development. Members will share their expertise and knowledge to work on health challenges affecting millions of displaced people as a result of their refugee status.

The Network is established at the University of Edinburgh in collaboration with the University of the West of Scotland and is led by Dr George Palattiyil (Convenor; School of Social and Political Science, The University of Edinburgh) and Dr Dina Sidhva (Co-Convenor, School of Education and Social Sciences, University of the West of Scotland).