A recent Gallup Organization of Costa Rica survey reports that 600,000 adults in Central America who survived Hurricane Mitch are willing to brave the journey through Mexico to find work in the U.S. and that 292,000 are already on their way. On March 8, more than 75 people gathered on Capitol Hill for Sierra Leone Advocacy Day sponsored by many organizations, including Church World Service. The purpose was to call attention to the ongoing violence and displacement in Sierra Leone and the need for the U.S. government to provide leadership in restoring peace, provide protection for refugees, and assure relief and humanitarian assistance. The staff became aware of other centers for survivors of torture in the U.S., attended conferences learning about possible treatment programs, and began recruiting mental health providers. Today, the Southwest Center for the Survivors of Torture serves over 50 clients from all over the world.
Half are from several African countries, and many are still from Central America.
Most recently, we have had clients from Kosovo, Bosnia, Iraq, and Asia. We now have a staff of four, consisting of a new program director, a person who provides clinical services, a person who provides case load services, and I seek to raise the needed funds. Although our clients come from many different countries and have cultural differences, they share in the pain of torture. Many of them have physical problems that we have to first care for before they are willing to start dealing with their mental problems. Several have been outspoken critics of the government in their country and participants in pro democracy demonstrations.