People are not numbers

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2 min read

I’m going to start this post saying that one refugee is already too many. No one should be obliged to run from his country.
Yesterday, 20th of June, it was “celebrated” the world refugee day. According to UN newest report, there are 7.6 million refugees due to conflict or persecution, at a rhythm of 23000 people per day (!). These numbers are shocking. Pakistan, Iran and Germany are the major host countries to refugees and Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq, Syria and Sudan were the countries that created the largest quantity of refugees.
The number keeps rising. In a world that should be all about acceptance and peace, we have this major problem. So, why should you care? Imagine yourself being displaced from your house, your belongings, your friends, being forced into a country that (most of the time) doesn’t speak your language, or even a home-country town away from yours, were you have no job, no family, nothing. You wouldn’t know if you could ever return to your home country/town and to the comfort of your previous life. How would you feel? Helpless and lost, right? This is how a refugee feels.
At this moment you are asking: “But if they are going to a better life, how should I care?”. A lot of them don’t get a better life, they just get away from the immediate threat.
How can we help them? First of all, care about them. They aren’t just numbers. There are a lot things you can do – like this.

If you want to find more information about refugees, consult UN’s report about the matter.

Give me your opinions below 🙂

34 responses to “People are not numbers”

  1. Gallivanta Avatar

    The numbers are shocking. I liked this campaign from UNHCR. http://unhcr.org/1family/?utm_source=facebook-AlexandraGen&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=WRD2013 asking what is the one thing you would take if you suddenly had to flee your home. It makes one think but I still haven’t decided what I would take.

    1. Internationally Unrelated Avatar

      Thanks a lot for sharing the link!
      I also don’t know what I would take…

  2. ramblingsofapoliticsstudent Avatar

    I could offer many ideas in terms of policies and practical ways to help refugees. But given the way many seek to ostracise them, I think the most important thing that we can do is to remind people that they are human beings just like us, and ought to be treated accordingly.

    1. Internationally Unrelated Avatar

      Yes, i completely agree with you! I feel that a lot of people think that it is a problem far away from them…but it can happen to anybody.

  3. holmesr64 Avatar

    Nice piece. Keep fighting the good fight- with so much irrational hate and distrust of the Other all over the world,we need to keep reminding each other that hate cannot be allowed to win.

    1. Internationally Unrelated Avatar

      Exactly 🙂 Thanks a lot for your comment!

  4. robertscribbler Avatar

    30 million people were also displaced in 2012 due to climate change. What we’ve done to our environment is now a force more harmful than warfare.

    1. Internationally Unrelated Avatar

      Yes! I think these 7.6 million include them… Unfortunately, there are a lot more people suffering with climate change than the people that can get “away” from it…

  5. The Human Tsunami Avatar

    Hi:

    Thanks for coming by my site and expressing interest in my work. Your post is absolutely wonderful and spot-on. Thanks for sharing it and keep up the great work.

    -THS

    1. Internationally Unrelated Avatar

      Thank you very much for coming by 🙂

  6. Gist Editor Avatar

    Great post. These numbers amaze me. Actually picturing these numbers as people makes it even more lucid. Really insightful post. Keep it up..

    1. Internationally Unrelated Avatar

      Thank you! I think that we need to see these numbers as people that suffer everyday…The world would be sp much better if we all cared.

  7. lovelifeloavesandfishes Avatar

    Really enjoyed reading your posts, and seeing what you’re up to. Tried to connect to you on linkedin, but my portugese ran out! Will follow your blog instead. Thanks for liking my WRD post!
    Take care, Janet

    1. Internationally Unrelated Avatar

      I have a english version on Linkedin 🙂 Thanks a lot for your comment and come by anytime!

  8. jobseeker Avatar

    Definitely agree.

    1. Internationally Unrelated Avatar

      Thank you for coming by 🙂

  9. Marissa Alisa Martinez Avatar

    Interesting article, good blog.

    1. Internationally Unrelated Avatar

      Hi! Thank you very much 🙂

  10. mcsirishart Avatar

    Hi, thought you might be interested in this blog http://athlonecommunityradio.ie/2013/07/05/trauma-tears-hope-4/

    keep up the good work

    1. Internationally Unrelated Avatar

      Hi! Thanks for the sugestion 🙂

      1. mcsirishart Avatar

        They appear to have shortened the content but its the voices of some of the residents of the asylum seekers center in Athlone. The struggles they have with daily living, post traumatic stress, depression and lack of rights including the right to work, where some have been waiting nearly a decade to be awarded status. They have powerful stories to tell.

      2. Internationally Unrelated Avatar

        It seems quite interesting 🙂 Thank you very much for letting me know

  11. Rashid Faridi Avatar

    Reblogged this on Jugraphia Slate.

  12. jhdanielee Avatar

    As a cosmopolitan, I totally agree to the concept of “care.” We are only struggling with such intangible concept; but that doesn’t mean we should stop caring for others as we have responsibilities for others intrinsically. I’m leaving a column URL I wrote about (regarding “numbers”).

    “American WMDs”:
    http://www.bcheights.com/news/column-american-wmds-1.3071940#.U0fpmFxFizA

    1. jhdanielee Avatar

      I meant the constructivist thinking. It’s not clear but I’m learning and experiencing that it’s there. Even as a realist I can see it. We have to trust the collective humanity.

      1. Internationally Unrelated Avatar

        Indeed! But sometimes humanity lets us down.

      2. jhdanielee Avatar

        I think humanity doesn’t let us down. We get frustrated by the absence of humanity in individuals. Humanity doesn’t mean perfection. It can get very complicated with the human nature.

      3. Internationally Unrelated Avatar

        Yes, I agree, but I was talking about humanity in a sense of the individual and how can an individual hurt other people

      4. jhdanielee Avatar

        That I totally agree to it. I learned I shouldn’t trust individual (as I’ve been damaged by). My only hope is the collective humanity.

  13. johncoyote Avatar

    Land and oil. Iraq struggle isn’t for religion. It is for profit. I agree every life is important. How do you change the 3% who control the world. Wealthy people control the movement of food, oil and concern. If no-one supply the murderers with guns, weapons and resources. War would end. No profit in peace for the wealthy men in this world.

    1. Internationally Unrelated Avatar

      Well, yes… Altought it is always more complicated than that, I think. “Bad guys” will always find a way to continue with war

      1. johncoyote Avatar

        I don’t know. If the USA left Iraq alone in 2002. Today our world would be better. Some places need the iron fist leadership. USA made this mess and more in some places and regions. Africa is in great change and me and you. Won’t see the end result.

      2. Internationally Unrelated Avatar

        True. Well, we’ll see… We can’t loose hope

  14. manuelcarbajal Avatar

    Reblogged this on manuelcarbajal.

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