The experience of Catholic Health Care facilities in providing services to refugees and other victims of war – The experience in Uganda.

Refugees and War victims

Refugees may be war victims or not war victims but have had other reasons for persecution. There are also other “War victims” who are not refugees. They leave their homes but do not cross the borders. They are internally displaced people (IDPs). IDPs often suffer the same or even worse than refugees. The UNHCR defines refugee as someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war, or violence. He or she has a well-founded fear of persecution due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. On the other hand internally displaced persons are also forced to flee their homes for the same reason as refugees, but remain in their own country and have not crossed an international border. For that reason they are not protected by international laws and usually not eligible for many types of aid that are accessible to refugees.

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