Refugees encounter multiple survival challenges while trying to adapt to alien nations. Consequently, International organizations have invested a lot of time and resources in making their lives more conducive through the provision of basic needs and other requirements. Sudanese refugees residing in the United States face many problems associated with immigration, culture, health and interaction with American Natives. As a result, their living experiences are rather challenging and incomparable to their home countries. This paper evaluates the problems faced by Sudanese refugees in the United States. Through analysis of other resources, the paper provides a rationale for the development of these issues and the primary reasons why the refugees find it difficult to adapt to the United States. Undoubtedly, refugees encounter problems adapting to new cultures, raising their children, securing work and housing, and accessing services in the alien nations.
According to Eidelson & Horn (2008), many refugees prefer going back to their native homes rather than being hosted in foreign countries. This is mainly attributed to the fact that cultural barriers limit their self-expression as opposed to their home countries. Integration with the natives is challenging as they share contrasting ideologies. The means of livelihood embraced by the Americans is quite different from the Sudanese. As a result, some social activities practiced in the United States might be unacceptable in Africa. This makes it difficult for the refugees to integrate with American natives as they feel out of place when engrossed in a different community. Additionally, joining the career market and embracing productivity through employment is challenging for the Sudanese refugees as they lack the legal documents to enter the career field.
Communication challenges are a major issue encountered by refugees in the United States. Owing to the fact that a large section of the Americans are not multilingual, many refugees find it difficult communicating with the natives especially if they do not understand another language. As a result, securing a job, trying to make friends or making purchases from retail stores is challenging since the refugees cannot express themselves effectively (Khawaja, White, Schewitzer & Greenslade, 2008). To address this issue, most refugees are compelled to take ESL classes to keep up with the requirements of the new society. This is hard for most refugees as learning a new language is not an easy process. The situation is even tougher when the refugees were initially illiterate. Consequently, Sudanese refugees residing in the United States find it difficult coping up with the different living standards in the United States.
Securing decent jobs is challenging for Sudanese refugees living in the United States. In spite of the fact that some immigrants and refugees find it comforting to do simple jobs that are not well paying while rising the corporate ladder, it is worth noting that this is extremely challenging. According to Jacobsen, Ayoub & Johnson (2014), the odds of securing a white-collar job for refugees and immigrant is quite low as opposed to those of the natives. As a result, immigrants and refugees are mostly victims of workplace exploitation and discrimination. This is largely accredited to the fact that employers utilize the refugee’s desperation and urgency for recruitment to offer underpaid jobs and lesser reliable roles. Additionally, since most refugees lack documentation, getting a competent job is a challenging task especially when they cannot communicate effectively.
Securing housing and accessing medical and transportation services is challenging for refugees residing in the United States. According to Ameresekere and Henderson (2012) Southern Sudanese refugees have poor health conditions due to the lack of access to medical facilities. Undocumented refugees have a difficult time obtaining medical services since they lack the required credentials to access medical services (Westoby, 2007). In fact, most refugees avoid visiting medical facilities, as they could be arrested for lacking immigration documents. Consequently, most of them overlook their health safety, as they fear being deported from the nations they sought refuge in. Similarly, these individuals are not in the position to own houses due to the legal procedures involved in securing a home. They are compelled to reside in the locations provided by the central governments in spite of the discomforts associated with these places.
In conclusion, Sudanese refugees encounter multiple problems in the United Nations and other parts of the globe. Due to the changes in society and the environment, adapting to the requirements of the alien nation is a challenging situation. For instance, access to medical facilities and housing is difficult since the refugees lack the required legal credentials to oversee this process. Additionally, differences in communication compel the refugees to master the native language if they were not initially conversant with that language. Cultural differences hinder the association of the refugees with the natives. The practices embraced in the United States might be dissimilar to what is accepted in Sudan. Finally, health issues caused by changes in the living environment and the trauma experienced through the action of fleeing from one nation to the other. The adaptation process of a refugee to a new culture and society is challenging. Consequently, Sudanese refugees residing in the United States find it problematic to live up to the expectation of the new society.
References
Eidelson, R., & Horn, R. (2008). Who Wants to Return Home? A Survey of Sudanese Refugees in Kakuma, Kenya. Refuge: Canada's Journal On Refugees, 25(1). Retrieved from http://refuge.journals.yorku.ca/index.php/refuge/article/view/21393/20063
Khawaja, N., White, K., Schweitzer, R., & Greenslade, J. (2008). Difficulties and Coping Strategies of Sudanese Refugees: A Qualitative Approach. Transcultural Psychiatry, 45(3), 489-512. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1363461508094678
Jacobsen, K., Ayoub, M., & Johnson, A. (2014). Sudanese Refugees in Cairo: Remittances and Livelihoods. Journal Of Refugee Studies, 27(1), 145-159. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jrs/fet029
Westoby, P. (2007). Developing a community-development approach through engaging resettling Southern Sudanese refugees within Australia. Community Development Journal, 43(4), 483-495. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsm017
Ameresekere, M., & Henderson, D. (2012). Post-Conflict Mental Health in South Sudan: Overview of Common Psychiatric Disorders. Part 1: Depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Southsudanmedicaljournal.com. Retrieved 11 February 2016, from http://www.southsudanmedicaljournal.com/archive/february-2012/post-conflict-mental-health-in-south-sudan-overview-of-common-psychiatric-disorders.-part-1-depression-and-post-traumatic-stress-disorder.html
