BE-ing- IN refugee’s shoes
Have you ever put you into asylums’ shoes, and think that the way is that ‘What if it happened to me?’ In a nutshell, who wants to leave their loved ones and be refugee? Whatever happens in the world we should ‘BE IN’ …
Thousands of people leave their countries each year and immigrate to other countries due to the wars and conflict environments that have been one of the most important social problems in the world. The crises in the Middle East have forced many people fleeing the war to seek refuge in neighbouring countries. The issue of asylum seeker is unfortunately the subject of an agenda in the international community, and many international organizations and non-governmental organizations have tried to find solutions to the problems of asylum seekers.
Today, in the neighbouring countries of the war zones in the Middle East, some of the asylum seekers live in camps or in some places by their own means, either legally or illegally. Since the beginning of the wars, the wave of asylum seekers, especially with the war in Syria, has become a turning point in refugee / asylum policy in many parts of Europe and the world. The unpredictable wave of migration has led some countries to establish some asylum seekers and adaptation policies. As an individual, how much do we support in this adaptation process? So, what is our responsibility for this problem and how much are we aware of it?
First of all, we must never forget that they were looking for an escape route and they left everything they had. Here we need to facilitate and understand the processes of normalization. Personally, our main goal for changing the environment of uncertainty, insecurity and disorder is to support and be part of the projects that will enable asylum seekers to live with dignity and make plans for the future. We should look at asylum seekers’ problems and possible solutions from a human-centred perspective; because we know that the phenomenon of migration is often not a matter of choice.
In war environments, individuals do not seem to be able to maintain their lives under conditions that they cannot provide even the most basic security needs. It is seen that children are deprived of the right to education in an environment where the life safety of individuals is out of the question and they find it difficult to meet even the most basic health needs. Even if the war in their country ends, perhaps we should also consider that they will not want to return one day and find a way to integrate with them. Today, at the point of refugee crisis and asylum seekers in the world, we see that social integration has already started as a natural process and is inevitable. Isn’t it the most concrete example of that they learn the language of the country where they live? We can facilitate their adaptation to society, provided that they receive appropriate training. Integration is a challenging process for both parties. Both parties must act with awareness of current challenges.
Finally, we can say that; Welcoming asylum seekers generously is the most ethical attitude to people who have escaped cruel conflicts. However, the management of the crisis does not end with providing shelter for asylum seekers, feeding them and making them benefits from health services. If the integration process is managed successfully, it will contribute to “social wealth and development of multicultural structure in the long term. Let’s not forget that those who escaped from the war left behind their loved ones, business and property with security concerns to avoid a terrible conflict and seek asylum from other countries. Or else who wants to be a refugee?
Written by Nahibe Acar
