Edinburgh Napier University

  Migration is a recurrent feature in human history and an immediate response to humanitarian crises. Although forced migration is associated with significant risks and vulnerability, little commitment is devoted to supporting and building migrants’ resilience. This research examines the physical, social, economic, structural and environmental vulnerabilities which impact refugee women and children in settlements/camps and provides possibilities for recovery through strengths and resilience perspectives. It forms part of a larger study on the health needs and services of refugee women and children in Uganda’s settlements. The study was approved and followed the normal ethical principles of informed consent, confidentiality, voluntary participation, and every effort was made to anonymise data. Using a structured questionnaire, we surveyed 377(mean age= 33.9, standard deviation=11.6 years) refugee women and conducted in-depth interviews with 31 refugee women, 6 men and 32 key informants (N=69). Quantitative data was sorted, edited and coded, and entered for analysis using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS Version 17.0) and qualitative data were analysed using a thematic approach.
The findings show key physical threats, limited social networks and community support, economic difficulties and poverty, remoteness and isolation, and structural oppression. Refugees adapt and live however their narratives paint a complex picture of human rights violations, exclusion, and discrimination. Owing to social work’s commitment to social justice, human rights and empowerment, a strength-based and resilience perspective obliges that in addition to protection, vulnerable populations need support to sustainably manage emergent risks.
Social work specialists might support individual refugees and communities in building resilience and removing obstacles to personal development and access to resources. Signposting the vulnerable to safe spaces for recreation, psychosocial and vocational training could empower them and expand their social networks. Social work rights-based advocacy, community awareness and advocacy for structural reforms would reduce vulnerability, oppression and social exclusion.