Country Guides
Country Guides (Gulf Coast Jewish Family & Community Services – Refugee Services)
The country guide reports offer brief overviews of each country, highlighting current healthcare systems, common perceptions and responses to adverse mental health symptoms, and typical community support networks.
Afghanistan
Bhutan
Burma (Myanmar)
Burma
Central African Republic
Colombia
Cuba
DRC
DRC 2
El Salvador
Eritrea
Haiti
Iran
Iraq
Rohingya
Russia
Somalia
Somalia 2
Sudan (South)
Sudan
Syria
Syria 2
Backgrounders and Cultural Profiles (Cultural Orientation Resource Center)
The backgrounders and cultural profiles include a population’s history, culture, religion, language, education, and resettlement needs, and brief demographic information. Provided in PDF format for download.
Refugees from Syria, November 2014 – Information about refugees from Syria, addressing Syria’s modern history, government, economy, and other systems, the different Syrian populations, common beliefs and customs, conditions in first-asylum countries, and implications for resettlement. This document does not currently include demographic information about the Syrian refugees in the U.S. Refugee Admissions pipeline; that information will follow as more Syrian refugees undergo processing.
Refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, March 2013 (Data updated January 2014) – Information about the refugee crisis, life in the DRC and countries of asylum, background characteristics of the refugees, and their resettlement experiences in the U.S., strengths they bring and the challenges they may face.
Darfuri Refugees, June 2011 – Information about refugees from the Darfur region of Sudan, particularly those being resettled from Chad, as well as those in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya.
Eritrean Refugees in Shimelba Refugee Camp, December 2010 – Information about the Tigrinya and Kunama refugees from the Shimelba Refugee Camp, looking at their recent history in Eritrea and Ethiopia, their cultural attributes, and their socio-economic characteristics.
Refugees From Iraq, December 2008 – In-depth information about refugee groups from Iraq, including the various ethnic and religious communities, history, conditions in countries of asylum, characteristics of the refugee population, religion, language, education, and resettlement considerations.
Bhutanese Refugees in Nepal, October 2007 – Discussion of the causes of the refugee situation, the need for third-country resettlement, and the characteristics of the refugee population.
Refugees from Burma, June 2007 – Information about the diverse histories, cultures, refugee backgrounds, and resettlement experiences of refugees from Burma, with a focus on Burmans, Karen, Karenni, and Chin.
The Kunama, April 2007 – A look at the experience of the Kunama in Eritrea, their lives in the Shimelba Refugee Camp, and their cultural practices and preferences.
The 1972 Burundians, March 2007 – A general discussion of the Burundian refugees being resettled from the Tanzanian refugee camps in which they have lived since 1972, including reasons for their flight, the need for resettlement, their cultural customs and background characteristics, and their likely resettlement needs.
The Banyamulenge Tutsi, February 2007 – Basic information about the Banyamulenge Tutsi in general and the Gatumba massacre survivors in particular.
The Meskhetian Turks, September 2006 – General information about Meskhetian Turks and their history, including Meskhetian Turk communities around the world, culture, language and education, and resettlement in the United States, as well as recommended reading.
Liberian Refugees, April 2005 – General information about the Liberian people and their history, including life in Liberia, the situation of Liberian refugees in West Africa, language, and resettlement in the United States, as well as recommended reading.
The Hmong, June 2004 – General information about the Hmong people, their history, their lives in Laos and Thailand, literacy and education issues, resettlement matters, and information about Hmong languages, including a list of common words, phrases, and sayings.
Muslim Refugees, September 2003 – A basic introduction to the worldview of Muslim peoples as manifested in their religion and culture, including topics such as the fundamental tenets of Islam; necessary conditions for successful resettlement; special considerations when working with Muslim men, women, children, and elderly; and a list of resources for both refugees and service providers.
The Somali Bantu, February 2003 – A basic introduction to the people, history, and cultures of the Somali Bantu resettled from refugee camps in Somalia.
The Afghans, 2002 – An introduction to the people, history and cultures of Afghanistan. (PDF, 705 KB)
The Montagnards, 2002 – This booklet is a basic introduction to the history, cultures, and resettlement experiences of the Montagnard people of Vietnam.