May 5

May 5 A Global Health Crisis Requires a Global Response, and That Starts With All of Us

Everyone deserves to be protected from the coronavirus, including refugees.

With everything going on the last few months with COVID 19, it’s been a lot to process. Sometimes just making it day to day feels like an accomplishment. But while we’re doing our part by staying home, safe and sound and social distancing, there are millions of people around the world who are facing unimaginable circumstances during this time, and in fact have been for decades before this virus.

Refugees are some of the most vulnerable people in the world, especially during a pandemic. Three quarters of refugees live in developing countries, already facing humanitarian crises. It’s hard to picture or understand the severity of the situation when we’re not exposed to it, but the idea that so many people are fighting to just survive every day while we’re safe at home feels wrong. It feels unfair. As we’ve been working with USA for UNHCR the last few months, we’ve expressed how we sometimes feels helpless in this situation when it comes to helping refugees. How can we as two men living in a small town in Tennessee make a difference for people living in a part of the world we’ve never been to? How can we help make their lives better? Why do we get to live our lives the way we want but so many others are living in some of the worst living conditions imaginable with little to no options?

Luckily, there’s USA for UNHCR. They have allowed us to feel like we’re making a difference, like we’re helping those who truly need it, especially during a pandemic. Today is Giving Tuesday, so to donate any amount to help those in need is so greatly appreciated. Click here to do what you can to make a difference today. Why? Because human survival is a worldwide right, not just designated to those who have the means.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and partners, are racing to protect millions of people in its care, with public health informations drive underway across the globe. Massive efforts are also taking place to distribute basic hygiene equipment and install hand washing stations in camps and settlements.

Here are some startling facts that helped us understand just how devastating this situation is:

Many refugees live in crowded areas where disease can spread rapidly, making social distancing impossible during a pandemic.
Refugee camps have weak healthcare systems. Everyone deserves access to healthcare when they’re sick.
Many refugees do not have access to basic hygiene and sanitation resources like clean water and soap.
There are 70.8 million forcibly displaced people worldwide. This number has been growing at an alarming rate over the last few years. To compare, there were 25.2 million forcibly displaced people in 2010.
Less than 1% of refugees are ever resettled, and the number of refugees who have been accepted for resettlement is declining. The U.S. decided to substantially reduce (for the third consecutive year) the number of refugees it will admit for the resettlement in the country over the coming year. The admissions ceiling of 18,000 leaves thousands of the most vulnerable refugees in risky circumstances.
Half of all refugees are children. At least 138,600 displaced children are unaccompanied or have been separated from their parents. This number is considered to be an underestimate.

The largest refugee settlement in the world is Kutupalong in Bangladesh, which houses nearly 700,000 Rohingya refugees.

USA for UNHCR’s mission is to help refugees by protecting and empowering them with hope and opportunity. How do they do that? By raising awareness and funds for the growing number of refugees around the world.

In times like this, especially, it’s so important that we look out for each other, particularly the most vulnerable among us. This #GivingTuesdayNow, you can provide refugees with emergency coronavirus support, including supplies for community health workers, as well as protections kits that include a bar of soap, a bottle of hand sanitizer, two masks, and basic healthcare.

Contributions from donors around the world allow the UN Refugee Agency to reach more people with emergency relief items like food, water, shelter, and healthcare, and help people access education and job opportunities so they can regain their independence.

Right now, around the world, we as a community are struggling with our “new normal”, but for refugees and forcibly displaced people, this “new normal” is just one more struggle in their seemingly never-ending fight to survive. We can all do our part to help those who need it the most. If you’re looking for a place to start, click here.

We’re sending you light and love today. Stay well, friends. xx