The stereotyped image of a refugee is normally one of an impoverished, malnurished african child and mother. Many organisations paste these images of struggling personalities quite often to propell propaganda for their own monetary gain. In a world driven by negative imagery and statistics it numbs our senses and the needy are forgotten.
Yet a refugee is someone who is forced to flee their place of origin to seek safety and normally stay in a temporary place till they can return and rebuild their lives. However some never return.
34 million of these people are some of the most vulnerable and also the most toughest as they overcome the worst adversities. These people are spread all acros the globe, 3 million of these are in the United States making this country the largest country to support refugees. $1.4 billion was given to help these refugees, and although it may not remove the emotional scars they have embedded in their mind and hearts it still goes a long way into helping them start over, but more can still be done.
Countries with the worst refugee crisis are Iraq, Afghanistan, Chad, The Central African Republic and Darfur, however there has been progress in the long standing refugee crisis being made in Liberia, South Sudan, Burundi and Bhutan.
I applaud those organisations that are positively making a difference where the bottom line is not a priority and aiding peoples lives is a necessesity, where everyone is not a stereotype but individuals fighting for their freedom to live peacefully.
For info on the World refugee day event in Grand Rapids visit http://thepaisleycompany.yolasite.com/
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