This week marks the 22nd year since the first World Refugee Day was set by the UN General Assembly in 2001, following the 50th anniversary of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees approved in 1951. The theme for 2023 is “Compassion in Action” to create a shared understanding of compassion and extend it to all.
In 2023 about 2.3% of the world population, 184 million people, including 37 million refugees, live outside their country of origin with almost half of them residing in low and middle-income countries. UNHCR estimates that over 70% of the world’s refugees and internally displaced people are from the most climate-vulnerable countries and that the percentage will grow in the next years.
Climate change, food insecurity, droughts in the Horn of Africa, prolonged conflict in Sudan, humanitarian crises in Afghanistan, Syria, and Yemen as well as the decades-long Rohingya struggle, are all tragedies that have had an impact on the spike in the number of internally displaced or refugees around the world.
However, despite the increasing numbers of people suffering from famine, violence, persecution, or natural disaster, “compassion” is far to be embraced by our societies, and the meaning is often neglected.
Voice of refugees
MOAS spoke to refugees who although from different backgrounds have the same story of pain, displacement, and challenges ahead and asked what the word compassion means to them.
“Being a refugee means surviving the war and the horrors of what is happening in Ukraine. It also means to fit all your life in a suitcase and move away from your country.” Inna is a Ukrainian who fled from the city of Kherson last year and now living in Malta. “During my journey to escape violence, I encountered compassion from many: it is extremely important for those who experience wars because this is what we expect from the people, just to stay human.”
“Being a refugee is a painful life and unbearable as I’ve lived without the chance of seeing my home country.” Mohammed is a Rohingya refugee who has lived his entire life in the Kutupalong refugee camp in Bangladesh. “However,” – he said- “I was lucky enough to experience compassion and have the possibility to learn and improve myself. I had the chance to volunteer with MOAS, which taught me how to operate on flood and fire safety training and help my community to deal with these hazards, which are very common in the Rohingya camps. As a refugee, I feel very proud to train my people about emergency preparedness response and help save lives in refugee camps.”
A message from the MOAS director
“Derived from the Latin roots ‘com-‘ (meaning ‘together’) and ‘passion (meaning ‘suffering’), compassion is the recognition that, despite our diverse backgrounds and experiences, we are interconnected as human beings.
Compassion is a universal language that transcends borders, bringing comfort to the displaced and hope to the vulnerable. Crisis and displacement may disrupt lives, but compassion can bridge the division. We at MOAS believe compassion needs to be turned into action“, said Regina Catrambone, Co-founder and Director of MOAS. “If we embrace compassion, we acknowledge the pain and hardships endured by migrants and refugees, standing alongside them in solidarity and doing whatever possible to support them in their path toward a better life. On this Refugee Week, we want to recognize that migrants and refugees are not statistics or burdens but individuals with unique stories, dreams, and potential. Through this shared understanding and empathy, we can heal wounds, restore dignity, and build a global community built on compassion, resilience, and hope.”
Final thoughts
MOAS stands in solidarity with refugees worldwide and is willing to support them whenever possible. Compassion for us always turns into action through our global mission to assist vulnerable communities in Yemen, Somalia, and Sudan and provide life-saving training on water and fire safety and prevention in refugee camps. Follow us and support the MOAS initiative to make a difference.
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