High rates of trauma, sickness among Iraqi refugees

Many of the estimated 70,000-150,000 Iraqi refugees in Egypt have developed serious psychological and stress-related illnesses, including cardiac problems, according to Ahlam Tobia, a medical doctor who works with refugees in Cairo. Abeer Etefa, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) spokesperson, said many of the refugees registered with the agency had chronic diseases such as heart ailments and diabetes. "Stress caused by bad news from back home, by lack of funds, employment or education opportunities, has caused an increase in cases of heart disease and diabetes," Ahlam said. Iraqi refugees, she said, had a higher rate of medical problems compared to other refugee populations, such as the Sudanese and Somalis. Iraqi children also had health problems unique to their population, which Ahlam believed were attributable to radioactive waste left over from Iraq's war with Iran and the first Gulf War in 1991. Human horror stories exist among Iraqi refugees -- from women who have lost their power of speech due to shock, to children with stunted growth, to young boys who are losing their hearing or sight. One person has a congenital disease and is losing mobility due to deteriorating brain membranes, Ahlam said. "In other refugee communities congenital diseases are very rare -- maybe we find an abnormality of one in a 100," she said. "Among the Iraqis, I see them in the tens." Psychiatric problems are also a growing cause for alarm within the Iraqi population in Egypt, Etefa said. Post-traumatic stress is increasingly becoming a problem. "There certainly are an increased number of cases that have psychological problems because they are survivors of violence or they were kidnapped," Etefa said. Poverty among the Iraqi refugees is exacerbating their health problems, and the fact that non-governmental organizations -- including Africa and Middle East Refugee Assistance and Caritas -- have limited funds, has meant many have had to fend for themselves. The UNHCR also has budget limitations, Etefa said. War-torn Iraq has also brought refugees to Egypt with amputated limbs; others need bullets removing. Some are incontinent due to the things they witnessed in Iraq, said Ahlam.