UNHCR workers (left) organizing transport of refugees between camps in Lesvos. Center: Refugee and Reid Mason (a Fellow with Adventures in Missions) walking near sheep and their shepherd (right) on the way to the bus loading dock.
I have been researching the refugee crisis since Fall 2015 when I first heard that Adventures in Missions was sending World Race teams to Lesvos to help with relief efforts. I thought I knew a decent amount but I learned more in my two weeks in Lesvos than I did in the 2 or 3 months I spent researching on the internet from home.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) agency was present at the majority of the refugee camps and transit points where we served. They are the people keeping detailed records of each refugee arriving on the island of Lesvos, taking note of their age, nationality, and where they intend to seek asylum.
After working with the UNHCR for two weeks I learned 10 things basic things I didn’t know before:
1.) The world’s top 10 refugee-producing countries are: Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Iraq, Colombia, and the Central African Republic.
2.) 1 out of every 4 refugees crossing the Mediterranean Sea from the Middle East and Africa seeking asylum are CHILDREN. Many of them travel alone, without their parents.
One-room community center in Lesvos that gives refugees a place to stay during the day while waiting for a night ferry to Athens. These are refugees from Iraq who arrived to Lesvos by boat around 6 am. Over a third of them were children who were wet from the boat ride. It was snowing outside so the women and children sat inside where it was warm and we served them hot tea and coffee. The community center is run by the amazing Hannah, a Christian woman from Canada who has been living in Greece for over 15 years.
3.) 85% of the Syrian refugees interviewed by the UNHCR from April-September 2015 had a high school diploma and 50% had gone to college. Many were still in school when they fled. Those who had finished school reported to be merchants, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, engineers, architects, doctors, and pharmacists.
4.) In January 2016 Greece received has 60,502 refugees compared to 1,694 refugees in January 2015. It is expected that number of people fleeing this year will continue to grow exponentially in comparison to last year.
5.) Greece has been receiving refugees for years.
This refugee crisis is not new. The Civil War in Syria began in 2011. We (the U.S.) have been part of the war in Afghanistan since 2001 and in Iraq since 2003 as part of our War on Terror. These refugees are fleeing from the same terrorists groups we are trying to prevent from attacking U.S. citizens.
Receiving a boat of Syrian refugees on the shores of Lesvos from nearby Turkey.
6.) In 2016, 84,406 refugees have traveled to Europe by sea seeking asylum. Already, 410 have drowned or were reported missing.
7.) It costs 2-10 times the price to travel by on foot, by car, and by boat than it does to fly from the Middle East to Europe. It is also far more dangerous to travel by land and sea during the winter months. Why do refugees not simply fly to their desired destination?
If refugees do not get visas into the country where they are seeking asylum, commercial airlines have to pay to return them to their home countries. Certain countries such as Germany and Sweden guarantee asylum for Syrian refugees so there is low risk to airlines for those coming from Syria. Still most commercial airlines are not willing to take the risk.
8.) Most refugees do not immediately flee to the West. Since 2011 over 4 million Syrian refugees have fled to other countries, including ones in Europe and the U.S. but most flee to nearby countries like Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey, and North Africa. Over 7 million have tried resettling to safer places within Syria. Sadly war is spreading to a lot of these safe zones pushing people farther west.
9.) The U.S. accepted 1,682 Syrian refugees within our borders. The UNHCR referred 15,000 Syrian refugees to the U.S. in 2015 for asylum. It will take 18-24 months for them to be approved or denied.
http://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/refugees-and-asylees-united-states
10.) Refugees are not statistics or a faceless mob. Each is a person made in the image of God, with a story and a soul deserving dignity and love. I knew this before I arrived in Lesvos, but I needed to be reminded.
My beautiful friend Zahra* who is a wife and mother of 4 beautiful children. She and her family arrived by boat to Lesvos fleeing bombing and violence in Iraq. She is one of the few women I met who spoke good English. I watched her as she cared for the other mothers as well as for her own children and husband. She fights hard to care for her family and keep them together. I miss her every day and I hope and pray that she and her family find safety and a good life in Europe.
To hear more stories from refugees traveling from the Middle East to Europe seeking asylum, watch this interactive video posted by the Washington Post HERE.
Thank you and God Bless!
