International Conference on Social Work and Social Research was held in Baku jointly organized by Azerbaijan University and Washington University. In her presentation at the conference, integrative psychosocial therapist and alternative medicine specialist Ilkana Goca van den Berg presented the results of her research on “Refugee, IDP, or both? Psychological health of refugees and IDPs subjected to forced migration in the case of Azerbaijan” based on her clinical experience in recent years.
The study drew attention to the psychosocial difficulties and traumas experienced by our compatriots who were displaced from their ancestral home and settled in Khojaly, who were subjected to genocide due to their Turkish and Azerbaijani status.
It was noted that the purpose of the research was to analyze the situation of people who settled in Khojaly as internally displaced persons from the Republics of Armenia and Uzbekistan in the late 80s and early 90s, as well as to investigate their psychosocial condition and needs.
These compatriots, who were under the influence of Armenia due to the traumas they experienced by fleeing from their homeland, were moved from their newly built homes in Khojaly for the second time and subjected to deeper traumas. Although they moved from different countries, they faced similar complex “Traumatic Stress Disorder and Delayed Grief Disorder”.
Despite the fact that 31 years have passed, their wounds have not yet been fully healed. At present, it was emphasized that such compatriots need social and psychological support.
At the end of the presentation, in addition to the results, suggestions were also put forward. Questions related to the topic that attracted the interest of international participants were also answered.
It should be noted that the said study was supported by the Strong Together Foundation. Researches of various universities and research centers of 30 countries of the world were also presented at the conference.
