Guro Lauvland Bjorknes.pdf - NMMU

Refugee Service in Johannesburg also concluded that the majority use religion and its practices
as a coping strategy.
Coping strategies have been identified among refugees receiving aid from NGOs and UN
agencies. Lowering the quality of food and spending less on health care were also coping
strategies that were used (El-Zein, 2008). Depending on social networks and governmental
services are also coping strategies employed by refugees (Khawaja et.al., 2008:504-505).
The civil war in Mozambique in the late 1980s led to many people seeking refuge in South
Africa. Initially the means of survival was by depending on churches, charitable organisations
and perhaps the refugees‟ own initiative. Still some refugees‟ coping strategy is on a hand-to-
mouth basis, while others practise long-term coping strategies (Golooba-Mutebi & Tollman,
2004:28).
Various coping strategies are being adopted among displaced persons around the world.
According to research on Household income and coping strategies of refugee population of Nahr
Al-Bared camp (El-Zein, 2008) in north Lebanon the coping strategies that were used daily were
getting cheap food and receiving aid from NGOs and UN agencies. Lowering the quality of food
in addition to getting cheaper food as well as spending less on health care were also coping
strategies that were often used (El-Zein, 2008).
2.3.6.1 Women and coping strategies
Women often flee unprepared with few resources which lead to an uncertain situation where they
have no safety net. To deal with the lack of economic resources and the lack of adequate
humanitarian aid, many women and girls turn to destructive coping strategies. Some of these
have been recognised as prostitution and exchanging sex for food. Collecting firewood can also
put women or girls in risky situations where they are exposed to rape, violence and abuse
(Women‟s Refugee Commission, 2009:12).
The Women‟s Refugee Commission (2010) has identified a need for “livelihoods” which is a
concept they describe as the women‟s ability to make their own living and be able to take care of
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