It is easy to believe that the refugee crisis does not affect you as an individual, or even the United States as whole. But it does.
Disillusioned and withdrawn, many Americans have not yet grasped the complexity of the dangerous and heartbreaking situation -- the crisis may not even seem real to those who have remained uninvolved.
With more than 4 million displaced Syrians searching for security in neighboring land, European countries are rapidly attempting to figure out where the refugees can find shelter.
Why should we care?
If you are reading this, you have probably never felt the need to flee your home country due to multiple years of war and oppression. You have probably not watched three of your family members drown next to you, or been forced to squeeze into a small truck with 100 other people.
In other words, you have not experienced the same mental torture and physical suffering as many of the refugees, making it difficult to completely sympathize with the situation.
Or, maybe you have dealt with something similar, and feel more connected to the refugees. Either way, unless you are currently escaping the country, it may not seem as if you have a clear and compelling reason to care.
You are, however, a human – and so are the refugees. The crisis is not a “Syrian issue,” it is not a “European issue,” and it is not an “everyone but us” issue. This is a global issue, and a human issue.
As a global community, it is our obligation to show interest in the existing problems that challenge other humans, whether or not we understand the nitty-gritty politics of the situation. If ever an issue in the United States, wouldn’t we expect others to reach out?
So, what can we do?
1. Learn about the refugee crisis
Before anything else, take some time to educate yourself about what is happening. You don’t need to spend hours or days reading articles about individual stories, although this is always a possibility.
Essentially, people from conflict areas in Syria, Africa, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iran have left their respective countries in the past year in search of a better life; among other countries, many migrants have submitted applications for asylum in Germany, Turkey, Greece, Italy, and Hungary.
Through dangerous conditions crossing the Mediterranean Sea and illegally packing hundreds of people into trucks, the getaway to surrounding countries has been fatal to many refugees.
These are several articles that explain the complex situation in-depth, without sharing excess information that you don’t necessarily need to know:
- http://www.vox.com/2015/9/5/9265501/refugee-crisis-europe-syria
- http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/09/11/the-politics-of-the-syrian-refugee-crisis-explained/
- http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34131911
2. Donate to organizations
Although there are options to volunteer both overseas and online, there is little likelihood that a majority of the population will take the time and energy to do so. Another valuable possibility, however, is to donate to organizations that are facilitating relief efforts.
In an effort for widespread contribution, Google has recently agreed to match the first received $5.5 million (€5 million) in donations; the $11 million (€10 million) will then be distributed between four organizations that are aiding in the relief efforts: Doctors Without Borders, International Rescue Committee. Save the Children, and UN High Commissioner for Refugees are all committed to raising funds to help make a difference.
Donate here to Google, or to the individual organizations through their websites.
3. Share with others what you are doing
As important as it to stay personally well-informed, a crucial aspect of aiding in the crisis is to spread the information to others.
Any interesting or well-written article that you read online, share it on Facebook and Twitter. If you donate to an organization, tell your friends and family why you decided to donate.
Social media can be used as a vital tool in creating awareness about international issues; use this to your advantage!
