Ethiopians on their way to Israel, Operation Solomon, 1991
Photo: Natan Alpert, GPO
25 percent of Ethiopian immigrants traumatized
Survey reveals Ethiopian immigrants suffer from post-traumatic stress following move to Israel
A new study reveals that 25 percent of Ethiopian immigrants to Israel suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) triggered by their move to Israel.
The study, conducted by Dr Michal Finkelstein, will be presented at Tel Hai Academic College at an international conference about acclimatization of immigrants and minorities.
The research checked how the strain of immigration affected the way immigrants and minorities adapted to the surroundings.
A representative sample of 600 Ethiopian immigrants between the ages of 30-50 was assessed. Findings revealed that 28 percent of the immigrants who came via Sudan in Operation Moses in 1984, 16 percent of those who came in 1991 in Operation Solomon and 27 percent of those who came from 1993 under the family reunification scheme, were suffering from PTSD.
Those who have this disorder tend to have recurring disturbing recollections, suffer from concentration deficit, nervousness, outbreaks of anger and apathy.
