Migrant and refugee health overview

The refugee experience

As explained in the Refugee Handbook, the refugee experience refers to the physical, psychological and social experiences of refugees as they flee conflict and persecution and seek safety.

“Refugee experiences are diverse. Some refugees, such as those from Southern Sudan, have endured years of warfare. Others, such as the Hazara from Afghanistan, have suffered internal displacement or repression within their own countries for long periods. Still others have been subjected to siege conditions in their home towns and cities, as in Burma, or have lived through the terror of total anarchy, as in Somalia. Many have survived detention, physical violence, rape and perilous journeys to countries of asylum, only to endure a hand-to-mouth existence in dangerous overcrowded camps or urban refugee environments.” 

• Re-migration experiences may lead to high health needs on arrival.
• Very few refugees have emerged from their experiences without having endured or witnessed some form of physical or psychological trauma.
• Approximately 40% of refugees have experienced severe trauma, such as witnessing killings – often of their own family members.
• Long-term physical and psychological suffering are a common feature of the refugee experience.

After living in New Zealand for a number of years, further health problems can arise associated with lifestyle changes, eg, uptake of tobacco smoking, increasing obesity and reduced physical activity.

Refugee groups require tailored and targeted health interventions. In particular, health services that are culturally and linguistically responsive to the refugee groups that they serve will improve access, provide early intervention and reduce avoidable hospitalisations.

How do refugees arrive in New Zealand?

There are three ways in which refugees arrive in New Zealand:

1. Under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) mandated quota system (‘quota refugees’)

• The quota for UNHCR-mandated refugees to enter New Zealand is set annually by Cabinet.
• Currently the quota is set at 750 per year.
• Quota refugees may arrive under the following categories:
  • women at risk
  • protection
  • medical/disabled.
• On arrival, quota refugees spend a 6-week orientation period in the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre.
• On arrival health screening is provided by the Auckland Regional Public Health Service, Refugee Health Service.

2. As refugee family-sponsored migrants under the Refugee Family Support Category – RFSC (‘family reunification’)

• Those entering the country under this category are relatives of refugees already living in New Zealand.
• The objective of the RFSC is to help refugees living in New Zealand to settle by allowing the sponsorship of family members for residence in New Zealand who do not qualify for residence under any other immigration policy.
• The sponsored relatives may be refugees, but this is not a requirement of the policy.
• The application costs and the air travel are generally met by relatives who are themselves often struggling with their own resettlement costs and challenges.
• There are 300 residence places available under the RFSC annually.

3. As spontaneous refugees (‘asylum seekers’)

• Asylum seekers usually seek refugee status on arrival at our borders, or when their temporary visa or permit expires.
• Claims for refugee status are confirmed or rejected by Immigration New Zealand depending on whether their circumstances meet the criteria set out in the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.
• Those who are successful are then eligible to apply for permanent residence and later, New Zealand citizenship.

Reference 

1. Refugee Health Care: A handbook for health professionals Ministry of Health, NZ, 2012

To find a refugee and migrant service within your area, use the location filter under the map (mobile view) or at the bottom of the search results (computer view). 

Source: HealthPoint services directory used with permission.