Here's What Refugee Kids Suffering From A Rare Syndrome In Sweden Can Tell Us About Australia's Offshore Detention Centres

  • Emily Verdouw
This was a collaboration with Buzzfeed Australian reporter Lane Sainty. I went to Sweden to take a look at three refugee families whose children have a rare and strange psychological illness called resignation syndrome. The same illness now befalling children on Nauru, Australia's offshore processing centre.
These families have all been living in limbo for almost a decade, not knowing if they will stay in Sweden or be sent back to where they came from. To certain death they believe. The lack of hope and security in these kids lives lead them to fall into a kind of coma. Withdrawing from the world.
You can watch below or read about it here:
https://www.buzzfeed.com/lanesainty/refugee-children-resignation-syndrome-sweden-australia?origin=shp