Refugees' sufferings

by Dr. M. Ashaq Raza

Homelessness is the biggest punishment for anybody and is the root cause of all sufferings. Lack of food, education, medical facilities, communication and other comforts make life more difficult and vulnerable to a variety of consequences. Life becomes a real burden when the new environment refuses to adopt these homeless people and becomes more dangerous than that of one they left, over security and safety grounds. Temporary refugees' camps furnished with all sorts of human rights violations, sexual abuses, killings, abduction and variety of crimes become their destiny. Their return to homelands and life realities take shape of unseen distant dreams for them.

This is the first of three articles highlighting the reflections of refugees and non-refugees. Wars, conflicts, natural hazards, and poor governance, all contribute to the escalating number of refugees around the world, particularly in Africa. The international community has to do more for this ever increasing population of ill-fated people.

Here are some of the first reflections from refugees and non-refugees students about the people like us whom we call refugees:

The River

by Taylor

I’m a river flowing over in Kenya
Oh no! Look at you, you’re a skinny little runt.
Oh hi there, bye there. You look so sad. Why?

We had to leave our home, our stuff, our food.
You would be sad too.
But you’re not me and I’m not you. Oh I’m sorry
I shouldn’t have asked. I bet you’ll be free someday
To roam in the forest,
to go on the beach,
to live in Texas and be free.
Free of worry. No bombs, no guns, no refugee camps.
But most importantly, no war.

Go Inside a Cloud Above Uganda

by Kaitlin

Sad people are below me
Wishing to go home
I feel so spoiled eating inside my fluffy capsule
Looking down upon faces of sorrow, my heart fills with remorse
My face saddens with sorrow, my happiness flushed away
I think what I can do to help the starving refugees
I know, I’ll give them rain water.

Untitled

by Michael

Being a refugee is
Terrible
Unbearable
Unfun
Because of a gun
Scary
Not merry
Bad
Sad
It’s just plain out not a bit cool.

Peace

by Alexis Opper

Peace is what I would dream
to see if I were a refugee.
Sad, angry, never happy.
Bombs flying while people are hiding
Moaning, groaning, wondering
why there is a war this wide
That is what I never want to see,
The life of a refugee.

Untitled

by Maverick

As a refugee I would hope for
World peace and freedom for all
Money to shop at the mall
A mattress to sleep on the floor
To unite with friends and family
Not to travel 10-20 miles a night
For food, water and my old items
Last to have a blast where I want.

Untitled

by Jelly

If I were a refugee my dream would be …
To live in peace
For yummy food
Great teachers
A Loving family
Trustworthy friends
And lots of money
Now you know what I think refugees dream of.

To Be a…

by Caitlin Ritz

Really scared
Ending wars is a dream
Finding new home
U never know what will happen
Getting through is difficult
Everything doesn’t seem right
Education is not as good
is hard!