The phenomenal refugee crisis that we have witnessed in
recent months is being named “the biggest humanitarian crisis since World War
II”. It’s so difficult for us to relate to this because we are so far removed
and the news coverage of worldwide issues by our national news stations is
appalling. To make things worse, ISIS are taking full advantage of the refugee
crisis to instil fear in the hearts of each and every person. Deeper than that
we have no real insight into the basis of the decisions made by world leaders
in response to this global crisis. Do we really live in democracy when most of
the decisions made by the ‘representatives of the people’ are made behind closed
doors and their intentions are not made clear to the public? The threat of ISIS
has been evident for a long time and the world leaders had been forewarned of
the imminent danger that they faced if they continued to ignore the issue. So
why was nothing done? Did they feel that they needed to be provoked in order to
take action? The Paris attacks and the bombing of the Russian plane provoked
them enough to begin bombing innocent people. So will it resolve the issue? I
sincerely doubt it and thankfully, many share this opinion but we remain
powerless. However, I would like to focus on how these issues affect the
Emerald Isle and the struggles we face in the near future.
We have witnessed millions of victims of a war-torn country
fleeing their homes in search of safety.
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| Aylan Kurdi, three years old |
Remember this? This is a photograph that shocked the world.
This is a photograph that brought tears to the eyes of millions sitting
comfortably in front of their technology-ridden homes. This is a photograph
that most have already forgotten. Yet this photo is unforgettable, it should be
engraved to your brain until death does you part, it should haunt you. Because,
sadly, this is only one boy out of thousands who died trying to escape a
country run into ruins by a gruelling dictatorship that could measure up to with
Hitler’s regime. Alas, we know more about the idiotic ravings of Trump and his
ridiculous attention-grabbing proclamations. It’s devastating to think how
desperate these people would be to risk their own lives and the lives of their
children to escape their homeland. Could you imagine that it is a decision that
you would make on the gamble that they could possibly survive the treacherous journey
and have a better life in Europe? After four years of bombings and bloodshed at
the hands of their president, it was a decision fuelled by fear, terror, warfare
and poverty. That is not a choice.
From Ireland’s perspective, we are obliged to take some form
of action as a member of the European Union and meanwhile, remain a ‘neutral’ country
in the wake of the war against the terrorism. As humans capable of compassion
and sympathy, this reasoning for our actions is shameful. When this is written
in History, would we like it to say that we did what was demanded of us? And
individually, when you are sitting around your grandchildren telling them
stories about, what could be, World War III, what would you like to say you’ve
done; Nothing? You could tell them that you turned your back to the hard-hitting
headline stories because they were too grim for you and it was nothing to do
with us in the first place. Or you could say that you stood up for humanity and
did something to contribute. A contribution does not mean that you have to pack
your bags to volunteer in refugee camps. So, what can we do here at home?
· * Learning about what is happening and what has
happened to instigate this war could be enough.
* Donating your unwanted items to organizations carrying them to refugee camps would be so significant to their lives. Within ‘The Jungle’ in Calais, the biggest refugee camp to date, some people have to travel 14km every day to their nearest collection point. Your unused bicycles could change their world.
* * Raising money to help the volunteers that are dedicating their time and energy to these people would be invaluable to their plight to help these refugees survive.
* Making a donation to organisations like the Calais kitchens in the refugee camp or the Irish Refugee Council
* If you know that refugees will be arriving in an area near you, ask what you can do to help and try to help people see it as a necessity rather than a burden. Banksy has done a painting aimed to combat this issue on a bridge near the Calais refugee camp. Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, is the son of a Syrian migrant. These people are all categorised as refugees, but they are much more than that. They're doctors, teachers, engineers, architects, artists, labourers who have been forced to flee their home because of forces out of their control.
* Donating your unwanted items to organizations carrying them to refugee camps would be so significant to their lives. Within ‘The Jungle’ in Calais, the biggest refugee camp to date, some people have to travel 14km every day to their nearest collection point. Your unused bicycles could change their world.
* * Raising money to help the volunteers that are dedicating their time and energy to these people would be invaluable to their plight to help these refugees survive.
* Making a donation to organisations like the Calais kitchens in the refugee camp or the Irish Refugee Council
* If you know that refugees will be arriving in an area near you, ask what you can do to help and try to help people see it as a necessity rather than a burden. Banksy has done a painting aimed to combat this issue on a bridge near the Calais refugee camp. Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, is the son of a Syrian migrant. These people are all categorised as refugees, but they are much more than that. They're doctors, teachers, engineers, architects, artists, labourers who have been forced to flee their home because of forces out of their control.
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| The artwork is featured alongside the camps in Calais, France. |
The next difficulty we face here at home is the arrival of
the refugees and where they will be housed. Obviously, Ireland faces many
internal issues as it stands and this is another difficult expense at the hands
of our exceptionally well-paid politicians. We must be rational enough to
understand that sacrifices must be made to accommodate them. Then we must look
past our narcissistic complaints and remember what lengths these people have
gone to in order to arrive on Irish soil. They have lost their homes, their
loved ones and their whole world to a merciless dictator and a group of
terrorists who deface their religion in the name of evil. Shall we welcome them
to a safe haven or a hostile hell? When we are greeted with the faces of these
innocent people, will we treat them as we were treated when we fled our homes
to America, Australia, Canada and England during more difficult times in
Ireland? “No Irish allowed” is a phrase that still echoes in the hearts of the
Irish people and it is something that we will probably never forget. Therefore,
I hope that we give them a first impression that we can be proud of. I hope
that Syrians will return to a peaceful country and speak of the Irish as warm,
welcoming people who went above and beyond to help in their time of need. I
hope we live up to our good natured reputation and do our country proud,
despite our own predicaments. My faith in humanity rests on the arrival of
these poor souls, lets our country proud.
This is simply my opinion and although I’m not an expert,
I’ve been trying my best to keep up with what has been happening. If reading this does
nothing, I hope it spurs some curiosity. Here are some links that I found
really interesting and informative:
The Assad Regime:
Why are the refugees here?
Organisations involved in aiding refugees
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1516831491976726/
http://care4calais.org/
https://www.facebook.com/laubergedesmigrantsinternational/
Banksy's contribution to the 'Jungle'
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35076976
http://care4calais.org/
https://www.facebook.com/laubergedesmigrantsinternational/
Banksy's contribution to the 'Jungle'
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35076976
If you've seen or read anything of interest, send it this
way. Thanks for reading!
