Refugee communities in Christchurch have received little support after the city’s earthquakes, but coped thanks to spirituality, a study has found. 13 August 2012

Former refugees living in Christchurch coped well throughout the city’s earthquakes despite most of them having no help from authorities and struggling to get information, a study has found.

Former refugees from Afghanistan, Kurdistan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Bhutan living in Christchurch at the time of the September 4, 2010, earthquake took part in the University of Canterbury study, headed by health science graduate Mohamud Osman – a Somali refugee.

The study found more than 80 per cent of the 105 participants received no help or support from the Christchurch City Council or Earthquake Commission following the earthquakes.

More than two-thirds said they had difficulty accessing help and information.

None of the participants had ever experienced a major earthquake before, yet three-quarters of participants said they had coped well, with spirituality and religious practice an important support for many of them.

Mr Osman said more support and engagement from local services is needed to build trust and co-operation between refugees and local communities.

Older participants, women and married couples with children were more likely to worry about the earthquakes and their impact than single individuals, while those who completed the study questionnaire after the February 22 earthquake last year were more worried overall than those interviewed beforehand.

More than 85 per cent of Kurdish, Bhutanese, Ethiopian and Somali refugees were very worried after experiencing constant aftershocks, whereas only 33 per cent of Afghans – who often experience earthquakes back home – were very worried.

Mr Osman said a lack of support from mainstream relief agencies could be an added factor influencing the level of anxiety among refugees, while some were also not confident enough to seek help due to the language barrier.

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