ICC Note: Whether suffering persecution or war, refugees streaming from Asia, the Middle East and Africa for Europe now face the reality of psychological trauma related to the experience they had which pushed them from their homeland. Extreme trauma breeds Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a follow-on effect from witnessing war and persecution of the most difficult degree. This phenomenon reminds us that whether escaping the war in Syria, or fleeing a persecuting government in Eritrea, suffering Christians and millions of other refugees require care far beyond the practical considerations of access to safety and shelter.

By Yermi Brenner

2/19/16 Africa, Syria (Al Jazeera) – Like many other refugees, Mustafa experienced traumatic events before fleeing his homeland of Syria.

In Damascus he was detained for two months and tortured by the authorities. On his long journey to freedom, he witnessed streets and bombed out buildings filled with dead bodies.

Since January 2015, Mustafa (who asked to conceal his real identity for the safety of his family members in Syria) has taken refuge in Germany, far from any war zones. But the horrors he saw and felt in Syria continue to influence his daily life.

He has had occasional panic attacks, loss of appetite, weight loss, depression and a recurring sense of hopelessness, particularly during half a year in Berlin when he knew little German and was living in refugee hostels.

“I don’t go out a lot,” said Mustafa, 28, who recently moved into his own apartment. “I have problems with trust. I cannot trust people because in Syria you cannot trust anyone.”

More than half the people who escape war zones suffer from mental illness, according to research done by Germany’s chamber of psychotherapists.

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