Feelings of betrayal by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and emotionally distressed Sudanese refugees in Cairo

Abstract

Thousands of Sudanese refugees have fled to Cairo, Egypt in the wake of Sudanese civil conflicts. Sudanese refugees were evaluated with respect to symptoms of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and social stress. Four respondents (22%) indicated that their interactions with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Cairo, Egypt were the worst experiences since war-related atrocities. Fourteen participants (63.6%) felt ‘extremely’ betrayed by the UNHCR on a four point scale. Greater feelings of betrayal by the UNHCR were associated with greater avoidance and arousal symptoms of PTSD, symptoms of depression and trait anger. This is the first study of which we are aware that examines the relationship between sense of betrayal by the UNHCR and symptoms of PTSD, depression and anger among asylum seekers.

Keywords:

• law
• PTSD
• refugee mental health
• Sudan
• trauma
• UNHCR

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dr. Jonathan Lichtmacher for bringing Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) to the UCSF residency training programme and for his superb teaching. They warmly thank everyone involved with the Ma'an Foundation for their time and support in hosting this study.