Refugees and Social Distancing

ResilientPH

In these difficult times, it is almost impossible to see how much we are better off compared to so many other people across the globe. Yes, our movement is restricted. We have been thrown away from our routines, our comfort zones. We are unsure about our business, our projects. Indeed from all vantage points, it appears that we have very little going for us. 

The worst part is that we don’t even know if one month would be enough for the stop-gap measures to kick in. For all we know, it can be two or three months or even half a year, perhaps even longer. 

But think about the following realities. 

There are about 70 million refugees in temporary camps in the Middle East who have very little access to proper nutrition, medicines, and hygiene.

They are also exposed to a host of many other things that, for us, are trivial, but to them may mean the world. 

Refugees from the war in Syria, the conflict with the Islamic State, and other geopolitical issues in this part of the world, even if they wanted to keep themselves safe and practice social distancing, may not be able to because there is just not enough space.

Some informal settlements for refugees are incomplete building structures around 15 families are forced to call home. It is not like they can just move around and take up space outside because the next building or tent, about five feet away, also houses several families all struggling to make do with what they have been given. 

If here we complain about the apparent weak public health system, over there in the refugee camps, there is no health system to criticize.  

These are challenging times for all of us. And while we are suffering and struggling, we need to remember that the whole world is suffering as well. Some are genuinely worse off than others.

So count your blessings and maybe say a little prayer or two for those who are in more precarious situations.

Reference:
Collard, R. (2020, March 20). You Can’t Practice Social Distancing if You’re a Refugee. Foreign Policy. https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/03/20/you-cant-do-social-distancing-if-youre-a-refugee/

Featured Image:
“Syrian refugee children in Lebanon” by Russel Watkins/DFID is licensed by CC 2.0