In 2010, our doctors and psychologists saw 645 patients, a number slightly lower than usual. The healing centre was able to accept 305 new patients, a significant increase compared to years past, thanks to Doctor Moreno who joined the healing centre team at the very beginning of the year. Of all the patients treated in 2010, 53 percent were returning patients (a slight decrease compared to 66 percent in 2009).

Patient Typology

Average Age

Because minors are even more vulnerable and have an even greater need for immediate treatment, they are given priority over other patients. Children have a different notion of time, making it more difficult for them to be told that they have wait for an appointment; thus, we strive to schedule an appointment with a doctor as soon as possible. The healing centre received 83 minors in 2010 (as opposed to 71 in 2009), which represents 13 percent of our patients. Of these 83 patients, many of them were Foreign Unaccompanied Minors who had been referred to Parcours d’Exil by youth hostels or other institutions. In 2010, the healing centre treated 61 Foreign Unaccompanied Minors (versus 37 in 2009).

Because priority is given to minors, 40% of our patients are under 25 years old and 73% are under 35. Patients over 60 years old represented 1% of the total number of patients we saw in 2010.

Gender

As in years past, the majority (61.7%) of patients treated at Parcours d’Exil in 2010 were men. The percentage of female patients was slightly higher in 2010, reaching 38.3% as opposed to 35% in 2009.

Geographic Origin

The political climate in our patients’ home countries continued to influence geographic trends in the overall demand. The victims treated in 2010 came from 57 countries. A more detailed break-down is as follows:

• With 497 patients (or 77%), our patients are predominantly of African origin. In 2010, nearly half of our patients (48%) came from two countries in particular: Conakry Guinea and the Deomocratic Republic of Congo.
• A significant number (222) of our patients came from Conakry Guinea. This number reflects the turmoil that has ravaged the region and its people for 60 years.
• The number of requests from citizens of the DRC was also significant: 92 in 2010. In addition, the majority of the child soldiers that we saw this year were Congolese.

Professional activity (in the patient’s country of origin)

Once again, the data shows that over 90% of our patients exercised a professional activity before coming to France. The most common professions were salesperson, technician, and upper-level manager. A large portion of our patients were students, which reflects the relatively young average age of our patients. The statistics also highlight the fact that the victims’ decision to flee their home country was based on political circumstances and not on their economic situation.

Administrative Status in France

Nearly 90% of the patients we treated in 2010 were asylum seekers, 7% had already obtained refugee status (or other ancillary protection), and 3% did not have a residency permit. Victims are often referred to a healing centre when they begin their asylum request process, which explains their overrepresention in our statistics.

Housing

The problem of housing continued to be a major cause for concern in 2010.

This year, only 2% of our patients had their own place to live. 58% of our patients were living in short-term housing such as hostels or shelters and the remaining 40% were in very precarious housing situations.

Geographic distribution (in France)

Although the majority (76%) of our patients live in the greater metropolitan area of Paris, this year we observed a signficiant spike in the number of patients that live in other regions in France, increasing from 18% in 2009 to 24% in 2010. This figure is mainly due to our growing partnerships with healing centres in Troyes and Beauvais.