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

demonstrated that forcibly displaced persons regularly severe afflictions, and such regrettable outcomes force
traverse hazardous distances with little rest, cannot access further displacements (Zezza et al., 2011). A bleak cycle
medical care, and do not have enough provisions to satisfy grips migrants: malnutrition increases their susceptibility
their necessities. Moreover, the access of forced migrants to sicknesses which, in turn, triggers migration due to
to pharmaceutical and preventive healthcare, nutritious destitution. Solutions demand concerted international
food and water supplies, and medical services is often efforts to guarantee displaced persons access to life’s
constrained in their homeland even before they relocate necessities. Breathing infections are one of the leading
(Abdul-Ghani et al., 2019). Such compounding privations causes of sickness and death in relocated communities.
often mean that forcibly displaced populations exhibit Reports have demonstrated that the overcrowding of living
extremely fragile health conditions when they arrive in spaces, insufficient airflow, and diminished resistance
their host regions. Thus, they are extremely susceptible in displaced individuals frequently result in outbreaks
to infectious pathogens and facilitate more extensive of upper respiratory diseases and tuberculosis in refugee
contagion (Stevenson et al., 2024). Studies have shown camps (Guthmann et al., 2023). Studies uncovered
that those forcibly displaced from their homes encounter alarmingly high occurrences of TB in squalid and cramped
myriad health risks. Global health concerns persist about Ethiopia migrant camps. These incidences were primarily
communicable illnesses: for instance, migrants and asylum blamed on the poor sanitation and living conditions
seekers escaping hostilities could influence the severity that advanced the spread of the illness before it could be
of infectious illnesses in receiving nations (Baggaley identified and managed (Meaza et al., 2023). Elsewhere,
et al., 2022; Eiset & Wejse, 2017). Other studies have policies enacted to relieve overpopulation have evidenced
observed that immigrants and refugees are likely to be some success in curtailing the rampant propagation of
more susceptible to dying from infectious diseases due to contagions, though much remains to be done to upgrade
the high incidence of contagious illnesses in their home conditions and optimize screening. Immunization gaps
countries and the obstacles they confront in receiving often emerge among forcibly displaced populations due
due treatment in recipient nations (Norredam et al., 2011; to service interruptions during migration journeys. Rull
Norredam et al., 2014). et al. (2018) demonstrated that refugee children face
Several reports have indicated that overcrowded elevated vulnerability to preventable afflictions such as
refugee camps and substandard settlements foster the measles, polio, and diphtheria due to impaired access to
proliferation of communicable diseases (Altare et al., 2019; routine immunizations. The lethal 2017 measles outbreak
Famine-Affected, Refugee, and Displaced Populations: in the sprawling Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh
Recommendations for Public Health Issues, 1992). Studies underscores the critical importance of sustaining high
have linked soaring populations crammed into confined vaccination coverage in displaced populations (Mair
areas with elevated transmission of respiratory ailments, et al., 2020). Unfortunately, disruptions to normal
including tuberculosis (Gushulak et al., 2008). Abysmal life precipitated by flight place refugee communities
sanitation and scarce supplies of clean water also facilitate at heightened risk of outbreaks of illnesses that could
cholera and hepatitis E outbreaks by enabling fecal-oral otherwise be avoided through widespread inoculation.
routes of contamination. Unfortunately, the confluence Forced migration separates families from established
of such pernicious dynamics produces fertile breeding healthcare services; nonetheless, public health authorities
grounds for various infectious scourges (Elias et al., must strive to bridge such gaps and protect some of the
1990; Saleh et al., 2022). The alleviation of such suffering world’s most vulnerable people.
necessitates concerted efforts to decentralize densities while 3.2.3. Migration and mental health
upgrading infrastructures to curb the spread of sickness
in such vulnerable communities. Forced migrations often Traumatic memories and unknowable resettlement
breed food insecurity and malnutrition and negatively prospects burden minds and compromise immune systems
impact health (Orjuela-Grimm et al., 2021). Displaced (Forman, 2024; Jankovic-Rankovic et al., 2020). The
groups often struggle to access nutritious sustenance and profound psychological impacts of unwilling displacement
thus exhibit deficiencies that weaken their immunity. Such are undeniable. Duress, mourning, and unpredictability
vulnerable populations become easy prey for diseases. are ubiquitous in forced migrants. These phenomena
Among refugees, children aged five and under regularly worsen any existing proclivities toward mental unease and
suffer maladies caused by inadequate levels of vitamins and potentially culminate in elevated fatalities. The issue of
minerals, which amplify their chances of mortality from trauma among immigrant populations has garnered more
contagions such as measles or intestinal ailments (Dondi attention in the past 20 years. Given the well-documented
et al., 2020). Conditions of squalor and scarcity spawn links between such mental illnesses, displacement, and

Volume 11 Issue 2 (2025) 6 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.4468