And it is usually their sense of family unity that gives them the strength and the will to do it. Because for millions of refugees, the family is all that is left. Usually, the stress is from multiple causes, any one of which is enough to create major upheaval. Women, for example, often must assume the dual roles of breadwinner and homemaker because men are left behind to fight or are killed or taken prisoner in their homeland. In addition to losing everything, these women must assume added responsibilities to keep their families together.
Family members are lost, some die and many are separated.
People lose their means of livelihood and all their resources. There is a general loss of direction, of purpose and of meaning in life, especially in separated families. Many refugees suffer disabilities in flight and need medical attention they cannot get. The elderly are abandoned and those who cannot cope fall by the wayside. Many people die because they simply give up hope.