Life as a Refugee

Serif Aydin

“no one leaves home unless

home is the mouth of a shark

you only run for the border

when you see the whole city running as well”  

Warsan Shire

(British-Somali poet)

The term “migrant” is defined in the Cambridge English Dictionary as “a person who travels to a different country or place, often to find work.” While many media organizations, including the BBC, still use it neutrally, some criticize its use. Al-Jazeera, for instance, has opted against “migrant” and will use “refugee” where appropriate.

Detractors of the term “migrant” argue that it implies a voluntary action and shouldn’t be used for those fleeing danger. A UN document recommends that “The term ‘migrant’ should cover all cases where the decision to migrate is freely taken by the individual concerned, for reasons of ‘personal convenience’ and without an external compelling factor.” Yet millions have been driven from their homes due to safety concerns, health issues, wars, or political challenges. Clearly, their journeys are not mere matters of “personal convenience.”

According to the UNHCR, “At least 79.5 million people globally have been compelled to leave their homes. Among them are nearly 26 million refugees, about half of whom are under 18. Presently, 1% of the world’s population has been displaced due to conflict or persecution.” (UNHCR, 2020)

The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that refugees and migrants may struggle to access healthcare due to factors like legal status, language barriers, and discrimination. (WHO, 2019)

Let’s delve into the lives of these refugees, exploring their migration and the challenges they face.

A Safe Country

In Ottawa, among a group of Turkish refugees who work as Uber drivers, I met Ali and Osman from Istanbul. They once worked as journalists in a national Turkish newspaper. Ali revealed he’d been targeted for arrest due to political issues, forcing him to leave his wife and young daughter behind. “It was excruciating,” Ali reflected. “I left in the dead of night and journeyed from Turkey to Greece, battling cold, hunger, and destitution.”

After spending $15,000 and enduring 15 days in a Greek jail, Ali remains resolute, driven by thoughts of his family back in Turkey. “I’m constantly working here, always fearing for my wife who is also targeted back home. The strain of dictatorship is something many can’t comprehend. I’m grateful to Canada for its sanctuary, but I’m riddled with anxiety. Every night, I assure my wife and daughter of my plans to reunite with them,” he shared, tears streaming down his face.

Greece is a significant waypoint for Middle Eastern refugees. Life in the camps is arduous, and Osman paints a bleak picture. While some camps offer heated tents and essential facilities, they eerily remain unused, with refugees kept away, possibly to deter permanent settlement.

In 2019, Reuters reported Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatovic, witnessed deplorable conditions in Greek refugee camps—overcrowding, insufficient shelter, and inadequate hygiene and medical care. Mijatovic highlighted the hours-long waits for basic needs and the unacceptable isolation many experienced (Papadimas, 2019).

Consider the plight of unaccompanied minors in these camps. The lack of security amplifies risks of abduction, trafficking, and exploitation. Osman emphasizes parental fears around the vulnerability of children, particularly to sexual exploitation, and the prevalent mental health issues, like depression and PTSD.

Countless others, like Ali and Osman, across the world, are likely waiting for their chance to reach Greece. “Persist, and seize every opportunity. You might rediscover what you lost, and perhaps change your life,” Ali advises.

A coherent strategy to address refugee challenges and tackle their root causes remains elusive. Still, an increasing number aspire to realize their dreams, whether that’s safety, health, or employment. Dreams remain dreams.

As winter sets in and the weather eventually warms, more will surely try. It’s more fitting to term these people “refugees” rather than “migrants.”

Sources

“MIGRANT: Meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary.” Cambridge Dictionary, dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/migrant. 

“World Have Your Say, North Korea ‘Ready for War’, Why the BBC Uses the Word ‘Migrant’.” BBC World Service, BBC, www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p030bn5m. 

Supporting social movement struggles against free trade and investment agreements, et al. “UN Sub-Commission on Human Rights 53rd Session.” GRAIN, www.grain.org/article/entries/2085-un-sub-commission-on-human-rights-53rd-session. 

“10 Things to Know about the Health of Refugees and Migrants.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/10-things-to-know-about-the-health-of-refugees-and-migrants.