ICERAS

Despite the extreme challenges, Ephraim’s story is not unique. Many other Eritreans have gone through similar ordeals. While experiences like these can surely cause physical problems, the mental health consequences are far more complex to identify and treat, and their impact can be devastating.

In an effort to offer Eritrean refugees comprehensive health care, in 2015 MSF started a mental health project for the people in Hitsats and Shimelba refugee camps. With around 2,300 new monthly arrivals, refugee camps in northern Ethiopia are one of the first destinations for Eritreans leaving their country. Robel Araya, MSF Mental Health Supervisor in Hitsats camp, is very familiar with the situation faced by Eritrean refugees.

“Most of the people that we see in the camps have been through traumatising experiences. Leaving Eritrea is dangerous and some of them have made several attempts before succeeding”, Robel says. “Many develop depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder linked to torture, violence and abuse. These conditions have a very negative effect on their lives. Our mental health services can help them get back on their feet.”

The prison in Eritrea was like a hole in the ground, with no windows and no lights. There were more than 80 people in the room with me. We didn’t have enough space to lie down so we spent every night sitting and taking turns to sleep.

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MSF offers counselling, inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care and a wide range of therapeutic activities, including therapeutic discussions and psycho-education, where patients can discuss what they are going through and receive detailed information about their conditions and how to overcome them. Realising that other people are experiencing similar problems helps them feel less isolated.

As is the case for the majority of humanitarian settings, children are one of the most vulnerable groups.

“Around 40 per cent of the camp population is aged under 18. Half of them are travelling alone or have been separated from their families”, Robel says. “Their situation is very delicate. They tend to suffer from separation anxiety and in some cases, they had difficult or confusing early sexual experiences. Here we have activities specifically designed for them, like sport, drawing and theatre sessions, as well as specialised counselling.” readmore