Refugee crisis: humans desperately seeking safety and understanding
Recent weeks have seen an explosion of headlines regarding the refugee crisis that is racing through Europe. Over the last four years, Bashar al-Assad's regime has targeted Syrian civilians ruthlessly with the use of chemical weapons and barrel bombs. ISIS has subjected Syrians to murder, torture, crucifixion, sexual slavery, and other appalling atrocities. Millions have been forced into exile as their homes have been destroyed by the conflict. No wonder people are desperate to flee the country to escape from the violence.
Yet the UK government's response is likely to cause further suffering and devastation to Syria by offering a very small number of refugee places and joining international bombing campaigns in the region. It is also doing little to encourage sympathy and understanding for the refugees among the British public. UK Foreign Minister Philip Hammond claimed in August that migrants from Africa were a threat to Europe's "standard of living and social infrastructure" and Theresa May made a speech to the Conservative Party conference that even the Telegraph described as ‘ugly’ and ‘irresponsible’ for its anti-immigrant stance.
A new poll found that a worryingly high proportion of people (67%) thought the government should deploy the army to keep refugees from crossing into the UK through the Channel Tunnel. YouGov concluded that "when we think of immigration as an issue, we link it to government failure, economic insecurity and Britain’s decline from greatness."
There is a clear problem in the presentation of the crisis through the media. In particular the use of the words ‘immigrants and migrants’ instead of ‘refugees and asylum seekers.’ When people see the word ‘immigrant’ it is often associated with people who have money. They are not seen as desperate for food, shelter and safety but instead they are perceived to have the luxury of moving between countries with ease. The word ‘immigrant’ misleads the reader from the actual situation. If the media used the more appropriate word "refugee" to describe these desperate people, the public would become more aware and perhaps more sympathetic to their current circumstances (ie having to flee their war torn homes, with only what they can carry on their backs, in desperate need of asylum and welfare.)
Early in September, it briefly seemed that the world had woken up and found its humanity again when images of the innocent Aylan and Galip appeared lying still on a beach in Greece. But the real question is, why did it take photos of dead children to prove immigrants are human too? In the light of these heart-wrenching photos coming into the public view there has been a wave of understanding for the refugees – but there is a danger it is ebbling away again already. Many have offered their help and assistance in aiding the despairing men, women and children wherever possible. However the situation is far from resolved.
On 12 September, I attended the Refugee Solidarity March in London with my friends. It was a truly memorable experience and I was left with mixed emotions. I was astounded and joyful at the sheer number of people who turned up! It made me so happy to see that not everyone was blind to the fact that these refugees are human beings. I was surprised to see how many children attended too. It highlighted the fact that xenophobia is taught and learned; it does not come naturally. This made me feel positive about the future as these children (who were chanting ‘Let them in, let them in, London’s open like a biscuit tin!’) were starting their lives with the intention of helping others. However, even though I was smiling as I walked down Park Lane into Parliament Square I couldn’t help thinking how sad it was that we were marching for some people’s basic human rights.
Everyone has the right to seek asylum and I couldn’t help thinking that if it was the other way round, with British people needing support from abroad, we would be clamouring for our right to safety wherever it could be found.
Here are three things you can do to help the refugees:
Donate to the London2Calais group – Money will go towards emergency relief items such as food, medicine and sanitary items. It will also help to buy items such as water pumps to deal with flooding and generators to provide electricity.
Bring along clothing and essential supplies to CalAid - http://www.calaid.co.uk/
Write to your MP – the power of the pen is greater than you think.
Alex Fowler, Year 13
Yet the UK government's response is likely to cause further suffering and devastation to Syria by offering a very small number of refugee places and joining international bombing campaigns in the region. It is also doing little to encourage sympathy and understanding for the refugees among the British public. UK Foreign Minister Philip Hammond claimed in August that migrants from Africa were a threat to Europe's "standard of living and social infrastructure" and Theresa May made a speech to the Conservative Party conference that even the Telegraph described as ‘ugly’ and ‘irresponsible’ for its anti-immigrant stance.
A new poll found that a worryingly high proportion of people (67%) thought the government should deploy the army to keep refugees from crossing into the UK through the Channel Tunnel. YouGov concluded that "when we think of immigration as an issue, we link it to government failure, economic insecurity and Britain’s decline from greatness."
There is a clear problem in the presentation of the crisis through the media. In particular the use of the words ‘immigrants and migrants’ instead of ‘refugees and asylum seekers.’ When people see the word ‘immigrant’ it is often associated with people who have money. They are not seen as desperate for food, shelter and safety but instead they are perceived to have the luxury of moving between countries with ease. The word ‘immigrant’ misleads the reader from the actual situation. If the media used the more appropriate word "refugee" to describe these desperate people, the public would become more aware and perhaps more sympathetic to their current circumstances (ie having to flee their war torn homes, with only what they can carry on their backs, in desperate need of asylum and welfare.)
Early in September, it briefly seemed that the world had woken up and found its humanity again when images of the innocent Aylan and Galip appeared lying still on a beach in Greece. But the real question is, why did it take photos of dead children to prove immigrants are human too? In the light of these heart-wrenching photos coming into the public view there has been a wave of understanding for the refugees – but there is a danger it is ebbling away again already. Many have offered their help and assistance in aiding the despairing men, women and children wherever possible. However the situation is far from resolved.
On 12 September, I attended the Refugee Solidarity March in London with my friends. It was a truly memorable experience and I was left with mixed emotions. I was astounded and joyful at the sheer number of people who turned up! It made me so happy to see that not everyone was blind to the fact that these refugees are human beings. I was surprised to see how many children attended too. It highlighted the fact that xenophobia is taught and learned; it does not come naturally. This made me feel positive about the future as these children (who were chanting ‘Let them in, let them in, London’s open like a biscuit tin!’) were starting their lives with the intention of helping others. However, even though I was smiling as I walked down Park Lane into Parliament Square I couldn’t help thinking how sad it was that we were marching for some people’s basic human rights.
Everyone has the right to seek asylum and I couldn’t help thinking that if it was the other way round, with British people needing support from abroad, we would be clamouring for our right to safety wherever it could be found.
Here are three things you can do to help the refugees:
Donate to the London2Calais group – Money will go towards emergency relief items such as food, medicine and sanitary items. It will also help to buy items such as water pumps to deal with flooding and generators to provide electricity.
Bring along clothing and essential supplies to CalAid - http://www.calaid.co.uk/
Write to your MP – the power of the pen is greater than you think.
Alex Fowler, Year 13