There is not one person who would ever wish for an extreme crisis to occur. Whether in America or abroad, experiencing an extreme crisis is a very real and difficult situation to navigate. However, the sad reality is that there are many different kinds of crises going on every day. One such crisis we are actively raising awareness about and providing assistance for is the current refugee crisis.
While this crisis isn't anything new, there is more access to hearing about these events because of the connectedness of our world. Over the years, such refugee crises such as those caused by World War I and II, the Sudanese Civil War, conflicts in southeast Asia, and the most recent Syrian conflict, have produced an incredibly large amount of refugees looking for a new home.
Back in 2014, there were 13.9 million newly displaced refugees, which was a single year record, and even more recently, statistics show that there are about 37,000 people becoming refugees every single day.
So why exactly are these refugee crises continuing to happen? To learn more about why refugee crises are still happening in 2020, we’ve made a list of the top two reasons why they’re still occurring. Here’s they are:
Top 2 Reasons Why Refugee Crises Happen
Persistent War
In recent history, the Syrian conflict is a current example of why refugee crises happen. The war in Syria has been going on for almost a decade now, and there have been major results which have occurred. Sadly, this conflict has resulted in roughly 400,000 Syrians losing their lives and 11 million individuals being displaced - 5 million of those becoming refugees.
Another example of war causing a refugee crisis is the Sudanese Civil War. This conflict began in 1983 and lasted several years which caused 4 million residents to become displaced and refugees along with 2 million souls being lost. With many other violent conflicts happening around the world at different times in history, it’s easy to understand why residents will flee their countries in order to reach safety in another country.
Hunger
One recent example of this happening is seen in Ethiopian refugee camps where it is noted that 62% of children are “experiencing critical levels of anemia.” The current COVID-19 crisis is only magnifying the existing situation of there being a lack of food for this group in need. In order to reach an area where there is reliable food production, many individuals leave their homeland and become refugees in other countries.
How To Help Refugees
While these situations may seem too big for you to make a meaningful impact in, think again. Even by doing the smallest things, you can help those who are affected by their political, social or economic environment. Here are a few ways that you can help refugees in need across the globe.
1. Social MediaIt’s a simple way to raise awareness and it’s totally free. Using your social media accounts, whether you prefer, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or any other platform, is a great way to help refugees throughout the world. By raising awareness, you’re able to reach your family and friends with important information which can guide them in their everyday decisions of buying responsibly sourced goods, donating to reliable organizations or sharing important messages just like yours.
2. Welcome Refugees
Another great way that you can support refugees is by welcoming a new family to your neighborhood. As refugees continue to be welcomed into your state, there’s no better opportunity to share your support than by welcoming them to your neighborhood and supporting them as they become familiar with the area.
3. Send Letters
A great way to make your voice heard is by writing and sending a letter to local, state or national politicians. Expressing your support for accepting refugees to these individuals may just be what is needed in order to create a positive change. If you’re really feeling up to it, get together with others in your community, or set up a large online event where you encourage others to write letters to their politicians.
4. Donate
A simple and effective way to help refugees throughout the world is to donate to reputable charities and relief organizations. When you donate money to these organizations, they use the funding to assist refugees with essential needs such as food, water, clothing and other basic items. They may even support refugees with micro-loans or other services to help them rebuild their lives by creating their own businesses which can stimulate the local community.
Supporting Local & Global Refugees
While there continues to be an incredible amount of refugees throughout the world, we can help be the change. Where there is political and violent conflict, we can support refugees by raising awareness and asking our political leaders to recognize the situation by providing aid. Where there is hunger and famine in an area, we can donate to reputable charities to provide these individuals with the basic necessities of food and water.
However you are able, there’s always a way to support refugees in their struggles. Here at Epimonia, our mission is to support refugees by donating 50% of our profits. By purchasing and wearing our apparel and fashion accessories, you will be actively supporting the lives of countless refugees throughout the world. Read more about our mission!