Communicable Diseases Among Refugees with a Focus on the Middle East

Abstract

During the past few years, millions of refugees from the Middle East and North Africa fled their countries to almost everywhere in the globe. Civil wars and acts of violence are the main reasons behind the exodus of populations seeking a better life and more secure living conditions. In fact, the current conflict in Syria and Iraq led to massive influx of refugees worldwide and in particular to neighboring countries of the Middle East. This refugee situation is unparalleled since the end of World War II. Besides the individual tragedies of refugees, a public health disaster is being witnessed in the countries of origin which, in many instances, affect the hosting countries as well. Many of these hosting countries witnessed a re-emergence of numerous communicable diseases as a result of the influx of refugees; they were unprepared, and their health sectors did not deliver the adequate response. In this chapter, we review major sexually transmitted diseases in refugees, with a focus on the Middle East. We also discuss the major actions taken in response to the ongoing displacement of refugees by the Government of Lebanon and suggest solutions and recommendations to the Lebanese public health system which is facing new urgent challenges.

The Burden of Communicable Diseases in Lebanon: Trends in the Past Decade

“…Studies done in Lebanon have revealed that surface and groundwater are able to carry hepatitis A virus (HAV) because of untreated sewage. 8,9 Around 17% of Syrian refugees in Lebanon are living in informal camps 1,2 where most of them suffer from a shortage of clean drinking water. Moreover, the poor sanitary infrastructure, the accretion of solid waste, and the absence of sewage networks resulted in an open defecation in many camps.…”

“…The Syrian crisis limited the capacity of the Lebanese government to provide acceptable and continued health-care services. 1 This contributed to an increased disease burden and placed thousands of people at risk of acquiring various communicable diseases, including those diseases that did not exist earlier in Lebanon. 2 So, this study aims to review the main communicable diseases that experienced a sharp increase in the past 10 y in Lebanon and to highlight the reasons behind the upsurge.…”