Page 11 - IJPS-11-2

International Journal of
Population Studies Cultural identity and health risks in forced migration

mass migration of Syrian refugees to Lebanon profoundly nevertheless correlate to increased mortality from ischemic
challenged their cultural traditions. Reports have heart disease and reduced suicide rates in the long run and
extensively documented the disappearance of cultural illuminated an often overlooked aspect. Respectful forced
practices such as spiritual ceremonies and seasonal relocations executed in instances of conflicts, disasters, or
celebrations that shaped life in Syrian villages. Ghazyani’s developments do not negate the prolonged effects of such
(2018) study asserted that adopting to the new linguistic displacements on the health and well-being of migrants.
environment and adjusting to unfamiliar Lebanese These findings underscore the importance of bearing in
customs have exacerbated the difficulties Syrian refugees mind that adverse health consequences persist for years
have confronted in preserving their identity. Upheavals after compulsory migrations and do not merely prevail in
caused by displacement have unsettled deeply held beliefs the immediate aftermath.
and disrupted generationally shared rituals and festivals, Reed and Keely (2001) explained that large-scale forced
complicating the attempts of Syrian refugees to retain migrations occurring due to armed conflicts and natural
their sense of who they are in a country that is not their calamities frequently result in early mortality and ill
own. Similarly, the mass exodus of Rohingya Muslims health. Levels, types, and patterns of increased death and
escaping systemic oppression in Myanmar continues morbidity differ depending on the situation: the nature of
unabated. Thousands of Rohingya Muslims flood into the complicated emergency, the features of the group of
Bangladeshi refugee camps every month, seeking safety forced migrants, the stage of the emergency, and the flow of
from the relentless campaign of violence and deprivation migration (Reed et al., 2017). Hynes et al. (2022) illustrated
against their people (Sudheer & Banerjee, 2021). Despite that mortality rates in refugee camps vastly exceed death
crippling poverty, displacement, and limited basic rights, rates in people who live in secure regions. The UNHCR
the Rohingya silently attempt to keep their cultural identity has also reported findings that refugee child mortality
alive in the squalid tents and makeshift shelters of Cox’s rates could surpass the global mean by 10 times due to
Bazar by passing on their culture by words, practices and undernourishment, contagious sickness, and insufficient
community rituals. They struggle to pass their traditions healthcare (UNHCR, The UN Refugee Agency, 2023).
to their younger generations without any resources or Some studies have emphasized that prolonged deprivation
mobility as they exist in perpetual limbo. Their inability to worsens already terrible conditions; even common
freely exercise their faith or use their native tongue further illnesses ravage the most vulnerable populations due to the
compounds their acute loss of identity and community, absence of stability (Avogo & Agadjanian, 2010; Saarela &
exacerbating the psychological trauma of being exiled and Elo, 2016). Forced migrations often stem from conflicts
intensifying the cultural disintegration of a population with deadly consequences. According to (Acharya et al.,
whose only crime is being born Rohingya (Bhatia et al., 2020), heightened mortality is noted in the host nations as
2018). In another example, millions of South Sudanese well as the relocation areas: first, due to the direct violence
fled violence and sought refuge in Uganda. Maintaining people must confront during the conflict, and second,
cultural identity in such turmoil was extremely problematic due to subsequent indirect factors such as disease and
for such refugees uprooted from their ancestral lands and malnutrition exacerbated by displacement.
traditions (Ahimbisibwe, 2019).
3.2.2. Migration and infectious diseases
3.2. Forced migration and health vulnerabilities
Substandard housing, malnourishment, and limited
3.2.1. Health vulnerabilities medical resources plague migrating populations (Reyes
Insights obtained from mortality statistics can immensely et al., 2012). Such deprivations significantly impact
benefit several aspects of migration research. The use of mortality because displaced communities experience
mortality data in migration studies elucidates important disproportionately high fatality rates. For instance, the
aspects of the challenges and health outcomes of migrant South Sudanese evacuees sheltering in Uganda cannot
populations (Riosmena et al., 2012). According to social obtain treatment, which severely jeopardizes their well-
epidemiology research, higher death rates are consistently being (Adaku et al., 2016). The death toll resulting
associated with lower levels of income, education, and from the absence of adequate care climbs precipitously,
overall social standing (Saydah et al., 2012). Immigrants especially among children and expectant mothers. The
living in most Western destination nations contravene plights of refugees highlight the vulnerabilities wrought by
this conclusion: Their overall death rates are lower despite displacement and the ensuing hardships endured in exile
the socioeconomic disadvantage they sometimes face as (Hameed et al., 2019). Forced migrations can also notably
newcomers (Alegría et al., 2017). Haukka et al. (2017) impact the dissemination of transmittable illnesses in host
demonstrated that effectively managed displacement can communities. For example, Ibáñez et al.’s (2021) study

Volume 11 Issue 2 (2025) 5 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.4468