An exploration of the traumatic experiences associated with refugee status in a sample of Congolese refugees in Cape Town

Abstract

There has been an influx of refugees from African countries into South Africa as a result of having been displaced by war. Starting in 1994, the genocide in the Great Lakes region exacerbated existing ethnic and political tensions. Of the 25,000 recognized refugees in South Africa, nearly 8,000 are from Congo- Kinshasa, comprising the highest number. LIterature indicates that refugees suffer from a high incidence of traumatic symptoms and posttraumatic stress syndrome. This study explored the traumatic aspects of refugee status in a sample of Congolese refugees relocated to Cape Town.