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Abstract

Due to war-related conflict and monsoon flooding, the number of internally displaced persons residing within and refugees or asylum seekers originating from Pakistan has reached over two million. Such displacement trends necessitate increased understanding of culturally specific trauma reactions for this population. This predominantly qualitative exploratory study utilised a concurrent mixed methods triangulation design within an action research methodology to examine trauma-related symptomatology and phenomenological perspectives on internal displacement for Pakistani women. Results indicate: (a) significant experiences of distress including multiple displacements, separation from family, loss of property, experiences of terror and exposure to personal and community violence as well as (b) effects of distress including altered feeling states, awareness of consciousness and physical states. Implications for disaster response and trauma recovery with Pakistani populations are highlighted.

Keywords

Pakistan trauma gender internal displacement refugee

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Voices of Trauma and Resilience

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Keywords

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