Refugees
Welcome to an array of knowledge that can broaden your understanding of various cultures and allow you to better relate and interact with refugees in your community.
A refugee is an individual who has fleed their country in search of refuge or safety due to persecution or fear of persecution because of race, religion, membership of a particular group, political oppression, etc.
Here you will find remarkable information on various cultural groups that Church World Service provides assistance to!
Bhutan
The United States has launched a program to resettle tens of thousands of Bhutanese refugees from refugee camps in Nepal. The refugees, almost all ethnic Nepalis from southern Bhutan, have been living in camps in eastern Nepal since they were expelled from their homes in Bhutan more than 16 years ago. (Continued in Bhutanese Background Information)
Bhutanese Background Information
Burma
Burma could be considered one of the richest countries when it comes to their abundance of resources. However, due to the poor governmental decisions and lack of leadership most continue to live in poverty. Since the 1980’s many have had to flee their home and continue to live within the suffocating walls of refugee camps and have little to no freedom or connection to the outside world. (Continued in Burma Background Information)
- Burmese: The Burmese refugees have been in camps for over 20 years now and many of them have been born and raised in camp. Meaning they do not have a country that they are residents of. As they travel to camps or establish a home in America many take with them their religion, food, and music. Sometimes this is all they have left of their culture. (Continued in Burmese Background Information)
Burmese Background Information
- Chin: The chin race are decendants from central China and now reside in what is known as Chin State in the north-west part of the country that boarders Bangladash and India. They are a minority group in Burma that claim to be 90 percent Christian. However, due to their religious beliefs and practices they are being persecuted causing them to leave their homes in search of refuge. (Continued in Chin Background Information)
- Karen: Although the orgin of the Karen people is unknown many people now say it was Burma even though some people believe it to be China. They have many interesting traditions with the most common one being the brass neck rings that women wear on their neck. Many Karen people now live in refugee camps due to persecution of religion. (Continued in Karen Background Information)
Karen Cultural Tips and Trends
Cuba
Cuba was very populated with Spanish and black African slaves. Once the communist won its way into government it caused a rise in repression and many citizens became improverished. Cubans began to seek refuge from warfare and depression. (Continued in Cuba Background Information)
Eritrea
Ethiopia and Eritrea were once a combined country located at the Red Sea in East Africa. They suffered great depression after WWII as well as other conflicts. Though they are seperate countries may people still associate them together since they are very similar in ways. In Eritrea Tigreans are the most common cultural group with Tigrinya being the commonly spoken language. (Continued in Eritrea Background Information)
Eritrea Background Information
Iraq
Iraq is a nation about the size of California. It consist of alluvial plains, mountains, and deserts which tend to stay hot and dry. Most of the people live in the alluvial plains stretching southeast from Baghdad and Basrah to the Persian Gulf. Arabic is the most commonly spoken language. Kurdish is spoken in the north, and English is the most commonly spoken western language. (Continued in Iraq Background Information)
Vietnam
Situated on the eastern coast of mainland Southeast Asia, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is approximately the size of Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennesse combined. They produce a great amount of agriculture that is imported by the United States. However, through all of the beauty that can be seen and produced by the Vietnamese they suffer great depression. After the Vietnam war many people were forced to find resettlement in fear of being persecution, due to working closely with the Americans during the Vietnam War. (Conintued in Vietnam Background Information)
Vietnam Background Information
- Ethnic Vietnamese- There are more then a million Vietnamese refugees and immigrants living in America today. The first refugees to come over were mostly ex-military and government officials that worked closely with the United States during the Vietnam War. (Continued in Ethnic Vietnamese Background Information)
Ethnic Vietnamese Background Information
- Montagnard- The French term Montagnard, meaning “from the mountain(s)” refers to an indigenous people group generally from the Central Highlands of Vietnam. Many are seeking refuge or aslym due to persecution from religious beliefs. Buddism is the religion citizens are suppose to practice and live by. However, most Montagnard’s identify themselves with Christianity. (Continued in Montagnard Background Information)
Montagnard Background Information
Ethinic Vietnamese and Montagnard Food List
