Storella Addresses Special Issues Faced by Refugee Families
In a November 2, 2023, Zoom webinar hosted by the International Commission on Couple and Family Relations (ICCFR), Ambassador Mark Storella, Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy; Director, African Studies Center, delved into the unique challenges encountered by families and children in refugee crises. The virtual gathering drew participants from diverse corners of the world, including India, Germany, the UK, Italy, and the U.S.
Storella shed light on the specific hurdles that children and families confront in humanitarian crises, ranging from the impact of conflict and trauma to issues like dis-empowerment, sexual and gender-based violence, racism, heightened domestic violence, and disruptions in children’s education. As a focal point, ICCFR members sought insights into how professionals could contribute to helping forcibly displaced individuals overcome these challenges.
While grappling with the sobering reality of forced displacement worldwide and the complexities in finding solutions for refugees, Storella also underscored instances of remarkable generosity from often economically challenged countries. Uganda’s provision of two hectares for refugee families to farm, promoting self-reliance, Lebanon’s adjustment of primary education schedules to accommodate Syrian refugee children, Turkey’s provision of healthcare access for refugee families, and Zambia’s integration of thousands of Angolan refugees into local society with full rights were highlighted.
Despite these commendable efforts, the surge in forcibly displaced populations and strained resources has led to the reduction of psychosocial counseling in favor of more immediate life-saving support such as food and shelter
Established in 1953 as the IUFO Commission on Marriage and Marriage Guidance, later rebranded in 2001, the ICCFR comprises professionals in couples and family therapy, social work, psychology, psychiatry, and family courts from around the globe. Concerns about the circumstances of resettled refugees and migrants in their own communities motivate many ICCFR members to explore avenues for support.
Ambassador (ret.) Mark C. Storella was a United States Foreign Service Officer for over three decades serving as Ambassador to Zambia, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration, and Dean of the Leadership and Management School of the Foreign Service Institute. Other postings include Deputy Chief of Mission in Brussels, at the U.S. Mission to the UN in Geneva and in Phnom Penh. Ambassador Storella is recipient of the Presidential Rank Award, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Excellence in Service Award, the Thomas Jefferson Award presented by American Citizens Abroad, and several Department of State superior and meritorious honor awards.