WHAT IS A REFUGEE?
A person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster. Such a person may be called an asylum seeker until granted refugee status by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) if they formally make a claim for asylum. There are over 68 million (and counting) refugees in the world.
WHAT IS A REFUGEE CAMP?
A refugee camp is a temporary settlement built to receive refugees and people in refugee-like situations. Refugee camps usually accommodate displaced persons who have fled their home country. Often these camps are makeshift conditions consisting of canvas military tents and crowded quarters. Many camps have little electricity, medical access or resources.
WHERE ARE REFUGEES COMING FROM?
People have been fleeing countries because of war and persecution for thousands of years, this is not new. However, there has been a surge of refugees coming from the Middle East and Africa due to political unrest, corrupt government, terrorism, civil war, drought and famine. Some countries include (but not limited to):
Syria: About 6.7 million Syrians are now refugees, and another 6.2 million people are displaced within Syria. Half of the people affected are children. Nearly 12 million people in the country need immediate humanitarian assistance. Healthcare centers and hospitals, schools, utilities, and water and sanitation systems are damaged or destroyed. The Syrian army and various militant groups are fighting to control territory in the country’s northeast and northwest. The civil war has become a sectarian conflict, with religious groups opposing each other, that affects the whole region and is heavily influenced by international interventions. Learn more here.
Afghanistan: There are over 4 million refugees fleeing Afghanistan. Afghans are currently the second largest refugee group after Syrian refugees. The majority of Afghan refugees (95%) are located in Iran and Pakistan. The majority of the internally displaced people in Afghanistan are a result of conflict, violence and poverty. One in three Afghan children are malnourished, with rates far higher in conflict-affected regions. Access to health care remains very limited, with 15 percent of the population without access to even basic healthcare services. Afghanistan continues to suffer political unrest, lawlessness and Taliban invasions. Learn more here.
South Sudan: There are currently 4.3 million displaced people from South Sudan. Increasing violence and deteriorating conditions makes South Sudan the largest refugee crisis in Africa, and the third largest in the world, after Syria and Afghanistan. 63% of refugees (over half) of all South Sudanese refugees are children. Uganda and Sudan both host over 800,000 refugees from South Sudan, totaling to over half of all South Sudanese refugees. Learn more here.
Myanmar: Nearly 700,000 Rohingya refugees have fled the destruction of their homes and persecution in the northern Rakhine province of Myanmar (Burma). The Rohingya, who numbered around one million in Myanmar at the start of 2017, are one of the many ethnic minorities in the country. The government of Myanmar, a predominantly Buddhist country, denies the Rohingya citizenship and even excluded them from the 2014 census, refusing to recognise them as a people. The government and militants have launched deadly attacks which have been described as an "ethnic cleansing" or a modern day genocide. Learn more here.
Somalia: Armed conflict, civil war and long-standing drought have forced Over 870,000 Somalis to be refugees in the Horn of Africa and Yemen, while an estimated 2.1 million men, women and children are displaced within the country itself. Learn more here.
Sudan: An economic crisis in Sudan that began in 2018 has been exacerbated by escalating violence and insecurity that continues following the overthrow of the Sudanese government in April 2019. Deteriorating conditions have led to displacement of about 1.9 million people within Sudan, along with about 725,000 people fleeing as refugees. Learn more here.
Democratic Republic of Congo: Intense violence, Conflict and food insecurity are driving people to flee the Democratic Republic of the Congo. More than 2 million people were newly displaced in 2017 and 2018, and more than 700,000 people from the DRC live in neighboring countries as refugees. Violence has also prevented containment of an Ebola outbreak that started in May 2018. Learn more here.
IS THE REFUGEE CRISIS STILL HAPPENING?
Yes! The refugees crisis hit mainstream media in 2015, but since then, coverage has slowed and with that the idea that the refugee crisis has too. In fact, the refugee crisis is worse and still happening right now. Check out ServeKind's article, How To Help, to learn more about how to serve refugees who have been relocated near you.
ARE REFUGEES LEGAL?
An important fact to remember is that refugees have entered the country legally after having undergone a stringent application and screening process. It is also important to remember that individuals fleeing their countries and seeking asylum in neighboring countries or cities have a legal human right to apply for asylum and stay in the safety of the country to which they fled. Learn more here.
WHAT HAPPENS TO REFUGEES ONCE THEY FLEE THEIR COUNTRY?
Months, years or even decades after entering a refugee camp, refugees are evaluated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and are given a referral for one of three options: 1. Repatriation- the individuals are sent home to their country after it stabilizes (not likely). 2. Nationalization- they stay in the country to which they fled and apply for green cards and citizenship appropriately. 3. Third country resettlement- the individuals are sent to the United States and other countries who accept refugees (less than 1% of refugees get this option).
HOW DOES A REFUGEE GET TO COME TO THE UNITED STATES?
If the option of third country resettlement is approved, the U.S Department of State collects biographic and other information from the refugees to prepare for a security screening. An in person interview is conducted to decide whether or not to approve him/her for resettlement in the United States. This approval takes between 1.5-2 years before moving to the next stage. After they pass a final screening, Domestic Resettlement Agencies take over and their flight is booked. Once the refugee arrives at the airport a case manager takes over, teaching them how to adjust to life in the U.S. and getting them settled into their new living arrangements.
HOW SOON AFTER REFUGEES ARRIVE DO THEY NEED TO START WORKING?
Within the first three months eligible family members need to start working and begin the process of becoming truly self-sufficient (this includes learning English, understanding the laws, etc.)
HOW LONG DO REFUGEES HAVE TO WAIT BEFORE APPLYING FOR A GREEN CARD AND U.S. CITIZENSHIP?
After 1 year refugees are allowed to apply for resident status and receive a green card. After 5 years refugees are allowed to apply for citizenship.
DO REFUGEES PAY TAXES?
Refugees are subject to the same employment, property, sales, and other taxes as any U.S. citizen. In fact, refugees pay around $20 billion in taxes each year. Learn more here and here.
DO REFUGEES CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY?
Refugees contribute a great deal to this country through the sharing of their talents, skills, cultures and customs. History indicates that some of our most significant contributors to the U.S. have been refugees and immigrants. Some refugees in the Salt Lake area have opened up their homes to foster care. And, as noted previously, refugees do pay taxes. Learn more here.
ARE REFUGEES A DANGER TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE?
While there are always going to be bad people in the world, refugees are just like you and I - teachers, artists, nurses, chefs, janitors, lawyers. The only difference between us and them is circumstance. Refugees want to be successful and live normal, happy lives just like you and I. Whatever country they relocate to, they work hard to piece back their lives and contribute to the society that has welcomed them with open arms.
ARE ALL MUSLIMS TERRORISTS?
That would be labeling all 1.8 billion Muslims in the world as bad people, which is just simply not true. Islam is one of the largest religions in the world, but unfortunately we only hear about the 1% that are doing terrible things. In fact, Islam is one of the most peaceful religions, teaching all followers to never hurt anyone, not even insects. Muslims are fleeing the very terrorism that people misinterpret as their own religion.
DO REFUGEES TAKE JOBS FROM U.S. WORKERS?
DO REFUGEES RECEIVE MONEY AND INCOME FROM THE GOVERNMENT WHEN THEY ARRIVE IN THE U.S.?
The U.S. Government does not provide refugees with money when they arrive in the U.S., however, there are minimal benefits available for emergency situations and the medically needy. The refugee must apply for these benefits and meet income and resource standards to qualify for any assistance. Learn more here.