June 19, 2023

The resilience of refugees looking for a better life

topic:	Refugees and Asylum
located:	Jordan, Kenya, Bangladesh
editor:	Bob Koigi

As emerging shocks, such as warfare, the COVID pandemic and climate change take a toll on global population, decimating livelihoods and displacing citizens, the number of those who have been forcibly evicted from their homes has grown to reach over 100 million. 

This forgotten population has had to contend with tough conditions, among them starvation, deplorable living conditions, torture, human rights abuses, persecution and even death. There is, however, an emerging group of refugees who are rising against the odds to make a name for themselves, improve living conditions for their peers and change the narrative of refugees as vulnerable communities. They have become peacemakers, influenced policies, taken on leadership roles, and made a marked contribution to society. 

From the Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan, Dadaab in Kenya and Kutupalong in Bangladesh, the heartwarming stories of refugees rising in the face of adversity should inspire a generation and jolt political leaders to enact pro-refugee policies and legislation.

Abdul Aziz Muhamat, a Sudanese refugee, is the poster child for refugees’ resilience and a depiction of the harrowing experiences they endure. Fleeing war in his country, Aziz took a flight to Indonesia, then a boat to Australia. But the boat was intercepted by authorities and Aziz was locked up in the Manus Island detention centre for five years, where migrants are beaten and have their names stripped in exchange for a numerical identification system. 

Aziz documented these painful experiences and shared them through Whatsapp messages and tweets. In 2019, he received the prestigious Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders and exposed countries’ indifference to the plight of refugees.

In Za’atari refugee camp, Abu Mahmood who fled Syria with his family runs a pizza delivery service dubbed Pizzeria of Peace, which serves aid workers and fellow refugees. 

In Uganda - which has one of the most proactive refugee policies in the world that offers refugees a safe haven, work and land - Mohammed Osman Ali, a Somalian refugee, has established a video game arcade which he runs for refugees from other countries including Ethiopia and Eritrea. From having arrived in the East African country hidden in the back of a truck, Ali has made a name for himself, a business and is inspiring more refugees into entrepreneurship. 

As the World Refugee Day shines the spotlight on the plight of those running away from conflict and persecution, it also provides the world an opportunity to pause and reflect on the urgent need to make life more comfortable for refugees while applying pressure on political leaders to repatriate refugee to their homes and making conditions in the host country as welcoming as possible.

Photo by Ninno JackJr

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