MIGRATION AND HEALTH (Refugees and Returnees in Ethiopia)

Abstract

There are in the world today more than 30million refugees and internally displaced persons within the borders of their own countries, most of whom are currently dependent on international relief assistance for their survival. Conflicts and famine are among the most frequent causes of these forced mass population movements. These are people who have not only lost everything, but in addition, must struggle for survival simply to recover their dignity as human beings.With its more than five million refugees and about two million displaced people, Africa is the continent today most affected by the consequences of conflict or natural disaster. During recent years wars have increased in number, causing an entire population of completely destitute people to leave their houses Drought has affected all the countries of the Sahel as well as extensive regions in east and southern Africa emptying the countryside and villages of their residents.