So it's been a while I was here. I literally got overwhelmed with happenstances all around, both locally and internationally, if you are as observant, you would agree that these issues are indeed overwhelming. Thanks to Favor for nudging me back to consciousness, I know you are reading this, thank you!
So I recently came across a research on the refugees not just in Nigeria, but the international refugee situation, to which Nigeria is a major contributor, and I was literally broken to see how individuals, who possibly are better citizens than you and I, become 'wonderers' for the rest of their lives.
The United Nations had identified 15 trouble hot spots globally that contribute to the refugee situation, namely South Sudan, Central African Republic, northeastern Nigeria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Ukraine, Iraq, and recently Syria. In fact, as of February 2016, the UN reported that 13.5million Syrians required humanitarian assistance, and of this number, 6.6 million had been displaced inside of Syria and 4.8 million were refugees outside of Syria; especially in Turkey. These figures are from just one of the 15 hot spots. "Refugees are people like anyone else, like you and me", Ban Ki-moon couldn't have said it any better.
The tales from some of these refugees situations will move you to tears. One volunteer asserted, "I have worked in a lot of difficult situations, but this one is the biggest and toughest so far. My body is tired, but my soul sings".
Joram has been a refugee for only a few months, and in mixed emotions he reported, "I'm 28 years old, and I'm studying English...Seven members of our family were beheaded, one of my relatives had to witness her daughter being killed... All we want is a normal life". Sami had also been a refugee for two years, and speaking of the young lady in his company, he said, "This is my love. We have been happy together for the past two years. We're waiting for our whole family to be safe in one place, then we will get married".
It is indeed a tale of mixed emotions; some have stories of death and suffering, others have stories of love and laughter through pain, all these however doesn't excuse the reality of a dare situation.
June 20 is slated as the annual UN World Refugee Day, so do we wait another 9 months to extend love and support to refugees closest to us? I recommend that 'everyday is a refugee day for everyone', as long as we have the heart, the means, and refugees.
