UAE TELLS THE REFUGEE STORY
country joins global campaign to shed light on life of displaced people
Running away from wartorn areas to avoid being caught or killed in a crossfire; enduring the desert heat; crossing mountains, rivers, water-logged paddy fields; and walking almost endlessly just to reach safety. These are the harsh realities a refugee has to endure to look for protection, shelter, food and water.
In solidarity with and to build a better understanding of refugees, the UN Refugee Agency office in the UAE has joined the global campaign called ‘2 Billion Kilometres to Safety’.
Two billion kilometres is the approximate distance refugees cover worldwide each year to reach the nearest point of safety.
“By joining the campaign, every step a participant takes is in solidarity with individuals and families forced to flee their homes,” Ola Anan, UNHCR public information and communication associate, told Khaleej Times at the Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition (Dihad) on Tuesday.
According to Anan, the UNHCR has launched the campaign to spread awareness on issues and challenges facing refugees, and as a result, raise funds for their needs.
The campaign is simple: Register at www.stepwithrefugees.org to post the distance you pledge to walk, run or cycle. And after covering a certain distance, the participant will be able to learn more of the stories of refugees highlighted in the campaign.
Who are the refugees?
According to the UNHCR, “refugees are people forced to flee to another country because of war or persecution. They are recognised as refugees because it is too dangerous for them to return home and they are protected in international law. They are not the same as migrants”.
Their stories are highlighted in the ‘2 Billion Kilometres to Safety’ campaign.
One account is of nine-year-old Eva, whose mother, father and brother were killed in South Sudan. She was forced to flee alone from home to reach Ethiopia.
First, Eva walked for six days until she reached a town before arriving at the border of Ethiopia, where a woman gave her shoes and clothes. She then walked for another six days before she reached Tirgol transit centre to get a permanent shelter, proper sleeping mat, better water and food from the UNHCR. In all, with all her resilience and courage, Eva covered 409km — all on foot.
Another story is Alin Nisa who fled with her family from Myanmar to Bangladesh in search of safety with nothing but the clothes on their back.
Alin carried her two children while her husband carried his mother who could not walk and crossed mountains and rivers and walked across waterlogged paddy fields, even during heavy rains.
Only after 10 days and covering a total distance of 102km, the family finally arrived at the Kutupalong Extension Site in Bangladesh, where they built a shelter, using plastic sheeting and bamboo, and received a cooking kit, mats and blankets.
The ‘2 Billion Kilometres to Safety’ campaign has gained traction across the world. Globally, the endorser is Hollywood actor Ben Stiller and the face of the campaign in the region is renowned sports journalist Mustafa Agha.
Till Tuesday, 939,163 steps were made in solidarity with the refugees.
The importance of this edition stems from the fact that it discusses the fundamental issue of migration and asylum.” Rashid Mubarak Al Mansouri, deputy secretary-general, local affairs, Emirates Red Crescent
By joining the campaign, every step a participant takes is in solidarity with individuals and families forced to flee their homes.”
Ola Anan, public information and communication associate, UNHCR