Refugees Adrift
What little food I had left was given to them. I wished I had more resources, but mostly wished I didn’t have to leave to catch my plane.
An early morning sun broke the darkness.
As I drove past olive groves and through the sleeping little towns, I suddenly saw the morning sun peaking on the distant horizon.
The last several days I had spent helping a UNHCR better organize their camp for the coming refugees. I had waited for the refugees, but nobody had come due to the stormy seas.
As I made my way towards the little island airport there on Lesbos, Greece, I spied a boat adrift on the open sea. Over the next few minutes as I made my way along the coast, several more appeared dotted on the horizon.
The refugees were coming and I was leaving. At first, disappointment washed over me. I had wanted to meet them, to interact with them, to hear their stories. But nobody had dared to face the restless sea for a few days.
Suddenly, in the dawning light I spied a beach campfire. A group had landed! I drove past and onward for a few minutes to see if I could find any more. Only old beach fires and discarded life vests littered the shore. I turned around. I wanted to say hi to them.
At first, they were afraid. I smiled and waved and said, “Welcome!” Little English was exchanged. but smiles, hugs, and snacks were. Only the men came to greet me. They had left last night from the shores of Syria.
The women and children stayed huddled by the fire. Their energies just focused on staying alive and staying warm. The morning was very cold and I was grateful they had made it. Another boat adrift with refugees was nearing shore and I had to leave.
Their journey was just beginning from here. I had no idea when they had started it. I had no idea where they had hoped to go. I said a prayer of protection and peace for both them and their homeland and the many millions of others who sought a better life.
Recently I heard about the camps at Moriah on Lesbos. The locals have given more than they have expected for many more years than they had hoped. I hear reports about violence agains the aid workers. The government has not been able to keep up with the influx. Many more are coming but they need to be processed well.
It is a complex situation. The refugees don’t want to live in a land of war and so they leave. But the neighboring countries are afraid of the clash of cultures; they don’t want to loose their way of life either.
What is needed?
I think three things to start will help:
An intentional and continued support of processing the fleeing refugees.
Health and cultural adaption resources are critical in this.
A strategic system to help develop their homeland. Most of them want to return to their land of birth but will not as long as the authorities are fighting and religious fanaticism not expressed in a deep and true love continues to kill, steal, and destroy the people and their homes.
A global awareness and intentionality to help. Many of the refugees have the skills and motivation to design solutions, but they need support. They deserve respect and resources.
