Social determinants of health in countries in conflict - What is GIS ...

20 Social determinants of health in countries in conflict
existing institutions and social relationships in the destination country. In Iraq, by March
2007, UNHCR estimated that approximately 4 million people had been displaced: 1.9
million were displaced internally and 2 million had fled to nearby countries, primarily to
the Syrian Arab Republic (1.2 million) and Jordan (750 000) [35]. Half a million of these
refugees live in Amman and 1 million in Damascus [36]. The ICRC [37] estimated that
106 000 families were displaced inside Iraq between February and mid-April 2007. Table
1 shows the numbers of people displaced due to conflict in the Eastern Mediterranean
Region between 2005 and 2007.
Palestinian refugees are descendants of those displaced as a result of the 1948 armed
conflict between Israel and the Arab States. Within the occupied Palestinian territory,
as of 31 December 2006, there were 1 016 964 registered refugees in the Gaza Strip,
representing approximately two thirds of the 1.4 million people in the Gaza Strip, and
722 302 registered refugees in the West Bank, representing 28% of the West Bank
population of 2 372 216 [38].
The large number of Afghan refugees in the border area of the Islamic Republic
of Iran and Pakistan only has access to strained local health provisions, which often
lack basic supplies, mental health services and maternal care for the local population.
Until recently, nongovernmental organizations focused on disaster relief and emergency
supplies for refugees, rather than on the long-term needs of the community and so few
sustainable improvements in welfare could be made [39].
Table 1. Populations displaced due to conflict in the Eastern Mediterranean
Region, 2005–2007
Country Displaced population
Afghanistan (2005) 911 685 refugees [33]
Iraq (2007) 4 million: 1.9 million displaced internally and 2 million fled
to nearby countries
Lebanon (summer 2006) Approximately 1 million displaced of total population of 4
million;
735 000 IDPs and 260 000 fled the country
Occupied Palestinian territory
(2005)
3 million refugees live in Jordan, 900 000 in the Syrian
Arab Republic and Lebanon
Somalia (2005) 412 543, of whom 400 000 are internally displaced
Sudan (Darfur) (2005) 1 million: 841 946 IDPs and 317 462 refugees
Source: WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo, 2007.
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